Device for equalizing molten electrolyte content in a fuel cell stack
Abstract
A device for equalizing the molten electrolyte content throughout the height of a fuel cell stack is disclosed. The device includes a passageway for electrolyte return with electrolyte wettable wicking material in the opposite end portions of the passageway. One end portion is disposed near the upper, negative end of the stack where electrolyte flooding occurs. The second end portion is placed near the lower, positive end of the stack where electrolyte is depleted. Heating means are provided at the upper portion of the passageway to increase electrolyte vapor pressure in the upper wicking material. The vapor is condensed in the lower passageway portion and conducted as molten electrolyte in the lower wick to the positive end face of the stack. An inlet is provided to inject a modifying gas into the passageway and thereby control the rate of electrolyte return.
- Inventors:
-
- Lemont, IL
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 866148
- Patent Number(s):
- 4643954
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by Department of Energy (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01M - PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31109-ENG-38
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- device; equalizing; molten; electrolyte; content; fuel; cell; stack; throughout; height; disclosed; passageway; return; wettable; wicking; material; opposite; portions; portion; disposed; near; upper; negative; flooding; occurs; placed; positive; depleted; heating; means; provided; increase; vapor; pressure; condensed; conducted; wick; inlet; inject; modifying; gas; control; rate; fuel cell; heating means; molten electrolyte; cell stack; vapor pressure; upper portion; placed near; electrolyte vapor; electrolyte content; /429/
Citation Formats
Smith, James L. Device for equalizing molten electrolyte content in a fuel cell stack. United States: N. p., 1987.
Web.
Smith, James L. Device for equalizing molten electrolyte content in a fuel cell stack. United States.
Smith, James L. Thu .
"Device for equalizing molten electrolyte content in a fuel cell stack". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/866148.
@article{osti_866148,
title = {Device for equalizing molten electrolyte content in a fuel cell stack},
author = {Smith, James L},
abstractNote = {A device for equalizing the molten electrolyte content throughout the height of a fuel cell stack is disclosed. The device includes a passageway for electrolyte return with electrolyte wettable wicking material in the opposite end portions of the passageway. One end portion is disposed near the upper, negative end of the stack where electrolyte flooding occurs. The second end portion is placed near the lower, positive end of the stack where electrolyte is depleted. Heating means are provided at the upper portion of the passageway to increase electrolyte vapor pressure in the upper wicking material. The vapor is condensed in the lower passageway portion and conducted as molten electrolyte in the lower wick to the positive end face of the stack. An inlet is provided to inject a modifying gas into the passageway and thereby control the rate of electrolyte return.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1987},
month = {Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1987}
}