Electrochemical power generator

Patent · Tue Jul 24 04:00:00 EDT 1984

OSTI ID:5905364

Shirogami, T; Ueno, M

The invention provides an electrochemical power generator having a structure where a plurality of unit cells are stacked such that each pair of adjacent unit cells sandwich an interconnector therebetween. Each unit cell is formed such that an anode of a porous carbon substrate having an anode catalyst layer on one surface thereof and a cathode of a porous carbon fiber sheet having a cathode catalyst layer on one surface thereof sandwich a matrix layer containing an electrolyte solution of a concentrated acid solution therebetween so as to respectively bring the two surfaces of the matrix layer into tight contact with the anode and cathode catalyst layers. The interconnector is formed of a high density carbon plate. The electrochemical power generator uses as an anode reactant material a gas containing hydrogen as a major component, and uses as a cathode reactant material an oxidizing gas. The electrochemical power generator has excellent mechanical strength and may be efficiently and stably operated without deterioration over a long time. For this purpose, a plurality of grooves which function as a gas passage for the gas containing hydrogen as its major component are formed in the other surface of the anode, the cathode is thinner than the anode and is waterproofed, and a plurality of grooves which function as a gas passage for the oxidizing gas are formed in one surface of the interconnector.

• Assignee: Tokyo Shibaura Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Japan)
• Patent Number(s): US 4461813
• OSTI ID: 5905364
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
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ANODES
CARBON
CATALYSTS
CATHODES
DESIGN
EFFICIENCY
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTRODES
ELEMENTS
MATERIALS
NONMETALS
POROUS MATERIALS