Novel fuel cell containing novel means for removal of carbonates

Claim 1

Fuel cell having a plurality of elements (1) arranged in electrical contact with one another, each element comprising a compartment (5) containing a pervious catalytic cathode electrode (2) and a pervious catalytic anode electrode (3) in spaced relationship to each other on opposed sides of said compartment (5) forming a space therebetween, said anode electrode (3) being a composite anode comprising (i) a catalyst component, and (ii) a fixing agent component for fixing carbonate ions,; means for charging an aqueous alkaline electrolyte (6) to fill the space between the electrodes in said compartment (5) and means for discharging said electrolyte from said space during the decarbonation phase; a porous separating membrane (12) saturated with said electrolyte located in the space filled by the electrolyte and alternately contacting each of said cathode and said anode in a plurality of positions; wherein during operation of said fuel cell a combustive gas contacts the cathode electrode (2) and a gaseous fuel contacts the anode electrode (3), thereby forming water vapor, and generating carbonate ions at the anode electrode which are fixed by said fixing agent; and means for converting said carbonate ions to carbon dioxide and means for removing said carbon dioxide when said electrolyte is discharged; and condenser exchanger (7) in fluid communication with said compartment (5) for receiving said water vapor, then condensing it to water which is returned to the electrolyte in said compartment (5).

Claim 18

A method of operating a fuel cell having alternating carbonation and decarbonation stages, said fuel cell containing a plurality of elements, each of said elements comprising a compartment containing a pervious composite anode comprising a catalyst and a fixing agent for fixing carbonate ions during the carbonation stage spaced apart from a pervious catalytic cathode which are electrolytically connected (i) by an aqueous alkaline electrolyte during the carbonation stage, and also (ii) by a porous membrane in said electrolyte which alternately contacts said anode and said cathode during both the carbonation and decarbonation stages, said element also containing an agent for fixing carbonate ions in contact with said electrolyte, comprising contacting a combustive gas with said cathode and contacting a gaseous fuel with said anode thereby (a) generating electricity and also forming (b) water vapor which is conducted to a condenser-exchanger in fluid communication with said compartment wherein said water vapor is condensed and is then returned to said compartment, and (c) forming carbonate ions at the anode which then contact said fixing agent and are fixed in contact with said electrolyte until the capacity of the fixing agent is substantially utilized, then removing said electrolyte from said element whereby electrolytic contact between said cathode and said anode is maintained through said porous membrane which is saturated with said electrolyte and continuing to contact said cathode with said combustive gas and said anode with said gaseous fuel so that electricity is generated and the oxidation of the gaseous fuel at the anode causes a reaction with the carbonate ions which are transformed to gaseous carbon dioxide which is removed with the spent gaseous fuel after contact with said anode until substantially all of the carbonate ions which have been fixed are transformed to carbon dioxide, and then returning said electrolyte to said cell and continuing to contact the combustive gas with a cathode and the gaseous fuel with the anode to generate electricity and carbonate ions at the anode.

Claim 19

A method of operating a fuel cell having alternating carbonation and decarbonation stages, said fuel cell containing a plurality of elements, each of said elements comprising a compartment containing a pervious composite anode comprising a catalyst and a fixing agent for fixing carbonate ions during the carbonation stage spaced apart from a pervious catalytic cathode which are electrolytically connected (i) by an aqueous alkaline electrolyte during the carbonation stage, and also (ii) by a porous membrane in said electrolyte which alternately contacts said anode and said cathode during both the carbonation and decarbonation stages, said element also containing an agent for fixing carbonate ions in contact with said electrolyte, comprising contacting a combustive gas with said cathode and contacting a gaseous fuel with said anode thereby (a) generating electricity and also forming (b) water vapor which is conducted to a condenser-exchanger in fluid communication with said compartment wherein said water vapor is condensed and is then returned to said compartment, and (c) forming carbonate ions at the anode which then contact said fixing agent and are fixed in contact with said electrolyte until the capacity of the fixing agent is substantially utilized, then removing said electrolyte from said element whereby electrolytic contact between said cathode and said anode is maintained through said porous membrane which is saturated with said electrolyte and continuing to contact said cathode with said combustive gas and said anode with said gaseous fuel so that electricity is generated and the oxidation of the gaseous fuel at the anode causes a reaction with the carbonate ions which are transformed to gaseous carbon dioxide which is removed with the spent gaseous fuel after contact with said anode until substantially all of the carbonate ions which have been fixed are transformed to carbon dioxide, and then returning said electrolyte to said cell and continuing to contact the combustive gas with a cathode and the gaseous fuel with the anode to generate electricity and carbonate ions at the anode.