| 摘要 |
1,002,583. Fuel cells. LEESONA CORPORATION. March 26, 1962 [March 30, 1961], No. 11515/62. Heading H1B. To reduce the pressure differential across the gaskets separating adjacent bipolar electrodes of a fuel cell, the housing surrounding the electrodes is filled with an inert gas, e.g. nitrogen, which is preferably at a higher pressure than the fuel and oxidant. As shown in Fig. 1, a stack of bipolar assemblies 66 is mounted in a reinforced nickel tank 10 which is sealed at one end by an 0-ring 18 provided in a gland 12. Thermo-couples 48-50 pass through the gland to measure the temperature of the cell. The stack is insulated from the tank by a liner 62 and the left-hand end is electrically connected via a lead 57 to a cable 56 and the right-hand end is connected via lead 59 to the tank. Diametrically opposed inlet and outlet ports 28, 30 are provided for the electrolyte and communicate with axial passages formed in the stack of electrodes. An oxygen inlet and outlet 36, 38 and a hydrogen inlet and outlet 44, 46 are also provided. An inlet 60 is provided for the inert gas. Each bipolar electrode comprises (Fig. 3) an annular mount 68 to which electrodes 87, 89 are welded. A gas impermeable membrane 74 welded to the mount 68 separates the electrodes 87, 89. Each bipolar electrode has diametrically opposed hydrogen passages 76, 78, diametrically opposed oxygen passages 102, 104, and diametrically opposed electrolyte passages 88, 91. Adjacent bipolar electrodes are separated by annular gaskets 93 which also have hydrogen, oxygen and electrolyte passages therein. When assembled into a stack the various passages are axially aligned so that hydrogen may enter the spaces between membranes 74 and electrodes 87 via radial passages 80, 82, oxygen may enter the spaces between membranes 74 and electrodes 89, via passages 90, 100 and electrolyte may enter the space between adjacent bipolar electrodes through passages in the gaskets 93. The electrodes may be connected in series as shown or in parallel by insulating each of the electrodes 87, 89 from the mount 68. |
