US3719529A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Voltaic cell and method using dilute fuel gases for generate electrical power
Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
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Filing: 1971-09-30
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Granted: 1973-03-06
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Expires: 1991-09-30
Abstract
Abstract A voltaic cell operating on oxidizing gaseous mixtures containing a dilute fuel gas. Functionally similar catalytic gas electrodes are used with a phosphoric acid electrolyte and an ion exchange resin gas diffusion barrier in between. The electrodes are saturated with electrolyte. Means are provided to reduce current variation due to water content variation in the phosphoric acid. The cell can operate on fuel gas mixtures of air containing low concentrations of carbon monoxide.
Inventors
- 👤 D Lake
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 20:49
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M8/00; H01M8/08; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
An electrochemical system for generating microwatts of electrical power on dilute fuel gases in oxidizing atmospheres, comprising: at least two substantially identically catalyzed and constructed spaced gas electrodes, said electrodes having facing and opposite surfaces, a hydrogen ion exchange gas diffusion barrier between said facing electrode surfaces inhibiting gas diffusion from one electrode to the other, concentrated phosphoric acid saturating said electrodes and wetting said ion exchange diffusion barrier to provide ionic conduction paths therebetween, a source of an oxidizing gas containing a dilute fuel gas in communication with the opposite face of one of said electrodes, a source of an oxidizing gas having a lesser fuel gas concentration in communication with the opposite face of the other electrode, means for drawing electrical current between said electrodes, and means for suppressing current variation between said electrodes due to variation in water content in said phosphoric acid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
An electrochemical system for generating microwatts of electrical power on dilute fuel gases in oxidizing atmospheres, comprising: at least two substantially identically catalyzed and constructed spaced gas electrodes, said electrodes having facing and opposite surfaces, a hydrogen ion exchange gas diffusion barrier between said facing electrode surfaces inhibiting gas diffusion from one electrode to the other, concentrated phosphoric acid saturating said electrodes and wetting said ion exchange diffusion barrier to provide ionic conduction paths therebetween, a source of an oxidizing gas containing a dilute fuel gas in communication with the opposite face of one of said electrodes, a source of an oxidizing gas having a lesser fuel gas concentration in communication with the opposite face of the other electrode, means for drawing electrical current between said electrodes, and means for suppressing current variation between said electrodes due to variation in water content in said phosphoric acid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
138 words
A voltaic cell for generating microwatts of electrical power on oxidizing atmospheres containing very dilute fuel gas mixtures comprising: at least two substantially identically catalyzed and constructed spaced gas electrodes, said electrodes having facing and opposite surfaces, a cationic exchange membrane in the acid form between said facing surfaces for inhibiting gas diffusion between said electrodes, phosphoric acid containing at least about 50%, by weight, H3PO4 saturating said electrodes and wetting said ion exchange membrane, up to about 0.1 percent, by volume of a wetting agent in said electrolyte to minimize dependence of cell output on relative humidity of cell gases, means for supplying an oxidizing atmosphere containing carbon monoxide to the opposite surface of one electrode, and means for supplying said oxidizing atmosphere with a lesser carbon monoxide content to the opposite surface of the other electrode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
138 words
A voltaic cell for generating microwatts of electrical power on oxidizing atmospheres containing very dilute fuel gas mixtures comprising: at least two substantially identically catalyzed and constructed spaced gas electrodes, said electrodes having facing and opposite surfaces, a cationic exchange membrane in the acid form between said facing surfaces for inhibiting gas diffusion between said electrodes, phosphoric acid containing at least about 50%, by weight, H3PO4 saturating said electrodes and wetting said ion exchange membrane, up to about 0.1 percent, by volume of a wetting agent in said electrolyte to minimize dependence of cell output on relative humidity of cell gases, means for supplying an oxidizing atmosphere containing carbon monoxide to the opposite surface of one electrode, and means for supplying said oxidizing atmosphere with a lesser carbon monoxide content to the opposite surface of the other electrode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
153 words
A voltaic cell for generating microwatts of electrical power on air containing small amounts of carbon monoxide comprising: at least two substantially identically catalyzed and constructed spaced gas electrodes, said electrodes having facing and opposite surfaces, a cationic exchange membrane of the perfluorosulfonic acid type in the acid form between said facing surfaces preventing gas diffusion between said electrodes, phosphoric acid containing at least about 85% H3PO4 substantially completely saturating said electrodes and wetting said ion exchangE membrane, a first source of air having a generally constant high relative humidity and containing varying minor amounts of carbon monoxide at temperatures up to about 110* C., a second source of air having less carbon monoxide than said first source, one of said sources of air in communication with the opposite surface of one of said electrodes, and the other of said sources of air in communication with the opposite surface of the other electrode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
153 words
A voltaic cell for generating microwatts of electrical power on air containing small amounts of carbon monoxide comprising: at least two substantially identically catalyzed and constructed spaced gas electrodes, said electrodes having facing and opposite surfaces, a cationic exchange membrane of the perfluorosulfonic acid type in the acid form between said facing surfaces preventing gas diffusion between said electrodes, phosphoric acid containing at least about 85% H3PO4 substantially completely saturating said electrodes and wetting said ion exchangE membrane, a first source of air having a generally constant high relative humidity and containing varying minor amounts of carbon monoxide at temperatures up to about 110* C., a second source of air having less carbon monoxide than said first source, one of said sources of air in communication with the opposite surface of one of said electrodes, and the other of said sources of air in communication with the opposite surface of the other electrode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
143 words
An integrated system for generating microwatts of electrical power on internal combustion engine exhaust gases comprising: substantially identically catalyzed and constructed spaced gas electrodes, said electrodes having facing and opposite surfaces, a hydrogen ion exchange membrane of the perfluorosulfonic acid type between said facing surfaces preventing gas diffusion from one electrode to the other, concentrated phosphoric acid flooding said electrodes and wetting said ion exchange membrane to provide ionic conduction between the electrodes, means for directing a stream of internal combustion engine exhaust containing fuel gases in varying concentrations across the opposite surface of one of said electrodes at temperatures up to about 110* C., means for supplying air having a lesser fuel gas concentration to the opposite surface of the other electrode, and means for sensing current flow between said electrodes due to changes in fuel gas concentration in said exhaust stream.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
143 words
An integrated system for generating microwatts of electrical power on internal combustion engine exhaust gases comprising: substantially identically catalyzed and constructed spaced gas electrodes, said electrodes having facing and opposite surfaces, a hydrogen ion exchange membrane of the perfluorosulfonic acid type between said facing surfaces preventing gas diffusion from one electrode to the other, concentrated phosphoric acid flooding said electrodes and wetting said ion exchange membrane to provide ionic conduction between the electrodes, means for directing a stream of internal combustion engine exhaust containing fuel gases in varying concentrations across the opposite surface of one of said electrodes at temperatures up to about 110* C., means for supplying air having a lesser fuel gas concentration to the opposite surface of the other electrode, and means for sensing current flow between said electrodes due to changes in fuel gas concentration in said exhaust stream.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
152 words
A method for detecting relatively low concentrations of fuel gases in an oxidizing atmosphere comprising the steps of interposing an ion exchange membrane that conducts hydrogen ions as a gas diffusion barrier between facing surfaces of identically catalyzed and constructed gas electrodes, flooding said electrodes and wetting said membrane with concentrated phosphoric acid to provide ionic conduction between said electrodes, exposing the opposite surface of one of said electrodes to an oxidizing atmosphere of predetermined composition, exposing the opposite surface of the other electrode to a flow of a similar oxidizing atmosphere containing a greater fuel gas concentration than the first-mentioned atmosphere, continuously flowing said similar oxidizing atmosphere over the opposite surface of said other electrode at a temperature of from about 0* - 110* C., electrically coupling said electrodes and detecting current flow therebetween, and suppressing changes in said current flow due to changes in water content of said phosphoric acid.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
152 words
A method for detecting relatively low concentrations of fuel gases in an oxidizing atmosphere comprising the steps of interposing an ion exchange membrane that conducts hydrogen ions as a gas diffusion barrier between facing surfaces of identically catalyzed and constructed gas electrodes, flooding said electrodes and wetting said membrane with concentrated phosphoric acid to provide ionic conduction between said electrodes, exposing the opposite surface of one of said electrodes to an oxidizing atmosphere of predetermined composition, exposing the opposite surface of the other electrode to a flow of a similar oxidizing atmosphere containing a greater fuel gas concentration than the first-mentioned atmosphere, continuously flowing said similar oxidizing atmosphere over the opposite surface of said other electrode at a temperature of from about 0* - 110* C., electrically coupling said electrodes and detecting current flow therebetween, and suppressing changes in said current flow due to changes in water content of said phosphoric acid.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-05 | 1976-09-04 | 1977-03-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-05 | 1980-09-04 | 1981-03-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-05 | 1984-09-04 | 1985-03-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |