Device for equalizing molten electrolyte content in a fuel cell stack

Patent · Tue Feb 17 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:6738450

Smith, J L

A device is described for equalizing the molten carbonate electrolyte content along the height of a fuel cell stack, with a voltage gradient of negative and positive polarity. The stack has a manifold for reactant gas communicating with a stack face and a porous sealing member in sealing relationship between edges of the manifold and the stack face. The device comprises: a passageway for electrolyte flow having a first end portion adjacent to the negative end and a second end portion adjacent to the positive end of the stack height; a first porous ceramic wick, wettable by molten carbonate electrolyte, extending from the porous sealing member into the first end portion of the passageway adjacent to the negative end of the stack; a second porous ceramic wick, wettable by electrolyte extending from the porous sealing member into the second end portion of the passageway adjacent to the positive end of the stack; and means for vaporizing molten carbonate electrolyte in the first end portion of the passageway, and means for condensing the carbonate electrolyte vapor in the second end portion of the passageway to return molten carbonate to the positive end of the cell stack.

• Assignee: Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC
• Patent Number(s): US 4643954
• OSTI ID: 6738450
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
300503* -- Fuel Cells-- Materials
Components
& Auxiliaries
CERAMICS
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTROLYTES
EVAPORATION
FLUID FLOW
FLUIDS
FUEL CELLS
GAS FLOW
GASES
HIGH-TEMPERATURE FUEL CELLS
MATERIALS
MOLTEN CARBONATE FUEL CELLS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
POROUS MATERIALS
SEALING MATERIALS
VAPORS
WETTABILITY