US4480017A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fuel cell
Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
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Filing: 1983-01-26
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Granted: 1984-10-30
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Expires: 2003-01-26
Abstract
Abstract A molten carbonate fuel cell comprising an anode, a cathode and a porous body impregnated with an electrolyte composition of metal carbonates, said body being sandwiched between both the electrodes and being made of one or more refractory, non-electron conductive, inorganic materials containing lithium titanate in an amount sufficient to stabilize said inorganic materials at a temperature of operation of said fuel cell, and operated by supplying a fuel into a fuel chamber placed in the anode side and an oxidant into an oxidant chamber placed in the cathode side, has improved stability for a long period of time and high fuel cell performance.
Inventors
- 👤 Masato Takeuchi
- 👤 Hideo Okada
- 👤 Sigeru Okabe
- 👤 Hiroshi Tobita
- 👤 Munehiko Tonami
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 22:19
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M8/00; H01M8/02; H01M8/0289; H01M8/0295; H01M8/14; H01M8/141; H01M8/142; H01M2008/147; H01M2300/00; H01M2300/0017; H01M2300/0048; H01M2300/0051; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
A molten carbonate fuel cell comprising at least a pair of electrodes, a porous body impregnated with an electrolyte composition of metal carbonates, said body sandwiched between said electrodes, and said body being made of one or more refractory, non-electron conductive, inorganic materials containing lithium titanate in an amount sufficient to stabilize said inorganic materials at a temperature of operation of said fuel cell, and an oxidant passage means for supplying an oxidant to one of said electrodes and a fuel passage means for supplying a hydrogen enriched fuel gas to the other electrode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
94 words
A molten carbonate fuel cell comprising at least a pair of electrodes, a porous body impregnated with an electrolyte composition of metal carbonates, said body sandwiched between said electrodes, and said body being made of one or more refractory, non-electron conductive, inorganic materials containing lithium titanate in an amount sufficient to stabilize said inorganic materials at a temperature of operation of said fuel cell, and an oxidant passage means for supplying an oxidant to one of said electrodes and a fuel passage means for supplying a hydrogen enriched fuel gas to the other electrode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the electrolyte retaining porous body is made of refractory, non-electron conductive, inorganic materials containing 50% by weight or more of lithium titanate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the electrolyte retaining porous body is made substantially of lithium titanate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the electrolyte retaining porous body is made of lithium titanate alone.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A fuel cell according to claim 2, wherein the lithium titanate is in the form of either powder or fiber or a mixture thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
A fuel cell according to claim 2, wherein the refractory, non-electron conductive, inorganic materials contain lithium titanate fibers in an amount of 3% by weight or more and the remainder of lithium titanate being in the form of powder.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A fuel cell according to claim 6, wherein the inorganic materials contain lithium titanate fibers in an amount of 10% by weight or more and the remainder of lithium titanate being in the form of powder.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A fuel cell according to claim 3, wherein the lithium titanate is contained in the form of fiber in an amount of 10% by weight or more.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the electrolyte composition has a melting point of 550° C. or lower.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A fuel cell according to claim 5, wherein the lithium titanate in the form of fiber has a diameter of 1 μm or less in average.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the lithium titanate is one obtained by reacting titania with a lithium salt or a mixed salt containing a lithium salt.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
A fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the lithium titanate is fibrous lithium titanate obtained by heat treating fibrous potassium titanate and a lithium salt or a mixed salt containing a lithium salt at a temperature of about 600° C. or higher.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
A fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the cell has an electrolyte body comprising 30-60% by weight of electrolyte retaining material and 70-40% by weight of electrolyte, the total being 100% by weight.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
A fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein said porous body has a porosity of at least 40%.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
A fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein said body also includes, in addition to said lithium titanate, at least one other material selected from the group consisting of lithium aluminate, magnesia, strontium titanate and lithium zirconate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
A fuel cell according to claim 10, wherein the lithium titanate in the form of fiber has a length of 10 to 100 μm.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
A fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein said porous body impregnated with an electrolyte composition is a matrix type electrolyte body.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
A fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein said porous body impregnated with an electrolyte is a paste-type electrolyte body.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-10-30 | 1988-04-30 | 1988-10-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-10-30 | 1992-04-30 | 1992-10-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-10-30 | 1996-04-30 | 1996-10-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |