Solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell and non-humidifying operating method therefor

Patent 6566001 Issued on May 20, 2003. Estimated Expiration Date:

December 21, 2020. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

Polymer solid-electrolyte composition and electrochemical cell using the composition
Patent #: 5523181
Issued on: 06/04/1996
Inventor: Stonehart, et al.

Electrochemical fuel cell stack with concurrent flow of coolant and oxidant streams and countercurrent flow of fuel and oxidant streams
Patent #: 5773160
Issued on: 06/30/1998
Inventor: Wilkinson, et al.

Polymer electrolyte fuel cell Patent #: 6103412
Issued on: 08/15/2000
Inventor: Hirano, et al.

Inventors

Assignee

Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha

Application

No. 745665 filed on 12/21/2000

US Classes:

429/30, Solid electrolyte429/12, FUEL CELL, SUBCOMBINATION THEREOF OR METHODS OF OPERATING429/13, Process of operating429/34Housing member, seal, spacer or fluid distributing or directing means

Examiners

Primary: Ryan, Patrick
Assistant: Martin, Angela J.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Lahive & Cockfield, LLP

International Class

H01M 008/10

Foreign Application Priority Data

1999-12-28 JP

Abstract

A fuel cell includes a solid polymer ion exchange membrane having a thickness which is set to be within a range of 20 μm to 60 μm. The fuel cell comprises a fuel gas flow passage for supplying a non-humidified fuel gas from a side of a first surface of the ion exchange membrane, and an oxygen-containing gas flow passage for supplying a non-humidified oxygen-containing gas from a side of a second surface of the ion exchange membrane. A portion of the fuel gas flow passage, which is disposed in the vicinity of a fuel gas inlet, is arranged closely to a portion of the oxygen-containing gas flow passage disposed in the vicinity of an oxygen-containing gas outlet. Accordingly, the oxygen-containing gas and the fuel gas can be supplied without humidification, and it is possible to perform efficient and smooth operation.