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Fuel cell having thermo-responsive polymer

A fuel cell and polymer technology, applied in the direction of fuel cells, fuel cell additives, fuel cell components, etc., can solve problems such as non-transmission, fuel cell performance degradation, and poor performance

Inactive Publication Date: 2007-03-07
GOOGLE TECH HLDG LLC
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

If the by-product water is not removed from the MEA quickly enough, the MEA "floods" (too much water is produced during fuel cell operation) and the performance of the fuel cell degrades and / or the fuel cell stops working
At the other extreme ("dry" - insufficient water produced during fuel cell operation), if the PEM is not sufficiently hydrated, the ion conductivity of the PEM is poor and the transport rate of ions across the membrane is slowed or not transported, thus lead to poor performance

Method used

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  • Fuel cell having thermo-responsive polymer
  • Fuel cell having thermo-responsive polymer
  • Fuel cell having thermo-responsive polymer

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Embodiment Construction

[0017] While this specification leads to the conclusion that the claims defining the features of the invention are considered novel, it is believed that the structure, method of operation and advantages of the invention will be better understood from the following description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Thermosensitive polymers can compensate for hydration by taking advantage of the elevated temperatures that fuel cells experience during operation and the transition that fuel cells undergo at elevated temperatures from hydrophobic to hydrophilic (and vice versa). To maintain optimal hydration of polymer electrolyte membranes, thermosensitive polymers are included in fuel cells. The thermosensitive polymer is in close proximity to the membrane electrode assembly so that fuel and oxidant gases pass through the thermosensitive polymer to the membrane electrode assembly. In response to changes in the operating temperature of the membrane electrod...

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PUM

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Abstract

A thermo-responsive polymer is incorporated into a fuel cell (50) in order to maintain optimum hydration of the polymer electrolyte membrane. The thermo-responsive polymer (52) is situated proximate to the membrane electrode assembly (54) such that fuel or oxidant gas passes (56) through the thermo-responsive polymer to the membrane electrode assembly. The thermo-responsive polymer swells or shrinks in response to changes in the operating temperature of the membrane electrode assembly, altering the flow rate of the fuel or oxidant gas passing through the thermo-responsive polymer.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates generally to fuel cells, and more particularly to systems and methods for regulating the level of hydration of polymer electrolyte membranes during operation. Background technique [0002] Fuel cells are electrochemical cells in which free energy changes from fuel oxidation reactions are converted into electrical energy. The reaction produces only water as a byproduct, which is good for the environment and draws fuel cells to a potentially huge market as portable energy. A typical fuel cell consists of a fuel electrode (anode) and an oxidant electrode (cathode) separated by an ion-conducting electrolyte. The electrodes are electrically connected to a load (eg, an electrical circuit) through external conductors. In these circuit conductors, current is carried by a flow of electrons, but in electrolytes it is carried by a flow of ions, such as hydrogen ions (H + ), or hydroxide ions (OH - ). Because of its high reactivi...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Patents(China)
IPC IPC(8): H01M8/04H01M8/12H01M4/00H01M8/02H01M8/10
CPCH01M8/1044H01M8/1004H01M8/0239Y02E60/521H01M2300/0082H01M8/1023H01M8/04291H01M8/1088Y02P70/50Y02E60/50
Inventor 吉纳·金姆罗纳德·J.·凯利史蒂文·D.·普拉特
Owner GOOGLE TECH HLDG LLC
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