H2—Cl2 proton exchange membrane fuel cells, fuel cell assemblies including the same and systems for cogeneration of electricity and HCL
AssigneeSouthwest Research Institute
InventorFrancis Y. Huang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Fuel cells and, more particularly, the H2—Cl2 proton exchange membrane fuels cells are described. In some embodiments the fuel cells include a flow through electrolyte assembly that is configured to allow the introduction of a first (relatively dilute) electrolyte into the cell, and the remove of a second (relatively concentrated) electrolyte from the cell. Fuel cell stacks and systems for cogenerating electricity and hydrochloric acid using such fuel cells are also described.
Claims32
A H2—Cl2 fuel cell, comprising:
- an anode assembly comprising a catalyst to catalytically oxidize H2 to H+
- a cathode assembly comprising a catalyst to catalytically reduce Cl2 to Cl−;
- a proton exchange membrane between the anode assembly and the cathode assembly;
- and
- a flow through electrolyte assembly between the proton exchange membrane and the cathode assembly, the flow through electrolyte assembly comprising a frame and a porous flow through field;
- and wherein:
- the frame comprises an inlet for receiving an incoming electrolyte and providing said incoming electrolyte to said flow through field;
- and
- the frame comprises an outlet for receiving an outgoing electrolyte from said flow through field and transporting said outgoing electrolyte out of said flow through electrolyte assembly.
A fuel cell stack, comprising a plurality of H2—Cl2 fuel cells coupled in series, wherein each of said plurality of H2—Cl2 fuel cells comprises:
- an anode assembly comprising an anode catalyst to catalytically oxidize H2 to H+
- a cathode assembly comprising a cathode catalyst to catalytically reduce Cl2 to Cl−;
- a proton exchange membrane between the anode assembly and the cathode assembly;
- and
- a flow through electrolyte assembly between the proton exchange membrane and the cathode, the flow through electrolyte assembly comprising a frame and a porous flow through field;
- and wherein:
- the frame comprises an inlet for receiving an incoming electrolyte and providing said incoming electrolyte to said flow through field;
- the frame comprises an outlet for receiving an outgoing electrolyte from said flow through field and transporting said outgoing electrolyte out of said flow through electrolyte assembly;
- and
- said fuel cell stack produces a collective voltage output ranging from about 2.4 to about 240V.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.