US5256498A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Molten carbonate fuel cell
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
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Filing: 1992-04-08
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Granted: 1993-10-26
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Expires: 2012-04-08
Abstract
Abstract A long-life molten carbonate fuel cell in which outflow of an electrolyte in an electrolyte body sandwiched between a pair of electrodes is reduced to suppress an increase in internal pressure of the electrolyte body and generation of a gas crossover which are caused by the outflow of the electrolyte is disclosed. The molten carbonate fuel cell includes a pair of conductive electrodes, an electrolyte body sandwiched between the pair of electrodes and constituted by a porous body containing as a filler at least two heterogeneous particles selected from the group consisting of LiAlxOy (4.5</=x</=5.5 and 7.25</=y </=8.75), LiAlaOb (0.89</=a </=1.11 and 1.80</=b</=2.20), lithium zirconate, and stabilized zirconia, and an electrolyte consisting of an alkali carbonate mixture impregnated in the porous body, fuel gas supplying member for supplying a fuel gas to one of the pair of electrodes, and an oxidant gas supplying member for supplying an oxidant gas to the other of the pair of electrodes.
Inventors
- 👤 Hideyuki Ohzu
- 👤 Yoshihiro Akasaka
- 👤 Kazuaki Nakagawa
- 👤 Hiroshi Tateishi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:05
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M8/00; H01M8/02; H01M8/0289; H01M8/0295; H01M8/24; H01M8/2404; H01M8/241; H01M8/244; H01M8/2465; H01M8/2484; H01M8/2485; H01M8/14; H01M2008/147; H01M2300/00; H01M2300/0017; H01M2300/0048; H01M2300/0051; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
A molten carbonate fuel cell comprising: a pair of conductive electrodes; an electrolyte body sandwiched between the pair of electrodes and constituted by a porous body and an electrolyte comprising an alkali carbonate mixture impregnated in said porous body, said porous body containing a filler consisting essentially of a first group of particles having a particle size of not more than 1 μand a function of retaining said electrolyte, and second group of particles having a particle size of 5 to 100 μm and a function of reinforcing said porous body, the particles of said first group and the particles of said second group being made of at least one material selected from the group consisting of LiAl x O y (4.5≦x≦5.5 and 7.25≦y≦8.75), LiAl a O b (0.89≦a≦1.11 and 1.80≦b≦2.20) lithium zirconate and stabilized zirconia, but being different in material from each other; fuel gas supplying means for supplying a fuel gas to one of the pair of electrodes; and oxidant gas supplying means for supplying an oxidant gas to the other of the pair of electrodes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
178 words
A molten carbonate fuel cell comprising: a pair of conductive electrodes; an electrolyte body sandwiched between the pair of electrodes and constituted by a porous body and an electrolyte comprising an alkali carbonate mixture impregnated in said porous body, said porous body containing a filler consisting essentially of a first group of particles having a particle size of not more than 1 μand a function of retaining said electrolyte, and second group of particles having a particle size of 5 to 100 μm and a function of reinforcing said porous body, the particles of said first group and the particles of said second group being made of at least one material selected from the group consisting of LiAl x O y (4.5≦x≦5.5 and 7.25≦y≦8.75), LiAl a O b (0.89≦a≦1.11 and 1.80≦b≦2.20) lithium zirconate and stabilized zirconia, but being different in material from each other; fuel gas supplying means for supplying a fuel gas to one of the pair of electrodes; and oxidant gas supplying means for supplying an oxidant gas to the other of the pair of electrodes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A cell according to claim 1, wherein the particles having the function of retaining the electrolyte have a particle size falling within a range of 0.05 to 0.5 μm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A cell according to claim 1, wherein the particles having the function of reinforcing the porous body have a particle size falling within a range of 10 to 60 μm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
98 words
A cell according to claim 1, wherein the particles having the function of retaining the electrolyte comprise at least one material selected from the group consisting of LiAl x O y (x and y are defined as in claim 1), LiAl a O b (a and b are defined as in claim 1), lithium zirconate, and stabilized zirconia, and the particles having the function of reinforcing the porous body comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of LiAl x O y (x and y are defined as in claim 1), lithium zirconate, and stabilized zirconia.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
A cell according to claim 1, wherein the particles having the function of retaining the electrolyte consist of a mixture of LiAl x O y (x and y are defined as in claim 1) and LiAl a O b (a and b are defined as in claim 1).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A cell according to claim 1, wherein the particles having the function of retaining the electrolyte consist of lithium zirconate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A cell according to claim 1, wherein the particles having the function of retaining the electrolyte consist of a mixture of lithium zirconate and LiAl a O b (a and b are defined as in claim 1).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A cell according to claim 7, wherein the particles having the function of retaining the electrolyte contain 30 to 70 wt % of the lithium zirconate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
A cell according to claim 1, wherein the particles having the function of retaining the electrolyte consist of a mixture of LiAl x O y (x and y are defined as in claim 1), LiAl a O b (a and b are defined as in claim 1), and lithium zirconate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
A cell according to claim 1, wherein the particles having the function of retaining the electrolyte consist of a mixture of LiAl x O y (x and y are defined as in claim 1), LiAl a O b (a and b are defined as in claim 1), and stabilized zirconia.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A cell according to claim 1, wherein the particles having the function of reinforcing the porous body consist of LiAl a O b (a and b are defined as in claim 1).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
84 words
A cell according to claim 1, wherein the filler essentially consists of particles made of particles having a function of retaining the electrolyte and consisting of a mixture of LiAl x O y (x and y are defined as in claim 1), LiAl a O b (a and b are defined as in claim 1), and MgO-stabilized zirconia, and particles having a function of reinforcing the porous body and consisting of LiAl a O b (a and b are defined as in claim 1).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
A cell according to claim 1, wherein the filler essentially consists of 50 to 90 wt % of the particles having the function of retaining the electrolyte and 10 to 50 wt % of the particles having the function of reinforcing the porous body.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A cell according to claim 1, wherein the porous body has a porosity of 40 to 65%.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
52 words
A cell according to claim 1, wherein when the porous body is impregnated with the electrolyte in a molten state of not more than 700° C. for 10,000 hours, the porous body has pores having a diameter of not less than 2.0 μm at a volume ratio of not more than 20%.
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) | 1996-10-25 | 1997-04-26 | 1997-10-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-10-25 | 2001-04-26 | 2001-10-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-10-25 | 2005-04-26 | 2005-10-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |