US5445903A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electrochemical apparatus
Assignee: Technology Management Inc
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Filing: 1993-09-09
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Granted: 1995-08-29
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Expires: 2013-09-09
Abstract
Abstract The electrical performance of an electrochemical apparatus such as a fuel cell and the durability of the fuel cell elements can be significantly enhanced and extended by the addition of an element between at least one electrode (the oxygen electrode and/or the fuel electrode) and the electrolyte. Performance can be additionally enhanced by the design of at least one electrode to alter its flow characteristics. An integrated separator element can additionally function as at least one electrode of the fuel cell.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas L. Cable
- 👤 Michael A. Petrik
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:23
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M8/00; H01M8/10; H01M8/12; H01M8/1213; H01M8/24; H01M8/241; H01M8/2425; H01M8/243; H01M8/2432; H01M8/2465; H01M8/2483; H01M2008/1293; H01M2300/00; H01M2300/0017; H01M2300/0065; H01M2300/0068; H01M2300/0071; H01M2300/0074; H01M4/00; H01M4/86; H01M4/90; H01M4/9016; H01M4/9025; H01M4/9033; H01M4/9041; H01M4/905; H01M4/9066; H01M8/02; H01M8/0271; H01M8/14; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
65 words
An electrochemical apparatus having a solid electrolyte disposed between an oxygen electrode and a fuel electrode, at least one separator contacting the surface of one of the electrodes opposite the electrolyte, and a reactive microslip zone disposed between the electrolyte and at least one electrode, wherein the reactive microslip zone has interconnected pores of a lesser average diameter than the pores of the adjacent electrode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
65 words
An electrochemical apparatus having a solid electrolyte disposed between an oxygen electrode and a fuel electrode, at least one separator contacting the surface of one of the electrodes opposite the electrolyte, and a reactive microslip zone disposed between the electrolyte and at least one electrode, wherein the reactive microslip zone has interconnected pores of a lesser average diameter than the pores of the adjacent electrode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The electrochemical apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the reactive microslip zone is adjacent the oxygen electrode and comprises substantially the same material as the oxygen electrode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electrochemical apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the electrolyte has an oxygen electrode material coating on the electrolyte surface proximate to the oxygen electrode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The electrochemical apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the reactive microslip zone is adjacent the fuel electrode and comprises substantially the same material as the fuel electrode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electrochemical apparatus as in claim 4 wherein the electrolyte has a fuel electrode material coating on the electrolyte surface proximate to the fuel electrode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electrochemical apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the reactive microslip zone comprises an integral member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The electrochemical apparatus as in claim 1 having a first said reactive microslip zone disposed between the oxygen electrode and the electrolyte and a second said reactive microslip zone disposed between the fuel electrode and the electrolyte.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The electrochemical apparatus as in claim 1 comprising a planar solid electrolyte fuel cell.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
81 words
A solid electrolyte electrochemical apparatus having a solid electrolyte disposed between an oxygen electrode and a fuel electrode in a cell, and at least one separator contacting the surface of one of the electrodes opposite the electrolyte, wherein at least one of the electrodes has enhanced, fixed interconnected porosity of greater than about 50% to about 90% to substantially eliminate gas backflow in the cell, said at least one electrode being contiguous to an electrical contact zone adjacent to the electrolyte.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
81 words
A solid electrolyte electrochemical apparatus having a solid electrolyte disposed between an oxygen electrode and a fuel electrode in a cell, and at least one separator contacting the surface of one of the electrodes opposite the electrolyte, wherein at least one of the electrodes has enhanced, fixed interconnected porosity of greater than about 50% to about 90% to substantially eliminate gas backflow in the cell, said at least one electrode being contiguous to an electrical contact zone adjacent to the electrolyte.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The electrochemical apparatus as in claim 9 wherein the enhanced, fixed interconnected porosity comprises means for providing gas flow across said at least one electrode having a pressure drop less than about 2 psi/inch.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The electrochemical apparatus as in claim 9 wherein the electrolyte has an oxygen electrode material coating on the electrolyte surface proximate to the oxygen electrode and the electrolyte has a fuel electrode material coating on the electrolyte surface proximate to the fuel electrode.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrochemical apparatus as in claim 9 wherein both the oxygen electrode and the fuel electrode have said enhanced, fixed interconnected porosity.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
122 words
A solid electrolyte electrochemical apparatus having a solid electrolyte disposed between an oxygen electrode and a fuel electrode in a cell, and at least one separator contacting the surface Of one of the electrodes opposite the electrolyte, wherein at least one of the electrodes has enhanced, fixed interconnected porosity of greater than about 50% to about 90% to substantially eliminate gas backflow in the cell, said at least one enhanced porosity electrode being contiguous to an electrical contact zone adjacent to the electrolyte, and having a reactive microslip zone disposed between the electrolyte and said at least one enhanced porosity electrode, wherein the reactive microslip zone has interconnected pores of a lesser average diameter than the pores of the enhanced porosity electrode.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
122 words
A solid electrolyte electrochemical apparatus having a solid electrolyte disposed between an oxygen electrode and a fuel electrode in a cell, and at least one separator contacting the surface Of one of the electrodes opposite the electrolyte, wherein at least one of the electrodes has enhanced, fixed interconnected porosity of greater than about 50% to about 90% to substantially eliminate gas backflow in the cell, said at least one enhanced porosity electrode being contiguous to an electrical contact zone adjacent to the electrolyte, and having a reactive microslip zone disposed between the electrolyte and said at least one enhanced porosity electrode, wherein the reactive microslip zone has interconnected pores of a lesser average diameter than the pores of the enhanced porosity electrode.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The electrochemical apparatus as in claim 13 having a porosity gradient across the enhanced porosity electrode such that the smaller pore diameter portion of the enhanced porosity electrode is contiguous to the reactive microslip zone.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electrochemical apparatus as in claim 13 wherein the reactive microslip zone comprises an integral member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrochemical apparatus as in claim 12 wherein both the oxygen electrode and the fuel electrode have said enhanced, fixed interconnected porosity.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
82 words
The electrochemical apparatus as in claim 16 having a first reactive microslip zone comprising substantially the same material as the oxygen electrode disposed between the oxygen electrode and the electrolyte, and a second reactive microslip zone comprising substantially the same material as the fuel electrode disposed between the fuel electrode and the electrolyte, wherein the first reactive microslip zone and the second reactive microslip zone have interconnected pores of a lesser average diameter than the pores of the adjacent enhanced porosity electrode.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
43 words
The electrochemical apparatus as in claim 17 wherein the electrolyte has an oxygen electrode material coating on the electrolyte surface proximate to the oxygen electrode and the electrolyte has a fuel electrode material coating on the electrolyte surface proximate to the fuel electrode.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
63 words
An assembly of at least two solid electrolyte fuel cells, each said fuel cell having a solid electrolyte disposed between an oxygen electrode and a fuel electrode, and wherein an integrated separator having an area of noncontinuous porosity between a first and a second area of continuous porosity is disposed between and is in electrical contact with said at least two fuel cells.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
63 words
An assembly of at least two solid electrolyte fuel cells, each said fuel cell having a solid electrolyte disposed between an oxygen electrode and a fuel electrode, and wherein an integrated separator having an area of noncontinuous porosity between a first and a second area of continuous porosity is disposed between and is in electrical contact with said at least two fuel cells.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
46 words
The assembly as in claim 19 wherein the integrated separator first area of continuous porosity forms an electrode of the first of the two fuel cells and the integrated separator second area of continuous porosity forms the counterelectrode of the second of the two fuel cells.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
83 words
An assembly of at least two solid electrolyte fuel cells, each said fuel cell having a solid electrolyte disposed between an oxygen electrode and a fuel electrode, wherein an integrated separator having an area of noncontinuous porosity between a first and a second area of continuous porosity is disposed between and is in electrical contact with said at least two fuel cells, and wherein a reactive microslip zone is disposed between the electrolyte and at least one area of integrated separator continuous porosity.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
83 words
An assembly of at least two solid electrolyte fuel cells, each said fuel cell having a solid electrolyte disposed between an oxygen electrode and a fuel electrode, wherein an integrated separator having an area of noncontinuous porosity between a first and a second area of continuous porosity is disposed between and is in electrical contact with said at least two fuel cells, and wherein a reactive microslip zone is disposed between the electrolyte and at least one area of integrated separator continuous porosity.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
39 words
An electrochemical apparatus having at least one integrated separator adjacent to an electrolyte, wherein the integrated separator comprises at least one highly porous gas manifold section of interconnected porosity disposed proximate to the electrolyte, and a gas impervious section.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
39 words
An electrochemical apparatus having at least one integrated separator adjacent to an electrolyte, wherein the integrated separator comprises at least one highly porous gas manifold section of interconnected porosity disposed proximate to the electrolyte, and a gas impervious section.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-08-28 | 1999-02-27 | 1999-08-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-08-28 | 2003-02-27 | 2003-08-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-08-28 | 2007-02-27 | 2007-08-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |