US4079171A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Molten carbonate fuel cell electrolyte
Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
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Filing: 1977-06-06
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Granted: 1978-03-14
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Expires: 1997-06-06
Abstract
Abstract An improved molten carbonate fuel cell electrolyte wherein the inert support matrix is predominately LiAl02 having crystalline structure with an average L/D greater than about 3 and surface area greater than about 5 sq. meters/gram and the carbonates composition is a ternary lithium-potassium-sodium or binary lithium-potassium or lithium-sodium carbonates composition having a thermal expansion of about 1.5 to about 3.5 x 10-5 inch/inch DEG C. The improved molten carbonate fuel cell electrolyte of this invention provides fuel cell electrolytes capable of containing 50 to 70 wt. percent carbonate components to provide high power densities while providing a thin electrolyte which is resistant to physical damage on thermal cycling of the fuel cell. The electrolyte of this invention may also be reinforced with metallic alloys to provide additional strength characteristics.
Inventors
- 👤 Leonard G. Marianowski
- 👤 Elias Humberto Camara
- 👤 Hansraj Champshi Maru
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 22:14
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M8/00; H01M8/14; H01M8/144; H01M8/02; H01M8/0289; H01M8/0295; H01M8/145; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
An improved molten carbonate fuel cell electrolyte comprising about 30 to about 50 wt. percent of an inert support portion and about 50 to about 70 wt. percent of alkali metal carbonates composition, said inert support portion being principally LiAlO 2 having a crystalline structure with an average L/D greater than about 3 and surface area greater than about 5 sq. meters/gram and said carbonates composition is selected from the group consisting of a ternary lithium-potassium-sodium carbonates composition, a binary lithium-potassium carbonates composition and a binary lithium-sodium carbonates composition, said carbonates composition having a thermal expansion of about 1.5 to about 3.5 × 10 -5 inch/inch ° C.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
108 words
An improved molten carbonate fuel cell electrolyte comprising about 30 to about 50 wt. percent of an inert support portion and about 50 to about 70 wt. percent of alkali metal carbonates composition, said inert support portion being principally LiAlO 2 having a crystalline structure with an average L/D greater than about 3 and surface area greater than about 5 sq. meters/gram and said carbonates composition is selected from the group consisting of a ternary lithium-potassium-sodium carbonates composition, a binary lithium-potassium carbonates composition and a binary lithium-sodium carbonates composition, said carbonates composition having a thermal expansion of about 1.5 to about 3.5 × 10 -5 inch/inch ° C.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The improved fuel cell electrolyte of claim 1 wherein the LiAlO 2 has an average L/D of about 3 to about 20 and surface area of about 5 to about 30 sq. meters/gram.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The improved fuel cell electrolyte of claim 1 wherein the average L/D is about 3 to about 10.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The improved fuel cell electrolyte of claim 1 wherein the surface area is about 10 to about 20 sq. meters/gram.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The improved fuel cell electrolyte of claim 1 wherein the carbonates composition is a binary lithium-potassium carbonates composition.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improved fuel cell electrolyte of claim 1 wherein the carbonates composition thermal expansion is about 1.75 to 2.25 × 10 -5 inch/inch ° C.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
58 words
The improved fuel cell electrolyte of claim 1 wherein the LiAlO 2 has an average L/D of about 3 to about 10 and a surface area of about 10 to about 20 sq. meters/gram and wherein the carbonates composition is binary lithium-potassium carbonates having a thermal expansion of about 1.75 to 2.25 × 10 -5 inch/inch ° C.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The improved fuel cell electrolyte of claim 1 having about 2 to about 6 volume percent refractory metallic alloy reinforcement.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The improved fuel cell electrolyte of claim 8 having about 2 to about 4 volume percent alloy reinforcement, said alloy comprising principally Fe and Cr and about 2 to about 6 wt. percent aluminum.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The improved fuel cell electrolyte of claim 8 wherein said reinforcement is in the form of alloy fibers, said alloy comprising principally Fe and Cr and about 2 to about 6 wt. percent Al.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The improved fuel cell electrolyte of claim 8 wherein said reinforcement is in the form of metallic screen.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The improved fuel cell electrolyte of claim 1 wherein more than about 60 wt. percent of said LiAlO 2 is initially β-LiAlO 2 .
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
The improved fuel cell electrolyte of claim 12 wherein 80 to 95 wt. percent of the LiAlO 2 is β-LiAlO 2 having an average L/D of about 3 to about 20 and surface area of about 5 to about 30 sq. meters/gram.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The improved fuel cell electrolyte of claim 12 wherein the average L/D is about 3 to about 10.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The improved fuel cell electrolyte of claim 12 wherein the surface area is about 10 to about 20 sq. meters/gram.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The improved fuel cell electrolyte of claim 12 wherein the carbonates composition is a binary lithium-potassium carbonates composition.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improved fuel cell electrolyte of claim 12 wherein the carbonates composition thermal expansion is about 1.75 to 2.25 × 10 -5 inch/inch ° C.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
67 words
The improved fuel cell electrolyte of claim 12 wherein 80 to 95 wt. percent of the LiAlO 2 is β-LiAlO 2 having an average L/D of about 3 to about 10 and a surface area of about 10 to about 20 sq. meters/gram and wherein the carbonates composition is binary lithium-potassium carbonates having a thermal expansion of about 1.75 to 2.25 × 10 -5 inch/inch ° C.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The improved fuel cell electrolyte of claim 12 having about 2 to about 6 volume percent refractory metallic alloy reinforcement.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
The improved fuel cell electrolyte of claim 19 having about 2 to about 4 volume percent alloy reinforcement, said alloy comprising principally Fe and Cr and about 2 to about 6 wt. percent aluminum.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
The improved fuel cell electrolyte of claim 19 wherein said reinforcement is in the form of alloy fibers, said alloy comprising principally Fe and Cr and about 2 to about 6 wt. percent Al.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The improved fuel cell electrolyte of claim 19 wherein said reinforcement is in the form of metallic screen.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
39 words
The improved fuel cell electrolyte of claim 8 having about 2 to about 4 volume percent alloy reinforcement, said alloy containing principally Fe and Cr, about 2 to about 6 weight percent Al and about 0.5 weight percent Co.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
39 words
The improved fuel cell electrolyte of claim 8 wherein said reinforcement is in the form of alloy fibers, said alloy containing principally Fe and Cr, about 2 to about 6 weight percent Al and about 0.5 weight percent Co.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
39 words
The improved fuel cell electrolyte of claim 19 having about 2 to about 4 volume percent alloy reinforcement, said alloy containing principally Fe and Cr, about 2 to about 6 weight percent Al and about 0.5 weight percent Co.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
39 words
The improved fuel cell electrolyte of claim 19 wherein said reinforcement is in the form of alloy fibers, said alloy containing principally Fe and Cr, about 2 to about 6 weight percent Al and about 0.5 weight percent Co.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3466197A
Cited
US4009321A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-03-13 | 1981-09-12 | 1982-03-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-03-13 | 1985-09-12 | 1986-03-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-03-13 | 1989-09-12 | 1990-03-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |