# US 9,437,887 B2 · Internally controllable fuel cell

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- Number: US 9,437,887 B2
- Document ID: US9437887B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/365,006
- Filed: 2012-12-06
- Published: 2014-12-18
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2011-12-14
- Assignees: Helmut Schmidt Universität, Universität der Bundeswehr Hamburg; Hamburg Innovation GmbH
- Applicants: Helmut Schmidt Universität, Universität der Bundeswehr Hamburg; Hamburg Innovation GmbH
- Inventors: Detlef Schulz
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9437887B2

## CPC

- H01M 8/04291: Arrangements for managing water in solid electrolyte fuel cell systems (H01M8/04119 takes precedence)
- C25B 1/04: by electrolysis of water
- C25B 9/05: Pressure cells
- C25B 9/19: with diaphragms
- C25B 13/02: characterised by shape or form
- C25B 13/04: characterised by the material
- H01M 8/0271: Sealing or supporting means around electrodes, matrices or membranes
- H01M 8/04582: {of the individual fuel cell}
- H01M 8/04895: {Current}
- H01M 8/04902: {of the individual fuel cell}
- H01M 2008/1095: {Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes}
- H02N 2/18: producing electrical output from mechanical input, e.g. generators (for measurement devices G01)
- Y02E 60/36: Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
- Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- C25B: ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR (anodic or cathodic protection C23F13/00; single-crystal growth C30B)
- H02N: ELECTRIC MACHINES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

Fuel cell and/or high-pressure electrolysis cell and a fuel cell membrane arrangement for improved control of a fuel cell by an actuator connected to the fuel cell membrane.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A fuel cell membrane unit for use between an anode and a cathode in a fuel cell, wherein the fuel cell membrane unit comprises:
a fuel cell membrane, and
an actuator, which is connected to the fuel cell membrane and is configured to control a current density distribution in the fuel cell membrane.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The fuel cell membrane unit according to claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a grid for generating at least one of an electrical field and a magnetic field.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The fuel cell membrane unit according to claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the grid structure is embedded in the fuel cell membrane.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The fuel cell membrane unit according to claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a horizontal grid and a vertical grid, wherein the horizontal grid is arranged so that it is rotated by essentially 90° relative to the vertical grid.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The fuel cell membrane unit according to claim 4, wherein the horizontal grid and the vertical grid lie directly one above the other.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The fuel cell membrane unit according to claim 4, wherein the horizontal grid and the vertical grid are arranged on opposite surfaces of the fuel cell membrane.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The fuel cell membrane unit according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the horizontal grid and the vertical grid is constructed as a grid having a plurality of piezo elements connected in parallel.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The fuel cell membrane unit according to claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a piezo element which is designed to generate at least one of an electrical field and a magnetic field under the influence of pressure to control the fuel cell membrane.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The fuel cell membrane unit according to claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a semiconductor layer and an optical fiber, such that the optical fiber is designed to generate at least one of an electrical field and a magnetic field on a p-n structure of the semiconductor layer with a photoelectric effect for controlling the fuel cell membrane.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The fuel cell membrane unit according to claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises at least one field effect transistor structure which is designed to control at least one of an electrical field and a magnetic field via a gate for controlling the fuel cell membrane.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

A fuel cell comprising
an anode,
a cathode,
a fuel cell membrane unit arranged between the anode and the cathode according to claim 1 for operation with energy flow primarily chemically to secondarily electrically.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

A high-pressure electrolysis cell comprising
an anode,
a cathode,
a fuel cell membrane unit arranged between the anode and the cathode according to claim 1 for operation with energy flow primarily electrically to secondarily chemically.