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US 2003/0150718 A1Published application
Hydrogen generator for fuel cell operation
OwnerEdward Milton McWhorterinventor
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OwnerEdward Milton McWhorterinventor
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The invention is a hydrogen generator for supplying hydrogen to the anode of a fuel cell and electrons to the fuel cell electrical circuit. The hydrogen generator employs a consumable electrode comprising an alkali metal which is brought into contact with an aqueous solution of its hydroxide liberating hydrogen. The hydrogen generator operates as an alkaline cell electrode emersed in the electrolyte that is continuously being formed by the oxidation of the alkali metal within the electrode by its reaction in the electrolyte with the cycled water produced at the cathode of the fuel cell. The current flow within the hydrogen generator internal circuit of the reaction chamber is approximately equivalent to the feed rate of the consumable electrode into the electrolyte and the quantity of hydrogen formed is proportional to the equivalent weight of the water reacted.
A consumable electrode comprising a dispersion of an alkali metal suspended within a neutral medium, said dispersion being applied to the surface of an impermeable tape membrane, hereinafter called the lower tape, a second impermeable cover tape membrane placed on top of said dispersion and hermetically sealed with the said lower tape at their contacting edges forming the said consumable electrode.
A consumable electrode comprising an impermeable tape membrane having a metalized surface for electrical conduction, said impermeable tape membrane and said metalized surface hereinafter called the lower tape, a dispersion of an alkali metal suspended in a neutral medium, said dispersion being applied to the center areas of the said metalized surface of said lower tape, a second impermeable cover tape membrane placed on top of said dispersion and hermetically sealed with the said lower tape at their contacting edges forming the said consumable electrode.
A consumable electrode comprising an impermeable tape membrane having a metalized surface for electrical conduction, said impermeable tape membrane and said metalized surface hereinafter called the lower tape, a glass-cloth tape of narrower dimension than the said lower tape is positioned upon the center areas of said metalized surface of the said lower tape, a dispersion of an alkali metal suspended in a neutral medium, said dispersion being applied to said glass-cloth tape, a second impermeable cover tape membrane placed on top of said dispersion and hermetically sealed with the said lower tape at their contacting edges forming the said consumable electrode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.