Electrochemical power generator

Abstract

Abstract The invention provides an electrochemical power generator having a structure where a plurality of unit cells (21) are stacked such that each pair of adjacent unit cells (21) sandwich an interconnector (22) therebetween. Each unit cell (21) is formed such that an anode (2) of a porous carbon substrate having an anode catalyst layer (5) on one surface thereof and a cathode (3) of a porous carbon fiber sheet having a cathode catalyst layer (4) on one surface thereof sandwich a matrix layer (6) containing an electrolyte solution of a concentrated acid solution therebetween so as to respectively bring the two surfaces of the matrix layer (6) into tight contact with the anode and cathode catalyst layers (4, 5). The interconnector (22) 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 (12) which function as a gas passage for the gas containing hydrogen as its major component are formed in the other surface of the anode (2), the cathode (3) is thinner than the anode (2) and is waterproofed, and a plurality of grooves (11) which function as a gas passage for the oxidizing gas are formed in one surface of the interconnector (22).

Inventors

• 👤 Tamotsu Shirogami
• 👤 Mitsushi Ueno

Bibliographic Details