Electric storage fuel cell system and method
US8354195B2 · kind B2 · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 29, 2008 |
| Grant date | Jan 15, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 10, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02T90/40
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The invention discloses an innovative fuel cell-type electrochemical energy conversion device and method of potentially high power density capability, suitable especially for stand-alone applications such as electricity-powered vehiclesThe inventive device, named “storage fuel cell”, may be viewed as a converted storage battery, including plates, electrolyte and separators that can be similar to the ordinary known lead-acid battery. Thus it can be charged from an electrical source, or discharged across an external load with the usually high surge current features of storage batteries. An innovative additional charging mode of the storage fuel cell, by chemical reactions of each electrode with fuel and oxidizer supplied at specific flow ratios, is however the prime object of this invention.Whereas all types of prior art fuel cells exchange ions between the electrodes, across the electrolyte, each of the electrodes of the instant fuel cell independently exchanges ions, only using their adjoining electrolyte.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.