Chemistry: electrical current producing apparatus – product – and – Having magnetic field feature
Patent
1991-01-15
1993-11-09
McFarlane, Anthony
Chemistry: electrical current producing apparatus, product, and
Having magnetic field feature
429 30, 429 33, 429 26, H01M 800, H01M 804, H01M 810
Patent
active
052601439
ABSTRACT:
A method and apparatus is provided for removing water accumulated at the cathode of an electrochemical fuel cell incorporating a solid polymer ion exchange membrane. Liquid water accumulated at the cathode can be removed by maintaining a partial pressure of water vapor in the hydrogen-containing gas supply below the saturation pressure of water vapor therein such that water accumulated at the cathode is drawn by a concentration gradient toward the anode across the membrane and is absorbed as water vapor into the hydrogen-containing gas supply between the inlet and the outlet. In one embodiment, the partial pressure of water vapor in the hydrogen-containing gas supply is maintained below the saturation pressure of water vapor therein by imparting a pressure drop between the inlet and the outlet sufficient to draw water accumulated at the cathode toward the anode. In another embodiment, the partial pressure of water vapor at the inlet of the hydrogen-containing gas supply is maintained at less than the saturation pressure of water vapor therein. Liquid water accumulated at the cathode can also be removed by maintaining a partial pressure of water vapor in the oxygen-containing gas supply below the saturation pressure of water vapor therein such that water accumulated at the cathode is drawn by a concentration gradient and is absorbed as water vapor into the oxygen-containing gas supply between the inlet and the outlet. Liquid water accumulated at the cathode can also be removed by absorbing water vapor into both the hydrogen-containing gas supply and the oxygen-containing gas supply.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4729932 (1988-03-01), McElvoy
patent: 4795683 (1989-01-01), McElroy
patent: 4826742 (1989-05-01), Reiser
patent: 4973530 (1990-11-01), Vanderborgh et al.
H. Koch et al., "Water Transport Across The Membrane In Solid Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell", Extended Abstracts of the Battery Division of the Electrochemical Society, Full Meeting, Seattle, Washington (Oct. 14-16, 1990). Pages unavailable.
D. Bernardi, "Water-Balance Calculations For Solid-Polymer-Electrolyte Fuel Cells", J. Electrochem. Soc. (vol. 137, No. 11) (Nov. 1990), pp. 3344-3350.
Voss Henry H.
Watkins David S.
Wilkinson David P.
Ballard Power Systems Inc.
McFarlane Anthony
Phan Nhat D.
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