Hydrogen power cell
AssigneeH Power Corporation
InventorArthur Kaufman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hydrogen fuel cell comprising a cathode and an anode is disclosed. An electrolyte is disposed therebetween. The cathode is supplied with oxygen via a porous carbonaceous distribution plate. The anode is supplied with hydrogen. The operation of the fuel cell results in the generation of water. The carbonaceous member is oxidized sufficiently to impart hydrophilicity to the carbonaceous member while retaining mechanical strength and electrical properties.
Claims11
An ion-exchange membrane electrolyte, water-producing, fuel cell for electricity generation by catalytic combustion of a gaseous hydrogenous fuel with gaseous oxygen leading to formation of water at the cathode, said fuel cell comprising:
- a) an anode;
- b) means to supply a gaseous hydrogenous fuel to said anode;
- c) an oxygen-gas-pervious cathode;
- d) an electrolyte disposed between said anode and said cathode;
- and
- e) a water-pervious, electrically conductive, graphitic, oxygen-distribution member positioned adjacent said cathode to supply oxygen thereto and remove water therefrom, and having oxygen-distribution passages communicating with said cathode for the supply of oxygen thereto;
- wherein said graphitic oxygen-distribution member is composed of a graphite material chemically activated to be hydrophilic, mechanically strong and electrically conductive, whereby water formed at said cathode is transported through said graphitic oxygen-distribution member with said oxygen-distribution passages remaining open for the distribution of oxygen to said cathode.
An ion-exchange member electrolyte, water-producing, fuel cell for electricity generation by catalytic combustion of a gaseous hydrogenous fuel with gaseous oxygen leading to formation of water at the cathode, said fuel cell comprising:
- a) an anode;
- b) means to supply a gaseous hydrogenous fuel to said anode;
- c) an oxygen-gas-pervious cathode;
- d) an electrolyte disposed between said anode and said cathode;
- and
- e) a water-pervious, electrically conductive, graphitic, oxygen-distribution member positioned adjacent said cathode to supply oxygen thereto and remove water therefrom, and having oxygen-distribution passages communicating with said cathode for the supply of oxygen thereto;
- wherein said graphitic oxygen-distribution member is composed of a fibrous graphite material surface treated to be hydrophilic, mechanically strong and electrically conductive, by having oxygenated species chemically bound to said fibrous graphite material and said oxygen-distribution member has a cathode-engaging face pressed into firm engagement with said cathode and said oxygen-distribution passages comprise grooves on said cathode-engaging face of said oxygen-distribution member, said grooves defining ridges in said oxygen-distribution member, product water transported through said ridges away from said cathode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.