US 4,390,602 AGranted

Fuel cell

OwnerRalph C. Struthersinventor

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Abstract

An improved fuel cell comprising an anode section including an anode terminal, an anode fuel, and an anolyte electrolyte, a cathode section including a cathode terminal, an electron distributor and a catholyte electrolyte, an ion exchange section between the anode and cathode sections and including an ionolyte electrolyte, ion transfer membranes separating the ionolyte from the anolyte and the catholyte and an electric circuit connected with and between the terminals conducting free electrons from the anode section and delivering free electrons to the cathode section, said ionolyte receives ions of one polarity moving from the anolyte through the membrane related thereto preventing chemical equilibrium in the anode section and sustaining chemical reaction and the generating of free electrons therein, said ions received by the ionolyte from the anolyte release different ions from the ionolyte which move through the membrane between the ionolyte and catholyte and which add to the catholyte.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A fuel cell comprising an anode section including an anode terminal, an anode fuel supply and an anolyte containing negative and positive charged anolyte ions, a cathode section including a cathode terminal, an electron distributing means and a catholyte containing negative and positive charged catholyte ions, an ion exchange section between the anode and cathode sections and including an ionolyte containing negative and positive charged ionolyte ions, a first ion transfer membrane between and separating the anolyte and ionolyte and a second ion transfer membrane between and separating the ionolyte and the catholyte, an electric circuit connected with and between the anode and cathode terminals conducting electrons from the anode section and delivering electrons to the cathode section, the anolyte is such that when certain anolyte ions of one charge are removed from it, remaining anolyte ions of the other charge react with the anode fuel to generate free electrons, the catholyte is such that when electrons are added to it, certain ionolyte ions of one charge move to combine with it, the ionolyte is such that said certain anolyte ions of one charge removed from the anolyte move to and combine with it and is such that when those anolyte ions are combined with it, those certain ionolyte ions of one charge are released by it, the first membrane allows movement of said certain anolyte ions of one charge through it, the second membrane allows movement of said certain ionolyte ions of one charge through it.

A fuel cell including an anode section comprising an anode terminal, an anode fuel and an anolyte established of a first material and normally including a substantially balanced supply of positive and negative charged anolyte ions and such that when the supply of positive and negative charged anolyte ions is unbalanced, anolyte ions of one charge react with the anode fuel and generate electrons, an ion exchange section adjacent the anode section including an ionolyte established of a second material and normally including a substantially balanced supply of positive and negative charged ionolyte ions and such that when its supply of positive and negative charged ionolyte ions is unbalanced, anolyte ions of one charge will combine therewith and ionolyte ions of similar charge will release therefrom, a first membrane between and separating the anolyte and catholyte and through which anolyte ions of one charge which will combine with the ionolyte move to combine with the anolyte and through which anolyte ions of the opposite charge will not move, whereby the balance of the supply of positive and negative charged anolyte ions in the anode section is unbalanced, a cathode section adjacent the ion exchange section and remote from the anode section and comprising a cathode terminal, an electron distributor means and a catholyte established of a third material and such that when free electrons are added thereto, ionolyte ions of one charge will combine therewith, a second membrane between and separating the ionolyte and catholyte and through which those ionolyte ions which will combine with the catholyte move from the ionolyte to the catholyte and through which ionolyte ions of the opposite charge will not move and an external circuit connected with and between the anode and cathode terminals conducting electrons from the anode section and delivering electrons to the cathode section.

A battery comprising a plurality of like fuel cells, each comprising an anode section including an anode chamber, an anode fuel supply in the anode chamber, and anode terminal connected with the fuel supply and accessible at the exterior of the chamber, anolyte inlet and outlet ports communicating with the chamber and an anolyte within the chamber, a cathode section including a cathode chamber, an electron distributor means in the cathode chamber, a cathode terminal connected with the distributing means and accessible at the exterior of the chamber, catholyte inlet and outlet ports communicating with the chamber and a catholyte within the chamber, an ion exchange section between the anode and cathode sections including an ion exchange chamber, ionolyte inlet and outlet ports communicating with the ion exchange chamber and an ionolyte within the chamber, a first ion transfer membrane between the anode and ion exchange sections, a second ion transfer membrane between the ion exchange and cathode sections and a support system comprising an external electric circuit connected with and between the anode and cathode terminals conducting electrons from the anode sections and delivering electrons to the cathode sections;

anolyte, ionolyte and catholyte supply tanks spaced from the battery, elongate anolyte, ionolyte and catholyte delivery lines extending from the inlet port of each anode, ion exchange and cathode section in the battery to related anolyte, ionolyte and catholyte supply tanks and through which anolyte, ionolyte and catholyte flow from said supply tanks to the cell sections, anolyte, ionolyte and catholyte receiving means spaced from the battery and elongate anolyte, ionolyte and catholyte discharge lines extending from each anode, ion exchange and cathode section to its related anolyte, ionolyte and catholyte receiving means and through which anolyte, ionolyte and catholyte flow from their related cell sections to related receiving means, said delivery and discharge lines are made of dielectric material and the ratio of diameter to length thereof is such that the electric resistance afforded by the fluid therein stops the flow of shunt currents therethrough and between those cell sections with which the lines communicate.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.