US5429885A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hydrogen management system for metal/air fuel cell
Assignee: Rio Tinto Alcan International Ltd
•
Filing: 1993-11-22
•
Granted: 1995-07-04
•
Expires: 2013-11-22
Abstract
Abstract A process for controlling the hydrogen that evolves as a parasitic by-product during the operation of a metal/air fuel cell which comprises feeding into a catalytic recombiner a gaseous stream containing hydrogen being discharged from the metal/air cell together with an amount of oxygen sufficient to convert the hydrogen to water, said oxygen gas concentration being monitored and adjusted to maintain an oxygen concentration in the gaseous 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/oxygen fuel cells in which small amounts of hydrogen must be removed, e.g. the sealed hull of an underwater vehicle.
Inventors
- 👤 Dorothy Stockburger
- 👤 Jim Tregenza
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 09:18
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M10/00; H01M10/42; H01M10/52; H01M12/00; H01M12/04; H01M12/06; H01M6/00; H01M6/50; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
A process for controlling the hydrogen that evolves as a parasitic by-product during the operation of a metal/oxygen fuel cell which comprises feeding into a catalytic recombiner a gaseous stream containing hydrogen being discharged from the metal/oxygen cell together with an amount of oxygen sufficient to convert the hydrogen to water, said oxygen gas concentration being monitored and adjusted to maintain an oxygen concentration in the gaseous stream entering the recombiner in the range of 1.5 to 2.5% by volume and in excess of the stoichiometric amount required to react with said hydrogen.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
93 words
A process for controlling the hydrogen that evolves as a parasitic by-product during the operation of a metal/oxygen fuel cell which comprises feeding into a catalytic recombiner a gaseous stream containing hydrogen being discharged from the metal/oxygen cell together with an amount of oxygen sufficient to convert the hydrogen to water, said oxygen gas concentration being monitored and adjusted to maintain an oxygen concentration in the gaseous stream entering the recombiner in the range of 1.5 to 2.5% by volume and in excess of the stoichiometric amount required to react with said hydrogen.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process according to claim 1 wherein the fuel cell is an aluminum/oxygen cell.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process according to claim 2 wherein the oxygen flow into the recombiner is continuously adjusted to maintain a concentration in the range of 1.5 to 2.5% by volume.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process according to claim 3 wherein the oxygen flow is controlled by means of a mass flow controller.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process according to claim 2 wherein the metal-oxygen fuel cell is operated within a closed system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process according to claim 5 wherein the metal-oxygen fuel cell is operated within an unmanned underwater vehicle.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3840403A
Cited
JPS59149664A
Cited
JPS59149665A
Cited
US4735872A
Cited
EP0312766B1
Cited
US4994332A
Cited
US5156925A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-07-03 | 1999-01-02 | 1999-07-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-07-03 | 2003-01-02 | 2003-07-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-07-03 | 2007-01-02 | 2007-07-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |