Fuel cell water transport
Abstract
The moisture content and temperature of hydrogen and oxygen gases is regulated throughout traverse of the gases in a fuel cell incorporating a solid polymer membrane. At least one of the gases traverses a first flow field adjacent the solid polymer membrane, where chemical reactions occur to generate an electrical current. A second flow field is located sequential with the first flow field and incorporates a membrane for effective water transport. A control fluid is then circulated adjacent the second membrane on the face opposite the fuel cell gas wherein moisture is either transported from the control fluid to humidify a fuel gas, e.g., hydrogen, or to the control fluid to prevent excess water buildup in the oxidizer gas, e.g., oxygen. Evaporation of water into the control gas and the control gas temperature act to control the fuel cell gas temperatures throughout the traverse of the fuel cell by the gases.
- Inventors:
-
- Los Alamos, NM
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 867616
- Patent Number(s):
- 4973530
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (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-7405-ENG-36
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- fuel; cell; water; transport; moisture; content; temperature; hydrogen; oxygen; gases; regulated; throughout; traverse; incorporating; solid; polymer; membrane; traverses; flow; field; adjacent; chemical; reactions; occur; generate; electrical; current; located; sequential; incorporates; effective; control; fluid; circulated; opposite; gas; transported; humidify; prevent; excess; buildup; oxidizer; evaporation; temperatures; gas temperature; control fluid; cell incorporating; control gas; fuel cell; excess water; moisture content; oxygen gas; flow field; fuel gas; chemical reaction; solid polymer; electrical current; chemical reactions; cell gas; polymer membrane; reactions occur; gas temperatures; prevent excess; /429/
Citation Formats
Vanderborgh, Nicholas E, and Hedstrom, James C. Fuel cell water transport. United States: N. p., 1990.
Web.
Vanderborgh, Nicholas E, & Hedstrom, James C. Fuel cell water transport. United States.
Vanderborgh, Nicholas E, and Hedstrom, James C. Mon .
"Fuel cell water transport". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/867616.
@article{osti_867616,
title = {Fuel cell water transport},
author = {Vanderborgh, Nicholas E and Hedstrom, James C},
abstractNote = {The moisture content and temperature of hydrogen and oxygen gases is regulated throughout traverse of the gases in a fuel cell incorporating a solid polymer membrane. At least one of the gases traverses a first flow field adjacent the solid polymer membrane, where chemical reactions occur to generate an electrical current. A second flow field is located sequential with the first flow field and incorporates a membrane for effective water transport. A control fluid is then circulated adjacent the second membrane on the face opposite the fuel cell gas wherein moisture is either transported from the control fluid to humidify a fuel gas, e.g., hydrogen, or to the control fluid to prevent excess water buildup in the oxidizer gas, e.g., oxygen. Evaporation of water into the control gas and the control gas temperature act to control the fuel cell gas temperatures throughout the traverse of the fuel cell by the gases.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1990},
month = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1990}
}