US 8,523,964 B2 · Hydrogen generating device as well as fuel cell power generating device, electric automobile, sumbergible ship and hydrogen supply system using the same

Abstract

A hydrogen generating device for generating a gas containing hydrogen by decomposing a fuel containing an organic compound which includes a partition membrane, a fuel electrode provided on one surface of the partition membrane, a fuel supply unit supplying a fuel containing organic compound and water to the fuel electrode, an oxidizing electrode provided on the other surface of the partition membrane, an oxidizing agent supply unit supplying an oxidizing agent to the oxidizing electrode, and a gas generating and collecting unit generating and collecting the gas containing hydrogen from the fuel electrode. A low oxidizing agent supply region where supply of the oxidizing agent is substantially lower than the other region is present on an oxidizing electrode side of the hydrogen generating device.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims35

Dependent claims

A hydrogen generating device for generating a gas containing hydrogen by decomposing a fuel containing an organic compound, comprising:

a partition membrane;
a fuel electrode provided on one surface of the partition membrane;
means for supplying a fuel containing the organic compound and water to the fuel electrode;
an oxidizing electrode provided on other surface of the partition membrane;
means for supplying an oxidizing agent to the oxidizing electrode;
means for generating and collecting the gas containing hydrogen from the fuel electrode;
a gas diffusion layer formed on the oxidizing electrode;
another gas diffusion layer formed on the fuel electrode;
a first region including a masking part masking a part of the gas diffusion layer of the oxidizing electrode and a non-masking part not masking a part of the another gas diffusion layer of the fuel electrode, the non-masking part facing the masking part at a corresponding position thereof over the partition membrane;
a second region that the masking part is absent both on the gas diffusion layer of the oxidizing electrode and the another gas diffusion layer of the fuel electrode at another corresponding position thereof over the partition membrane, and
a third region including the masking part of the gas diffusion layer of the oxidizing electrode and another masking part masking a part of the another gas diffusion layer of the fuel electrode, the masking part of the gas diffusion layer of the oxidizing electrode facing the another masking part of the another gas diffusion layer of the fuel electrode,
wherein the masking part on the gas diffusion layer of the oxidizing electrode is a low oxidizing agent supply region where supply of the oxidizing agent is substantially lower than a part that the masking part is absent, and
the low oxidizing agent supply region is provided with the masking part of the oxidizing electrode and the another masking part of the fuel electrode displaced on at least parts of the masking part and the another masking part from each other on opposing surfaces thereof.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description15,851 words

Summary5,539 words

#The present invention relates to a hydrogen generating device for generating a gas containing hydrogen by decomposing a fuel containing organic matters at a low temperature, as well as a fuel cell power generating device, an electric automobile, a submergible ship and a hydrogen supply system using the hydrogen generating device.

#As technologies of generating a gas by decomposing a fuel containing organic matters at a low temperature there are known methods and devices for generating hydrogen by electrochemical reactions, and there are also known fuel cells using hydrogen generated by such electrochemical reactions (See Patent Documents 1 to 4). Patent Document 1: JP-B-3328993 Patent Document 2: JP-B-3360349 Patent Document 3: U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,299,744, 6,368,492, 6,432,284, and 6,533,919, and U.S. Patent Application No. 2003/0226763 Patent Document 4: JP-A-2001-297779

#Patent Document 1 cited above describes (Claim 1), “a method for generating hydrogen comprising providing a pair of electrodes on the two opposite surfaces of a cation exchange membrane, contacting a fuel containing at least methanol and water with one electrode having a catalyst, applying a voltage between the pair of electrodes so that electrons are withdrawn from the electrodes thereby causing a reaction to occur on the electrodes whereby hydrogen ions are generated from methanol and water, and allowing hydrogen ions to be converted on the other electrode, being supplied with electrons, into hydrogen molecules.” The same patent document discloses another method (paragraphs [0033] to [0038]) for selectively generating hydrogen using a conversion system, the method comprising supplying water or water vapor together with methanol which serves as a fuel, applying a voltage via an external circuit to cause electrons to be withdrawn from a fuel electrode, so that reaction represented by CH3OH+2H2O→CO2+6e−+6H+ occurs on the fuel electrode, and allowing hydrogen ions thus produced to pass through a cation exchange membrane to reach the opposite electrode where the hydrogen ions undergo reaction represented by 6H++6e−→3H2. Patent Document 2 cited above describes (paragraphs [0052] to [0056]) a fuel cell which utilizes hydrogen generated by a method as described above.

Brief description of the drawings18 figures

#FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for showing a reaction in a discharge region of a fuel electrode and an air electrode of a hydrogen generating device of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for showing a reaction in a hydrogen generation region of the fuel electrode and the air electrode of the hydrogen generating device of the present invention;

#FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for showing a total reaction on the fuel electrode and the air electrode of the hydrogen generating device of the present invention;

Detailed description9,767 words

#10: Hydrogen generating cell 11: Partition membrane 12: Fuel electrode 13: Feed channel through which a fuel containing organic matters and water (aqueous solution of methanol) is supplied to fuel electrode 12 14: Oxidizing electrode (air electrode) 15: Feed channel through which an oxidizing agent (air) is supplied to oxidizing electrode (air electrode) 14 16: Fuel pump 17: Air blower 18: Fuel flow control valve 19: Air flow control valve 20: Fuel tank 21: Fuel control vessel 22: Voltage controller 23: Gas/liquid separator (for separating hydrogen-containing gas from unreacted aqueous solution of methanol) 24: Hydrogen tank 25: Guide tube for returning unreacted aqueous solution of methanol to fuel control vessel 21 26: Hydrogen flow control valve 27: Gas/liquid separator (for separating generated water and unreacted aqueous solution of methanol from exhaust air) 28: Carbon dioxide removing device 29: Guide tube for returning unreacted aqueous solution of methanol to fuel control vessel 21 30: Fuel cell 31: Solid polymer electrolyte membrane 32: Hydrogen electrode 33: Feed channel through which hydrogen is supplied to hydrogen electrode 32 34: Air electrode 35: Feed channel through which air is supplied to air electrode 34 36: Power converting device for converting direct-current power generated by fuel cell 30 to a predetermined power 37: Control device for controlling the entire generating device 38: Package

#The most preferred embodiments in execution of the present invention will be illustrated below

#The hydrogen generating device of the invention is basically novel, and the embodiments thereof described herein are given only for the illustrate representation of the present invention, and not for limiting the scope of the invention.

Facts

Application

11/921,471Filed 2 Jun 2006

Priority

JP 2005-1641453 Jun 2005

Published

US 2009/0123801 A114 May 2009

Granted

3 Sep 2013

Term ends

18 May 2030

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 1,446 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification23 codes

H01M 8/04007
Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids: related to heat exchange
C01B 3/323
By reaction of gaseous or liquid organic compounds with gasifying agents, e.g. water, carbon dioxide or air: catalytic reaction of gaseous or…
H01M 8/0612
With means for production of gaseous reactants: from carbon-containing material
B60L 58/30
Methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells, specially adapted for electric vehicles: for monitoring or…

Timeline

3 Jun 2005Priority claimedJP 2005-164145
2 Jun 2006Application filedUS 11/921,471
3 Dec 2007Assigned to Gs Yuasa Corporationassignment of assignor's interest
14 May 2009PublishedUS 2009/0123801 A1
15 Apr 2011Assigned to Gs Yuasa International Ltd.change of name
3 Sep 2013GrantedUS 8,523,964 B2
12 Oct 2026TodayWithin its term
18 May 2030Term endsEstimated, includes 1,446 days of adjustment

Hydrogen generating device as well as fuel cell power generating device, electric automobile, sumbergible ship and hydrogen supply system using the same

Life of this patent

Hydrogen generating device as well as fuel cell power generating device, electric automobile, sumbergible ship and hydrogen supply system using the same

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims35

Description15,851 words

Drawings

Classification23 codes

Life of this patent

Description15,851 words