# US 6,720,102 B2 · Rotating fuel cell > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,720,102 B2 - Document ID: US6720102B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 09/990,146 - Filed: 2001-11-21 - Published: 2003-05-22 - Granted: 2004-04-13 - Earliest claimed: 2001-11-21 - Inventors: Thomas C. Edwards - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6720102B2 ## CPC - H01M 8/04014: Heat exchange using gaseous fluids; Heat exchange by combustion of reactants - H01M 8/04089: of gaseous reactants - H01M 8/04156: {with product water removal} - H01M 8/242: comprising framed electrodes or intermediary frame-like gaskets (H01M8/2425, H01M8/244 take precedence) - H01M 8/2457: with both reactants being gaseous or vaporised - H01M 8/2465: Details of groupings of fuel cells - H01M 8/1007: with both reactants being gaseous or vaporised (H01M8/12 takes precedence) - Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A rotating fuel cell has a mounting with bearing means defining a rotary axis. A shaft with a longitudinally-extending bore is supported for rotation on the bearings. At least one PEM fuel cell assembly is mounted on the shaft and insulated therefrom, and also has a gas passageway in register with a radially-extending port in the shaft. Connections are provided for admitting hydrogen gas to the hollow bore. Air (oxygen) is supplied to the exterior of the PEM fuel cell assembly. The shaft and the PEM fuel cell assembly is rotated about the axis. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A rotating fuel cell comprising: (i) mounting means having bearing means defining a longitudinally extending rotary axis; (ii) a shaft having first and second ends rotatably supported on said bearing means, said shaft having an outer surface and a hollow bore extending a preselected length from said first end thereof, said shaft further having a radially-extending port connecting said hollow bore to said outer surface; (iii) a radially-extending PEM fuel cell assembly positioned on said shaft to rotate therewith, said PEM fuel cell assembly having a gas passage in register with said port of said shaft; (iv) means for providing hydrogen gas to said hollow bore of said shaft; (v) means connected to said second end of said shaft and being adapted to rotate said shaft and PEM fuel cell assembly about said axis; and (vi) electrical output means connected to said PEM fuel cell assembly. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fuel cell of claim 1 wherein said PEM fuel cell assembly comprises a blade which is adapted when rotating with said shaft, to cause air to flow longitudinally against and around said PEM fuel cell assembly. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The fuel cell of claim 1 wherein said means adapted to rotate said shaft is mounted on said mounting means. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The fuel cell of claim 2 wherein said blade comprises (a) an anodic radially-extending rim-like frame of electrically conductive material having a preselected shaped periphery and preselected longitudinal thickness and opposed axial surfaces, (b) a pair of PEMs having peripheries configured substantially identical to said periphery of said frame, said pair of PEMs being respectively attached to said opposed axial surfaces of said frame so as to define therebetween a radially-extending gap, (c) a sealing rim connected to said peripheries of said PEMs, and (d) a gas passageway extending between said gap and said port of said shaft. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The fuel cell of claim 4 wherein said PEM comprises a sandwich of an anode, an electrolyte, and a cathode. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The fuel cell of claim 5 wherein said shaft is electrically conductive and is included in said electrical output means. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The fuel cell of claim 6 wherein said electrical output means includes a pair of slip ring means on said shaft and a pair of slip ring wiper means on said housing respectively engaging said pair of slip ring means. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The fuel cell of claim 1 wherein said means for providing hydrogen gas to said hollow bore of said shaft comprises rotary coupling means mounted on said first end of said shaft and adapted to provide a connection between a supply of hydrogen gas and said hollow bore of said shaft and thence, via said port, to said gap of said PEMs. ### Claim 9 A rotating fuel cell comprising: (i) mounting means having bearing means defining a longitudinally extending rotary axis; (ii) a shaft having first and second ends supported on said bearing means for rotation about said axis, said shaft having an outer surface, a hollow bore extending a preselected length from said first end, and at least one radially-extending port connecting said bore with said outer surface; (iii) at least one radially-extending PEM fuel cell assembly positioned on said shaft to rotate therewith and having a gas passage in register with said port; (iv) means for providing hydrogen gas to said hollow bore of said shaft; (v) electrical output means connected to said PEM fuel cell assembly; and (vi) means for rotating said shaft relative to said mounting means. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The fuel cell apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a plurality of radially-extending PEM fuel cell assemblies positioned in a stack on said shaft in side by side longitudinally-spaced-apart relationship, each of said assemblies having a gas passage in register with one of a plurality of radially-extending and longitudinally-spaced-apart ports in said shaft. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The fuel cell apparatus of claim 10 wherein said means for rotating said shaft comprises an electric motor means connected to said shaft. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said assemblies each comprises a blade adapted, when rotated, to cause air flow longitudinally against and around said assemblies. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12 wherein each of said blades comprises (a) an anodic radially-extending rim-like electrically conductive frame having a preselected shaped periphery, a preselected longitudinal thickness, and opposed axially facing surfaces, (b) a pair of PEMs having peripheries substantially identical to said periphery of said frame respectively connected to said opposed axially facing surfaces of said frame so as to define therebetween a radially-extending gap, and (c) a gas passageway extending between said gap and one of said ports of said shaft. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13 further characterized by said shaft being electrically conductive and by insulative means being positioned between said shaft and said plurality of PEM assemblies. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14 wherein each of said PEMs comprises a sandwich of an anode, an electrolyte, and a cathode. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said electrical output mean includes slip ring means on said shaft and wiper means on said mounting means. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16 including electrically conductive spacers positioned between said assemblies. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17 including means on said mounting means for regulating the flow of air longitudinally through said mounting means. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said blades and PEMs have asymmetrical shapes. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said asymmetrically shaped blades and PEMs of said axially spaced apart assemblies are positioned on said shaft in a preselected non-aligned order. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said assemblies are electrically connected in series.