HYDROGEN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR METAL/AIR FUEL CELL

摘要

A process for controlling the hydrogen that evolves as a parasitic by-produc t during the operation of a metal/air fuel cell (10) which comprises feeding into a catalytic recombiner (20) a gaseous stream containing hydrogen being discharged from the metal/air cell together with an amount of oxygen (18) sufficient to convert the hydrogen to water, said oxygen gas concentration being monitored by an electronic sensor (16) and adjusted by a valve (19) to maintain a concentration in the stream entering the recombiner in the range of 1.5 to 2.5 % by volume. The process is of particular value in closed system aluminum/air fuel cells in which small amount of hydrogen must be removed, e.g., the sealed hull of an underwater vehicle.