摘要:
A fuel-cell electrode and a method of manufacturing the fuel-cell electrode achieves a high catalyst utilization ratio and makes it possible to obtain higher output characteristics with a smaller amount of catalyst. The fuel-cell electrode includes a catalytic layer composed of an ion conductive substance, an electron conductive substance and catalytic activation substances. The catalytic activation substances are electrolytically deposited on the electron conductive substance.
摘要:
The invention improves operability in forming a catalyst electrode, and improves performance of a fuel cell. A catalyst-loaded carbon is dispersed in a mixed solution of an azeotropic solvent and ion exchanged water. An electrolyte solution is added to the dispersed solution. A solvent, such as ethanol or the like, is added to adjust the viscosity and the water content of the solution, thereby providing an electrode catalyst solution. The use of the obtained solution as an ink for forming a catalyst layer through printing improves printing characteristic and drying characteristic.
摘要:
The present invention is directed to a fuel reformer device that produces a hydrogen rich gas from a hydrocarbon and steam. The steam reforming reaction that produces the hydrogen rich gas from the hydrocarbon and steam is endothermic. A known technique supplies heat required for the steam reforming reaction by an exothermic oxidation reaction proceeding in parallel with the steam reforming reaction. This known technique may, however, cause an excessive temperature rise in an area of the vigorous oxidation reaction in the fuel reformer device.A reformer unit 34 including a Cu—Zn catalyst receives a supply of a crude fuel gas containing the air flown through a second fuel supply conduit 64. The crude fuel gas is subjected to the steam reforming reaction and the oxidation reaction proceeding inside the reformer unit 34. A resulting hydrogen rich gaseous fuel is discharged to a third fuel supply conduit 65. The reformer unit 34 includes an upper stream reaction unit 80 and a lower stream reaction unit 81. Both the reaction units 80 and 81 have honeycomb structures, wherein the total sectional area of the flow path in the upper stream reaction unit 80 is made smaller than the total sectional area of the flow path in the lower stream reaction unit 81. This arrangement causes the gas flowing through the reformer unit 34 to have the higher flow velocity on the upstream side than on the downstream side. The higher flow velocity on the upstream side extends the area of the vigorous oxidation reaction to the lower stream portion and enables the heat generated on the upstream side to be effectively transmitted to the lower stream portion. This arrangement thus effectively prevents an excessive temperature rise on the upstream side.
摘要:
Disclosed is a fuel cell wherein deterioration of fuel cell performance due to dry up phenomenon and flooding phenomenon is suppressed. Specifically disclosed is an assembly for fuel cells or a fuel cell wherein a catalyst layer contains a first composite catalyst particle containing a catalyst supporting particle and a solid polymer electrolyte and a second composite catalyst particle having a larger volume average particle diameter than the first composite catalyst particle and arrangement of the first composite catalyst particle and the second composite catalyst particle is controlled in the thickness direction of the catalyst layer. Consequently, deterioration of fuel cell performance due to dry up phenomenon or flooding phenomenon can be suppressed, thereby realizing a fuel cell with high efficiency.
摘要:
A device and a method for simply and accurately evaluating-performance of fuel cells have been provided. Hydrogen gas and carbon monoxide gas are caused to flow into a sample holder where an electrode catalyst sample is laid, and the amount of carbon monoxide gas discharged therefrom is detected. The amount of carbon monoxide gas adsorbed by the electrode catalyst sample is calculated based on the amount of supplied carbon monoxide gas and the amount of detected carbon monoxide gas. The output voltage of a fuel cell is calculated based on a correlation between calculated amounts of carbon monoxide gas adsorbed by the electrode catalyst and output voltages of the fuel cell.
摘要:
A paste-like ink is prepared by dissolving camphor in an alcoholic solvent and dispersing fine carbon particles with a catalyst carried thereon in the solvent (step S100). A sheet-like electrode-forming member is formed on an electrolyte membrane by screen printing the paste-like ink thus obtained (step S102). The electrode-forming member is dried at 80° C. for one hour, in order to deposit camphor included in the electrode-forming member as a pore-forming agent (step S104). The electrode-forming member and the electrolyte membrane are joined with each other by hot pressing (step S106). The joint body of the electrode-forming member and the electrolyte membrane is dried under vacuum at 80° C. for three hours, in order to sublimate and remove camphor depositing in the electrode-forming member (step S108). This gives an electricity-generating layer that is a joint body of an electrode having a plurality of pores and the electrolyte membrane. The manufacturing process of the invention thus gives a joint body of an electrode having sufficient gas permeability and electrical conductivity and an electrolyte membrane.
摘要:
A fuel-cells system 20 is equipped with an oxygen enrichment unit 34 and supplies air whose oxygen partial pressure has been increased by the oxygen enrichment unit 34 to fuel cells 40 as oxidizing gas. The oxygen enrichment unit 34 is a magnetic oxygen enrichment device that effects oxygen enrichment utilizing the fact that the oxygen molecule is paramagnetic and when magnetized migrates toward a magnetic pole side. Specifically, a magnetic field is generated inside the oxygen enrichment unit 34 by an electromagnet, air compressed by a compressor unit 32 is supplied to the oxygen enrichment unit 34, and compressed oxygen-enriched air is discharged from the vicinity of the magnetic poles in the oxygen enrichment unit 34 and supplied to the fuel cells 40.
摘要:
It is an object of the present invention to provide a fuel cell electrolyte membrane reinforced with a porous substrate which has excellent durability and in which the amount of cross leakage as a result of chemical deterioration of electrolyte membrane components due to the presence of peroxide and/or radicals is particularly reduced. The present invention relates to an electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell comprising a polyelectrolyte, which contains a porous substrate and a radical scavenger dispersed in the polyelectrolyte.
摘要:
In an apparatus A in which electrode powder 10 is allowed to adhere via the electrostatic force to an electrolyte membrane that serves as a substrate 2 so as to form a catalyst layer, a screen 5 is held in a state of non-contact with the substrate 2, and a voltage is applied therebetween. The electrode powder 10 is allowed to adhere to an elastic feed roller 7, and the feed roller 7 is allowed to rotate in contact with the screen 5 by pressure. The electrode powder 10 is dispersed toward the substrate 2 so as to stably adhere thereto via both the electrostatic force and the extruding force of the elastic body. Variation of thickness and collapse of the outline are extremely reduced on the catalyst layer to be transferred and formed on the substrate (electrolyte membrane) via the electrostatic force using a conventionally used mesh-like screen so as to obtain a membrane electrode assembly with a high product manufacturing accuracy.
摘要:
Two electrodes contact an electrolyte membrane on both sides of the electrolyte membrane and each electrode contacts each separator on the other side of the electrode. An electrochemical fuel cell comprises a plurality of unit cells which comprise the electrolyte membrane, the electrode, and the separator. The electrode comprises a catalyst layer and a gas diffusion layer. The gas diffusion layer comprises an inner layer and an outer layer. The catalyst layer contacts the electrolyte membrane. The inner layer is interposed between the catalyst layer and the outer layer. The outer layer of the gas diffusion layer contacts the inner layer on the inner side and the separator on the outer side. Since the gas diffusion layer is formed as a double-layer structure which includes the inner layer having low electric resistance and close and fine structure made of carbon powder and the porous outer layer having a high water repellency, a gas diffusion ability, a water repellency, an electric collection ability of the electrode can be improved.