Low cost fuel cell diffusion layer configured for optimized anode water management

Owejan, Jon P; Nicotera, Paul D; Mench, Matthew M; Evans, Robert E

Title: Low cost fuel cell diffusion layer configured for optimized anode water management

Full Record
Other Related Research

Abstract

A fuel cell comprises a cathode gas diffusion layer, a cathode catalyst layer, an anode gas diffusion layer, an anode catalyst layer and an electrolyte. The diffusion resistance of the anode gas diffusion layer when operated with anode fuel is higher than the diffusion resistance of the cathode gas diffusion layer. The anode gas diffusion layer may comprise filler particles having in-plane platelet geometries and be made of lower cost materials and manufacturing processes than currently available commercial carbon fiber substrates. The diffusion resistance difference between the anode gas diffusion layer and the cathode gas diffusion layer may allow for passive water balance control.

Inventors:: Owejan, Jon P; Nicotera, Paul D; Mench, Matthew M; Evans, Robert E

Issue Date:: 2013-08-27

Research Org.:: DOEEE (USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EE) (United States))

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE

OSTI Identifier:: 1093364

Patent Number(s):: 8518596

Application Number:: 13/473,104

Assignee:: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (Detroit, MI)

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 Y02T - CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

Show more

H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01M - PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
H01M2008/1095 - {Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes}
H01M8/0234 - Carbonaceous material

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02T - CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
Y02T90/40 - Application of hydrogen technology to transportation

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02P - CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
Y02P70/50 - Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

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
Y02E60/50 - Fuel cells

H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01M - PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
H01M2250/20 - Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane

Show less

DOE Contract Number:: EE0000470

Resource Type:: Patent

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 42 ENGINEERING

Citation Formats


                    Owejan, Jon P, Nicotera, Paul D, Mench, Matthew M, and Evans, Robert E. Low cost fuel cell diffusion layer configured for optimized anode water management.  United States: N. p., 2013. 
        Web.

Copy to clipboard


                    Owejan, Jon P, Nicotera, Paul D, Mench, Matthew M, & Evans, Robert E. Low cost fuel cell diffusion layer configured for optimized anode water management.  United States.

Copy to clipboard


                    Owejan, Jon P, Nicotera, Paul D, Mench, Matthew M, and Evans, Robert E. Tue .  
        "Low cost fuel cell diffusion layer configured for optimized anode water management".  United States.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1093364.

Copy to clipboard


                    
@article{osti_1093364,

  title        = {Low cost fuel cell diffusion layer configured for optimized anode water management},

  author       = {Owejan, Jon P and Nicotera, Paul D and Mench, Matthew M and Evans, Robert E},

  abstractNote = {A fuel cell comprises a cathode gas diffusion layer, a cathode catalyst layer, an anode gas diffusion layer, an anode catalyst layer and an electrolyte. The diffusion resistance of the anode gas diffusion layer when operated with anode fuel is higher than the diffusion resistance of the cathode gas diffusion layer. The anode gas diffusion layer may comprise filler particles having in-plane platelet geometries and be made of lower cost materials and manufacturing processes than currently available commercial carbon fiber substrates. The diffusion resistance difference between the anode gas diffusion layer and the cathode gas diffusion layer may allow for passive water balance control.},

  doi          = {},

  journal      = {},
number       = ,

  volume       = ,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {2013},

  month        = {8}

}

Copy to clipboard

Patent:

Save / Share:

Export Metadata

Save to My Library

Similar Records in DOE Patents and OSTI.GOV collections:

Fuel cell water management via reduced anode reactant pressure

Patent Steinbach, Andrew J. L.; Debe, Mark K.; Haug, Andrew T.

A method is provided for operation of a fuel cell with improved water management by maintaining reduced anode pressure relative to cathode pressure, relative to atmospheric pressure, or both. Typically, the fuel cell comprises a membrane electrode assembly comprising nanostructured thin film cathode catalyst.
Full Text Available
Fuel cell anode configuration for CO tolerance

Patent Uribe, Francisco A.; Zawodzinski, Thomas A.

A polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) is designed to operate on a reformate fuel stream containing oxygen and diluted hydrogen fuel with CO impurities. A polymer electrolyte membrane has an electrocatalytic surface formed from an electrocatalyst mixed with the polymer and bonded on an anode side of the membrane. An anode backing is formed of a porous electrically conductive material and has a first surface abutting the electrocatalytic surface and a second surface facing away from the membrane. The second surface has an oxidation catalyst layer effective to catalyze the oxidation of CO by oxygen present in the fuel streammore » « less
Full Text Available
Optimized cell configurations for stable LSCF-based solid oxide fuel cells

Patent Kim, Jin Yong [Richland, WA]; Sprenkle, Vincent L [Richland, WA]; Canfield, Nathan L [Richland, WA]; ...

Lanthanum strontium cobalt iron oxides (La(1-x)SrxCoyFe1-yO3-f; (LSCF) have excellent power density (>500 mW/cm2 at 750.degree. C.). When covered with a metallization layer, LSCF cathodes have demonstrated increased durability and stability. Other modifications, such as the thickening of the cathode, the preparation of the device by utilizing a firing temperature in a designated range, and the use of a pore former paste having designated characteristics and combinations of these features provide a device with enhanced capabilities.
Full Text Available
Solid oxide fuel cell with transitioned cross-section for improved anode gas management at the open end

Patent Zafred, Paolo R [Murrysville, PA]; Draper, Robert [Pittsburgh, PA]

A solid oxide fuel cell (400) is made having a tubular, elongated, hollow, active section (445) which has a cross-section containing an air electrode (452) a fuel electrode (454) and solid oxide electrolyte (456) between them, where the fuel cell transitions into at least one inactive section (460) with a flattened parallel sided cross-section (462, 468) each cross-section having channels (472, 474, 476) in them which smoothly communicate with each other at an interface section (458).
Full Text Available
3D-printed electrode, gas diffusion electrode (GDE) and gas diffusion layer (GDL) for fuel cell applications

Patent Lee, Kwan-Soo; Dumont, Joseph Henry; Crum, Shaylynn LaSonja A.

An electrocatalytically active ink composition is used with an additive manufacturing process, such as 3D printing, to produce electrodes having consistent, adaptable, and high surface area structures. The electrocatalytically active ink composition includes a mixed powdered precursor and a polymer matrix. The mixed powdered precursor includes a carbon source, a dopant source, and/or a metal-containing catalyst. The material and electrochemical properties of the ink composition may facilitate 3D printing of electrochemically active electrodes for energy conversion and storage devices, and may allow fine-tuning of macro- and microstructures to develop electrodes having improved activity and efficiency.
Full Text Available

Similar Records