US3607421A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fuel cell gas supply system and method
Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
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Filing: 1968-07-31
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Granted: 1971-09-21
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Expires: 1988-07-31
Abstract
Abstract Chlorine is stored in a low vapor pressure condition by adsorption on activated charcoal and is continuously released from the charcoal by means of a closed loop recirculation system between the charcoal and the fuel cell. The closed loop system recirculates a quantity of chlorine in excess of that required for electrochemical consumption in the cell. The excess chlorine acts as an efficient heat transfer medium for conducting heat away from the cell and into the charcoal whereby the temperature of the charcoal is increased, more chlorine is released and the pressure in the closed loop maintained. The rate of heat transfer from the cell to the charcoal is controlled by the recirculation rate of the excess chlorine, which is, in turn, controlled by the system''s pressure.
Inventors
- 👤 John J Werth
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 17:35
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M8/00; H01M8/04; H01M8/04082; H01M8/04089; H01M8/04097; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
21 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said recirculation rate is varied in response to pressure changes of said stream.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as claimed in claim 2 wherein said gas is chlorine and said adsorbent is activated charcoal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method as claimed in claim 3 wherein said stream contains at least about two times the amount of chlorine as is needed for consumption in the cell.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
200 words
An alkali metal fused alkali metal halide halogen electrochemical cell and halogen supply system therefor comprising: an electrochemical cell having a first electrode for said alkali metal, and a second electrode for said halogen; a storage means for said halogen, said storage means including an adsorbent for holding said halogen in an adsorbed state on its surface; a closed loop recirculation system for recirculating an excess quantity of said halogen between said cell and said storage means, said excess being an amount in addition to that required for consumption is said cell and being provided as a heat transfer medium between said cell and said storage means; pump means in said recirculation system for effecting the recirculation of said excess halogen between said storage means and said cell at a rate which is responsive To the pressure of said halogen in said system in order to control the rate of heat transferred from said cell to said storage means; and means for sensing the halogen pressure in said system and controlling said recirculation means so that the heat transferred from the cell to the adsorbent will cause sufficient description of said halogen to maintain a design pressure in said system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The cell as defined in claim 5 wherein said alkali metal is lithium, said halide is lithium chloride, said halogen is chlorine and said adsorbent is activated charcoal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
The cell as defined in claim 6 wherein said adsorbent is a bituminous activated charcoal having a particle size of about 900 to about 1,500 microns, a pore size distribution of between about 10 to about 400 angstroms and a mass and heat transfer surface area of about 1,000 to about 1,100 square meters per gram of charcoal.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
148 words
A method of operating a regenerative fuel cell in which one of the components of said cell''s electrochemical couple is a gas which is adsorbable and desorbable on and from an adsorbent for storage and release of said gas upon demand, and which method involves alternately cycling said system between a discharge cycle in which said gas is desorbed from said adsorbent and piped to said cell and a recharge cycle in which said gas is generated in said cell, piped to and adsorbed on said adsorbent, said method including the steps of: continuously transferring heat generated in said cell to said adsorbent during said discharge cycle by recirculating a sufficient excess quantity of said gas in a substantially closed loop between said cell and said adsorbent to automatically raise the temperature of said adsorbent sufficiently to maintain a substantially predetermined pressure of said gas in said system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
195 words
A fuel cell system for the electrochemical consumption of a gas comprising a fuel cell having an electrode for generating electrical energy from said gas and a supply system for said gas; said supply system comprising storage means including an absorbent for holding said gas in an adsorbed state on its surface; a closed loop recirculation system for circulating an excess quantity of gas between said cell and said storage means, said excess being an amount in addition to that required for consumption in said cell and being provided as a heat transfer medium between said cell and said storage means; pump means in said recirculation system for effecting recirculation of said excess gas between said storage means and said cell at a rate which is responsive to the pressure of said gas in said system in order to control the rate of heat transferred from said cell to said storage means; and means for sensing the condition of said gas in said system and controlling said recirculation means so that the heat transferred from the cell to the adsorbent will cause sufficient desorption of said gas to maintain a predetermined pressure in said system.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3350229A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-20 | 1975-03-22 | 1975-09-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-20 | 1979-03-22 | 1979-09-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-20 | 1983-03-22 | 1983-09-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |