Laminar flow fuel cell incorporating concentrated liquid oxidant
AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology
InventorWilliam Braff
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Electrochemical cell system. The system includes a low Reynolds number microfluidic channel including spaced apart anode and cathode forming sides thereof. A fuel channel introduces a liquid fuel into the microfluidic channel for laminar flow along the anode and an oxidant channel introduces a concentrated liquid oxidant into the microfluidic channel for laminar flow along the cathode. An electrolyte channel introduces a liquid electrolyte into the microfluidic channel for laminar flow between the fuel and oxidant flows. Electrodes are connected to the anode and cathode for connection to an external load. In another embodiment, the anode is porous and a gaseous fuel such as hydrogen diffuses through the anode into the interior of the microfluidic channel.
Claims18
Electrochemical cell system comprising:
- a channel including spaced apart anode and cathode forming sides thereof;
- a fuel channel for introducing a liquid fuel into the micro fluidic channel for laminar flow along the anode;
- an oxidant channel for introducing a concentrated liquid oxidant into the microfluidic channel for laminar flow along the cathode;
- an electrolyte channel for introducing a liquid electrolyte into the microfluidic channel for laminar flow between the fuel and oxidant flows;
- and
- current collectors connected to the anode and cathode for connection to an external load.
Electrochemical cell system comprising:
- a channel including spaced apart anode and cathode forming sides thereof, the anode being permeable to gas, but only minimally permeable to liquid;
- means for flowing a gaseous fuel such as hydrogen along the outside of the porous anode for passage to the surface between the anode and the microfluidic channel;
- an oxidant channel for introducing a concentrated liquid oxidant into the microfluidic channel for laminar flow along the cathode;
- an electrolyte channel for introducing a liquid electrolyte into the microfluidic channel for laminar flow between the anode and the oxidant flow;
- and
- current collectors connected to the anode and cathode for connection to an external load.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.