U.S. patent application number 09/823954 was filed with the patent office on 2002-02-21 for power device.
Invention is credited to Kagitani, Takeo.
Application Number | 20020022162 09/823954 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23174395 |
Filed Date | 2002-02-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020022162 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kagitani, Takeo |
February 21, 2002 |
Power device
Abstract
The present invention relates generally to a new power device.
More specifically, it creates hydrogen from supplied water and
electricity. The hydrogen is then used in combination with air in
an electrolysis-electrical cell to produce electric power. All of
this is accomplished by first storing the hydrogen in a storage
tank or section furnished for such storage, then converting the
electricity, via a power converter, to power. Additionally, the
power device of the present invention has a special feature whereby
the electric power is created from the hydrogen stored in the above
mentioned metal alloy hydride storage tanks. The present invention
primarily comprises the following four components: (1) an energy
source (i.e., a photovoltaic array to convert solar energy to
electrical power; a windmill to collect wind power and convert it
to electrical power; etc.); (2) a compressor which supplies the
electrolysis-fuel cell with oxygen and the hydrogen storage tank
with hydrogen from the atmosphere; (3) a hydrogen storage device
(i.e., a solid metallic alloy hydride which stores hydrogen through
a reversible chemical process); and (4) a hydrogen consumption
device (i.e., an electrolysis-fuel cell which consumes the hydrogen
released from the tanks (using a heat exchange process) to provide
electricity which powers a motor).
Inventors: |
Kagitani, Takeo; (Tokyo,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Ward & Olivo
708 Third Avenue
New York
NY
10017
US
|
Family ID: |
23174395 |
Appl. No.: |
09/823954 |
Filed: |
March 30, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09823954 |
Mar 30, 2001 |
|
|
|
09303950 |
May 3, 1999 |
|
|
|
6211643 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
429/408 ;
136/291 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01M 8/0656 20130101;
H01M 8/065 20130101; Y02E 60/50 20130101; H01M 8/186 20130101; H01M
8/04089 20130101; Y02E 60/10 20130101; H01M 16/006 20130101; H01M
2250/20 20130101; Y02T 90/40 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
429/17 ; 429/21;
136/291 |
International
Class: |
H01M 008/18; H01M
008/04; H01L 031/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A power device comprising: an energy source; a hydrogen
consumption device; a hydrogen storage device; and a compressor;
wherein said compressor supplies said hydrogen consumption device
with oxygen; wherein said compressor supplies said hydrogen storage
device with hydrogen; and wherein said hydrogen from said hydrogen
storage device is combined with air and water in said hydrogen
consumption device to produce electric power.
2. A power device according to claim 1, wherein said power device
further comprises a heat exchanger, wherein said heat exchanger
controls the temperature of said hydrogen storage device and said
hydrogen consumption device.
3. A power device according to claim 2, wherein said power device
further comprises a controller, wherein said controller controls
the power sent to the motor of the machine to be powered.
4. A power device according to claim 1, wherein said hydrogen
storage device is a metal alloy hydride storage tank.
5. A power device according to claim 1, wherein said energy source
is a photovoltaic array which converts solar energy to electrical
power.
6. A power device for creating power from water and electricity,
said power device comprising: an energy source; a hydrogen storage
device; an electrolysis fuel cell; and a compressor; wherein said
electrolysis fuel cell receives oxygen from said compressor,
hydrogen from said hydrogen storage device, water from an external
source and a single electric charge from said energy source;
wherein said electrolysis fuel cell electrically disintegrates said
water into hydrogen and oxygen; and wherein said electrolysis fuel
cell combines said hydrogen with air in said electrolysis fuel cell
which produces electric power, hydrogen which is stored in said
hydrogen storage device, and excess water which is extracted as
exhaust.
7. A power device according to claim 6, wherein said power device
further comprises a heat exchanger, wherein said heat exchanger
controls the temperature of said hydrogen storage device and said
hydrogen consumption device.
8. A power device according to claim 7, wherein said power device
further comprises a controller, wherein said controller controls
the power sent to the motor of the machine to be powered.
9. A power device according to claim 6, wherein said hydrogen
storage device is a metal alloy hydride storage tank.
10. A power device according to claim 6, wherein said energy source
is a photovoltaic array which converts solar energy to electrical
power.
11. A method for generating power using an electrolysis fuel cell
in which hydrogen is created from supplied water and electricity,
said method comprising the following steps: supplying oxygen,
hydrogen, water and a single electric charge to said electrolysis
fuel cell; electrically disintegrating said water into hydrogen and
oxygen; and combining said hydrogen with air to generate said
power; wherein a compressor supplies said electrolysis fuel cell
with said oxygen; wherein a hydrogen storage device supplies said
electrolysis fuel cell with said hydrogen; wherein an external
source supplies said electrolysis fuel cell with said water; and
wherein an energy source supplies said electrolysis fuel cell with
said single electric charge.
12. A method for generating power according to claim 11, wherein
said method further comprises the step of: controlling the
temperature of said hydrogen storage device and said electrolysis
fuel cell.
13. A method for generating power according to claim 12, wherein
said controlling is performed by a heat exchanger.
14. A method for generating power according to claim 11, wherein
said method further comprises the step of: controlling the power
sent to the motor of the machine being powered.
15. A method for generating power according to claim 14, wherein
said controlling is performed by a controller.
16. A method for generating power according to claim 11, wherein
said hydrogen storage device is a metal alloy hydride storage
tank.
17. A method for generating power according to claim 11, wherein
said energy source is a photovoltaic array which converts solar
energy to electrical power.
18. A method for generating power according to claim 14, wherein
said method further comprises the step of: supplying said
compressor with air, wherein said compressor supplies said hydrogen
storage device with hydrogen and said electrolysis fuel cell with
oxygen.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to fuel cells and to
a power device for use in hydrogen powered cars. More specifically,
the present invention discloses a novel power device which does not
create any environmentally polluting exhaust, and is extremely
efficient, long lasting, quiet and inexpensive.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A fuel cell device generates electricity directly from a
fuel source, such as hydrogen gas, and an oxidant, such as oxygen
or air. It does so by continuously changing the chemical energy of
a fuel and oxidant to electrical energy. Since the process does not
"burn" the fuel to produce heat, the thermodynamic limits on
efficiency are much higher than normal power generation processes.
In essence, the fuel cell consists of two catalytic electrodes
separated by an ion-conducting membrane. The fuel gas (e.g.
hydrogen) is ionized on one electrode, and the hydrogen ions
diffuse across the membrane to recombine with the oxygen ions on
the surface of the other electrode. If current is not allowed to
run from one electrode to the other, a potential gradient is built
up to stop the diffusion of the hydrogen ions. Allowing some
current to flow from one electrode to the other through an external
load produces power.
[0003] The membrane separating the electrodes must allow the
diffusion of ions from one electrode to the other, but must keep
the fuel and oxidant gases apart. It must also prevent the flow of
electrons. Diffusion or leakage of the fuel or oxidant gases across
the membrane leads to explosions and other undesirable
consequences. If electrons can travel through the membrane, the
device is fully or partially shorted out, and the useful power
produced is eliminated or reduced. Ehrenberg et al. U.S. Pat. No.
5,468,574 discloses such a membrane which allows the diffusion of
ions, but prevents both the flow of electrons and the diffusion of
molecular gases. This membrane is also mechanically stable.
[0004] In constructing a fuel cell, it is particularly advantageous
that the catalytic electrodes be in intimate contact with the
membrane material. This reduces the "contact resistance" that
arises when the ions move from the catalytic electrode to the
membrane and vice versa. Intimate contact can be facilitated by
incorporating the membrane material into the catalytic electrodes.
[See Wilson and Gottsfeld J. Appl. Electrochem. 22, 1-7 (1992)]
[0005] For reasons of chemical stability, fuel cells presently
available typically use a fully fluorinated polymer such as Dupont
Nafion Registered TM as the ion-conducting membrane. This polymer
is very expensive to produce, which raises the cost of fuel cells
to a level that renders them commercially unattractive.
[0006] Ion-conducting polymers are well known. (See Vincent, C. A.,
Polymer Electrolyte Reviews I, 1987). The known polymers are, for
the most part, similar to sulfonated polystyrene because of the
known ability of sulfonated polystyrene to conduct ions.
Unfortunately, uncrosslinked, highly sulfonated polystyrenes are
unstable in the aqueous environment of a fuel cell, and do not hold
their dimensional shape.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 4,849,311 discloses that a porous polymer
matrix may be impregnated with an ion-conducting polymer to produce
a fuel cell membrane. However, the ion-conducting polymer must be
dissolved in a solvent which "wets" the porous polymer. When the
solvent evaporates, there is sufficient porosity remaining in the
porous polymer/ion-conducting polymer composite material that
molecular oxygen can leak through to the fuel gas and result in an
explosion.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 3,577,357 (Winkler) discloses a water
purification membrane composed of block copolymers of sulfonated
polyvinyl arene block and alpha-olefin elastomeric blocks. In one
example a styrene-iosprene-styrene triblock copolymer was
selectively hydrogenated, then sulfonated using a premixed
SO3/triethylphosphate reagent at 60.degree. C. for 1.5 hrs. A
sulfonated styrene-(ethylene-propylene) copolymer was the result.
The method provided solid agglomerates of the polymer which were
rolled on a mill to remove water, swelled in cyclohexane, slurried
in an isopropyl alcohol/water mixture, and coagulated in hot water.
No membrane was produced, and we have found that polymers produced
according to the method of Winkler cannot be cast into films.
[0009] Gray et al. [Macromolecules 21, 392-397 (1988)] discloses a
styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer where the ion-conducting
entity is a pendant short-chain of poly(ethylene oxide) monomethyl
ether (mPEG) complexed with LiCF3SO3 salt and connected through a
succinate linkage to a flexible connecting entity which is the
butadiene block of the triblock copolymer. The ion-conducting
entity in the butadiene block is in the continuous phase of the
polymer, and the areas populated by the ion-conducting entities do
not preferentially touch each other to form continuous
ion-conducting domains. This morphology does not facilitate the
ion-conducting properties that are necessary for fuel cell
operation. The styrene block functions only as a mechanical support
structure for the polymer. Moreover, the molecular design chosen by
Gray et al. is incompatible with the working environment of a fuel
cell. Because the succinate linkage which joins the MPEG to the
butadiene backbone and the ether linkages which join the ethylene
oxide units are subject to cleavage by acid hydrolysis, these
linkages are unstable in the low pH environment of a fuel cell even
for short periods of time.
[0010] In the art of battery separators, as exemplified by U.S.
Pat. No. 5,091,275, a number of porous polymers and filled polymer
materials are well known. The pores of these polymers and composite
materials are filled with, typically, a liquid electrolyte to
conduct ions from one electrode to another in a battery. However,
these battery separator materials allow the passage of gases, so
that fuel cells made with them have an unfortunate tendency to
explode as the oxygen leaks into the hydrogen side of a fuel
cell.
[0011] To be useful, the hydrogen gas produced must be stored for
later use to provide energy when needed. The production of hydrogen
from water generally consists of transmitting electrical energy to
electrodes within an electrolyzer to induce an electric potential
difference which disassociates water into hydrogen and oxygen. The
electrolyzer generally contains pure water having as electrolyte of
sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide. These electrolytes are not
destroyed nor do they need to be replenished during the operation
of the electrolyzer. Thus, even though the electrolysis action (the
producing of chemical changes by the passage of an electric current
through an electrolyte (a nonmetallic electric conductor in which
current is carried by the movement of ions, or a substance that
when dissolved in a suitable solvent or when fused becomes an ionic
conductor)) may take place intermittently, the hydrogen produced
can be maintained in storage and turned back into electrical energy
(either by combustion or by use of a fuel cell) when desired.
[0012] One of the more efficient electrolyzers presently available
is a solid polymer electrolyte ("SPE") unit. These units basically
consist of two electrodes, an anode and a cathode, placed in a
perfluorinated sulfonic acid polymer. The electrodes are connected
through an external circuit to a power supply. Water is broken down
at the anode into oxygen, hydrogen ions and electrons. The
electrons flow through the external circuit to the cathode while
the hydrogen ions flow through the electrolytic polymer to the
cathode where they combine with the electrons and form hydrogen.
The equations at the anode and cathode are: 1 H 2 O 2 H + 1 2 O 2 2
e - 2H.sup.+2e.sup.-.fwdarw.H.sub- .2
[0013] and the overall reaction is:
H.sub.2O.fwdarw.H.sub.21/2O.sub.2
[0014] The by-product of this process is an effluent containing
trace hydrofluoric acid, oxygen gas and excess water.
[0015] SPE electrolyzers are one of the two main types of
electrolyzers available. SPE electrolyzers are also known as PEM,
or Proton Exchange Membrane, for the way in which they split water.
The other type, liquid electrolyte ("LE") electrolyzers, uses as
its electrolyte a strong acidic or basic solution, typically
potassium hydroxide. However, there are a number of advantages that
an SPE electrolyzer has over LE electrolyzers. The concentration of
the solution in an LE electrolyzer must be maintained at a constant
level for the electrolytic reaction to take place, while SPE
electrolyzers maintain constant concentration over their life. SPE
electrolyzers are also safer, since they do not require a supply of
a strong highly corrosive basic solution as do LE
electrolyzers.
[0016] The hydrogen gas thus produced is a storable, transportable,
clean, and non-polluting fuel. However, hydrogen has the
fundamental limitation of being difficult to store. Hydrogen has a
boiling point of -252.87o C. and a density of 0.09 grams per liter.
This means that in order to store hydrogen in reasonable sized
tanks, it must be stored either under pressure, at low temperature,
or both. Unfortunately, it takes energy to create high pressures
and low temperatures. Thus, the overall efficiency and cost
effectiveness of producing and storing hydrogen is reduced.
[0017] In order to overcome the hydrogen storage problem, it has
been found that hydrogen can be stored in a solid form via
"rechargeable" metal hydrides, such as iron-titanium-manganese
(Fe44Ti55Mn5) alloy, mischmetal-nickel aluminum hydriding
(Mn0.97Ni4.5Al0.5) alloy, and the like. This can best be described
by the reversible chemical reaction of a solid metal hydride(Me)
with gaseous hydrogen (H2) to form a solid metal hydride (MeHx): 2
2 x Me H 2 MeH x heat
[0018] The forward or exothermic reaction is characteristic of the
charging (absorption) of hydrogen to the hydride while the reverse
or endothermic reaction is the discharging (desorption) of hydrogen
from the metal hydride. Among the many advantages of hydrogen
storage via a metal hydriding alloy, the most significant is the
low charging and discharging pressures required to hydride which
lessens the risk of leakage and explosion associated with storing
hydrogen as a compressed gas.
[0019] When examining the thermodynamic aspects of the reversible
metal-hydrogen reaction, it is advantageous to determine the
absorption and desorption properties of metals from
pressure-composition isotherms. The abscissa of such isotherms is
typically in the form of a hydrogen atoms to metal atoms ratio
("H/M"). FIG. 1 shows the ideal absorption-desorption
pressure-composition isotherm for a metal-hydrogen system where the
plateau pressure ("P.sub.p") 30 is shown connecting points B and C.
Once the plateau pressure is reached, the majority of the
absorption or desorption of hydrogen takes place at this constant
pressure P.sub.p. The curves connecting points A and B as well as
points C and D show that for a large increase or decrease in
pressure, the amount of hydrogen absorbed or desorbed is small.
[0020] In reality, while such isotherms as shown in FIG. 1 might be
achievable, most hydrides deviate from this ideal behavior. In
addition to the fact that the plateau region slopes and the
boundaries of this region are not as well defined, there also
exists hysteresis between absorption and desorption curves. For
ideal hydrides, there is no means by which to measure the
composition of the hydride when located along the plateau pressure;
but the slope in the isotherm for real metals makes finding the
hydrogen to metal ratio as simple as knowing the temperature and
pressure of the hydride.
[0021] The plateau pressure P.sub.p is related to the absolute
temperature of the reaction, T.sub.R, by the Van't Hoff equation: 3
ln ( P p ) H R u T R S R u
[0022] where .DELTA.H is the change in enthalpy, .DELTA.S is the
change in entropy and R.sub.u is the universal gas constant. From
the Van't Hoff relationship one can determine the charging and
discharging pressures and temperatures of the tank.
[0023] In recent years, numerous cars have been designed in order
to realize a reduction of pollution and noise. Some of these cars
have been fueled with nitrogen oxide and hydrogen, resulting in
exhaust containing no carbon monoxide. Also, some of these cars
have been getting driving force by loaded storage cells and
motors.
[0024] However, there are several shortcomings of the cars
previously made. First, these cars, which were fueled by hydrogen,
have proven to display reduced driving force due to combusting
hydrogen with an internal combustion engine. Second, regarding the
exchange of fuel in the tank which stores the hydrogen and the
refilling of this tank, there are currently serious problems
concerning the potential for dangerous explosions. Third, these
cars did not obtain sufficient driving distances per tank of fuel.
Fourth, a car using a hydrogen fuel cell and a motor could not get
enough cell capacity with the prior fuel cells such that it was
necessary to combine many cells in order to get sufficient power.
Finally, the prior fuel cells required a very long time to charge
and their running distances were short.
[0025] It has also been previously suggested that in order to most
efficiently use a fuel cell system for vehicular propulsion, the
system should be, preferably, sized so as to provide sufficient
power, at a useful voltage, for normal continuing operation, or
cruising operation, when utilizing air as the oxidant, and that
during peak loads, pure oxygen should be substituted for air as the
oxidant. This allows the fuel cell system to be sized for normal
low power/air operation, but also to provide a peak power capacity,
at a suitable voltage, significantly greater than for normal
operation, and without any complex changes to the system. Such a
system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,657,829. In this prior
patent, the water generated by operation of the fuel cell is
electrolyzed during normal operation by the excess electrical
capacity of the fuel cell. The electrolysis results in the
generation of hydrogen and oxygen gases, which in turn are stored
under pressure for use when required at peak power capacity.
Although this system does result in the desired peak power
availability, the amount of oxygen which must be stored in order to
have adequate peak power capacity is a problem for a vehicle for
which minimum design weight is desired.
[0026] It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a
fuel cell power system for a vehicle with improved peak power
capability but with minimized high pressure gas storage
requirement. It is yet a further object of the present invention to
provide a fuel cell power system utilizing power created during
operation of the vehicle and water generated by operation of the
fuel cell to generate oxygen and hydrogen for use during peak power
intervals, but wherein the effectiveness of the oxidant air is
enhanced by enrichment with oxygen so as to reduce the amount of
storage capacity required for peak acceleration requirements. It is
yet another and further objective of the present invention to
provide a fuel cell powered vehicle having improved efficacy during
operation. Other objects and advantages will become apparent when
considering the following specific description of an example of the
invention.
[0027] The present invention provides a novel and useful power
device which has overcome the problems existing in the prior
hydrogen fuel cell systems used for electric cars, including but
not limited to reducing exhaust pollution.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0028] The present invention relates generally to a new power
device. More specifically, it creates hydrogen from supplied water
and electricity, which is stored in a storage tank furnished for
such storage, so that the hydrogen can be used later. An
electrolysis-electrical cell then produces electric power from the
supplied hydrogen and air. The electricity created is then
converted to power by a power converter. Additionally, this power
device has a special feature whereby the electrical power is
created by the hydrogen stored in the above mentioned storage
section.
[0029] Another feature of the present invention is an electrolysis
instrument fuel cell structured with three layers of platinum
electrode, multiplex polymer membrane and iridium electrode.
[0030] Another feature of the present invention is that the storage
section is made of a hydrogen storage alloy.
[0031] Another feature of the present invention is that the power
converter contains a motor which acts as a storage cell charged
with the power created at a fixed rate in the
electrolysis-electrical cell and which supplies the necessary power
at time of acceleration. Also, a controller which controls the
charge and discharge of the above mentioned storage cell and
controls the rotation speed of the motor and torque is incorporated
in this invention.
[0032] Other objects, features, and characteristics of the present
invention, as well as the methods of operation and functions of the
related elements of the structure, will become more apparent upon
consideration of the following detailed description with reference
to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this
specification.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0033] As discussed previously, this invention relates generally to
a new power device. More specifically, it creates hydrogen from
supplied water and electricity. This hydrogen is then used in
combination with air in an electrolysis-electrical cell to produce
electric power. This is accomplished by first storing the hydrogen
in a storage tank or section furnished for such storage. Next, a
power converter device converts the electricity, which is created
in the above mentioned electrolysis-electrical cell, to power.
Additionally, the power device of the present invention has a
special feature whereby the electrical power is created from the
hydrogen stored in the above mentioned storage tank. Further, this
invention relates to a method and apparatus for converting energy
to hydrogen gas and the storage of the hydrogen gas in, for
example, metal alloy hydride storage tanks.
[0034] In an effort to overcome the numerous disadvantages
associated with the production and storage of hydrogen gas
generated from alternate energy sources, the present invention
utilizes a novel apparatus for efficiently producing and storing
hydrogen fuel which can be used as an environmentally-safe fuel for
both heating and electric power generation, especially for
automobiles.
[0035] The present invention provides a system for powering a motor
vehicle utilizing a fuel cell which operates on air and hydrogen
during constant speed, or cruising, operation, or during
deceleration, and which operates on hydrogen and oxygen-enriched
air, when peak power is required, for acceleration or for moving
uphill. This invention further provides for the electrolysis of
water during operation of the vehicle based upon the power
generated during deceleration, or braking, of the moving vehicle,
and with additional power being provided from the fuel cell, as
necessary. It has previously been found that oxygen-enriched air
containing only 40% oxygen by volume provides sufficient power
enhancement, at the required voltages, when operating at the low
temperatures, and the low pressures, of the fuel cell systems. Such
power enhancement has been previously described in U.S. Pat. No.
5,346,778. The system disclosed therein permits sufficiently high
peak power output, while more than doubling the effective storage
capacity, based upon peak power output time, of pure oxygen without
enlarging the storage tank. There oxygen storage tank should
maintain oxygen at a pressure of at least about 200 psig, and
preferably at least about 400 psig in order to be able to store
sufficient mass of oxygen to feed the fuel cell stacks during
expected peak load periods.
[0036] The present invention primarily is comprised of four
components. First, an energy source, such as a photovoltaic array
to convert solar energy to electrical power, a windmill used to
collect wind power and convert it to electrical power, and the
like. Second, a compressor which supplies the electrolysis-fuel
cell with oxygen and the hydrogen storage tank with hydrogen from
the atmosphere. Third, a hydrogen storage device, such as a solid
metallic alloy hydride which stores hydrogen through a reversible
chemical process. Fourth, a hydrogen consumption device, such as an
electrolysis-fuel cell which consumes the hydrogen released from
the tanks (using a heat exchange process) to provide electricity
which powers a motor.
[0037] An important feature of the present invention is matching
the specifications of the electrolyzer to the hydriding and
dehydriding reactions occurring with the metal hydride to allow the
system to operate at sufficiently low pressures (near ambient) and
thereby eliminate the need for holding the system under
pressure.
[0038] The hydrogen produced is stored as a solid hydride when not
in use, which eliminates the inconveniences and hazards associated
with storing hydrogen as a compressed gas. Operating the solid
hydride storage system and electrolyzer at low pressures lessens
the chance of leakage and explosion, allows simpler sealing
configurations, allows for the use of less expensive construction
materials, lessens the chance of structural fatigue, allows for
easy assembly of the entire system, and eliminates compressor
pulsations and/or vibrations which can cause structural damage and
leakage.
[0039] A significant advantage of the system is that hydrogen is
produced in a steady supply using only air, water and either solar
energy, wind power, or the like, which are practically
inexhaustible.
[0040] An attractive aspect of the use of photovoltaic energy in
the formation of hydrogen fuel is that hydrogen is environmentally
benign. It can be burned in air without producing excessive amounts
of greenhouse gases or other pollutants attributed to hydrocarbon
or fossil fuels. Hydrogen can also be used to power a fuel cell to
generate electricity directly, with the only by-product being
water. The present invention can thus demonstrate the potential of
hydrogen fuel as an alternate source of energy when produced in
this safe and clean manner.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0041] A further understanding of the present invention can be
obtained by reference to a preferred embodiment set forth in the
illustrations of the accompanying drawing. Although the illustrated
embodiment is merely exemplary of systems for carrying out the
present invention, both the organization and method of operation of
the invention, in general, together with further objectives and
advantages thereof, may be more easily understood by reference to
the drawings and the following description. The drawing is not
intended to limit the scope of this invention, which is set forth
with particularity in the claims as appended or as subsequently
amended, but merely to clarify and exemplify the invention.
[0042] For a more complete understanding of the present invention,
reference is now made to the following drawings in which:
[0043] FIG. 1 is a plot showing the ideal absorption-desorption
pressure-composition isotherm for a metal-hydrogen system.
[0044] FIG. 2 shows a flow diagram of the process by which the
power device of the present invention creates power, demonstrating
the structural practice of the acceleration power of the hydrogen
fuel cell automobile.
[0045] FIG. 3 shows the electrolysis-fuel cell of the present
invention functioning as electrolysis, i.e., the producing of
chemical changes by the passage of an electric current through an
electrolyte, a nonmetallic electric conductor in which current is
carried by the movement of ions, or a substance that when dissolved
in a suitable solvent or when fused becomes an ionic conductor.
[0046] FIG. 4 shows the electrolysis-fuel cell of the present
invention functioning as a fuel cell which produces the power to
propel the automobile.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0047] The following presents a detailed description of a preferred
embodiment of the present invention. As discussed above, this
invention relates generally to a power device for use in hydrogen
fuel cell cars. More specifically, the present invention discloses
a novel power device which will not create any environmentally
polluting exhaust (i.e., it does not emit any carbon dioxide), and
is extremely efficient, long lasting, quiet and inexpensive to
produce. Also, the device of the present invention does not require
a large area and there is no concern about explosion. Additionally,
this power device can replace the use of gas and electricity as the
source of power in homes, factories, hotels, etc.
[0048] The method and device of the present invention creates
hydrogen from supplied water and electricity, and an
electrolysis-electrical cell section produces electric power from
the supplied hydrogen and air. The hydrogen is then stored in a
storage section furnished for such storage, while a power section
converts the electricity created in the above mentioned
electrolysis-electrical cell to power which propells the car.
[0049] The power device of the present invention has several
special features which are vast improvements over the existing
designs. First, the electrical power is created by the hydrogen
stored in the above mentioned storage section. Second, the
electrolysis instrument fuel cell is structured with three layers,
a platinum electrode, a multiplex polymer membrane and an iridium
electrode. Third, the storage section of the power device of the
present invention is made of a hydrogen storage metal alloy.
Fourth, the power section contains a motor which is a storage cell
charged with the power created at a fixed rate in the
electrolysis-electrical cell and supplies necessary power at the
time of acceleration, and a controller that controls a charge and
discharge of the above mentioned storage cell and controls the
rotation speed of the motor and its torque.
[0050] With the above mentioned structures of storing hydrogen
created from supplied water and electricity, the power device of
the present invention can generate power from the electricity
created by the stored hydrogen and the supplied air. For instance,
with the above structure, a dangerous hydrogen fuel tank exchange
or refill of hydrogen would not be necessary, and with a one time
charge, a hydrogen fuel cell car that has enough driving distance
can be offered.
[0051] The following description of a preferred embodiment of the
present invention explains the hydrogen fuel cell power device in
detail while referencing the detailed drawings. Referring first to
FIG. 2, shown is a block diagram of the structural practice of the
motor lineage of the power device of the present invention. The
present invention primarily comprises four components. First is an
energy source, such as a photovoltaic array to convert solar energy
to electrical power, a windmill used to collect wind power and
convert it to electrical power, and the like. Second is compressor
14 which supplies the electrolysis-fuel cell 10 with oxygen and the
hydrogen storage tank 12 with hydrogen from the atmosphere. Third
is a hydrogen storage tank 12, such as a solid metallic alloy
hydride which stores hydrogen through a reversible chemical
process. Fourth is a hydrogen consumption device, such as
electrolysis-fuel cell 14 which consumes the hydrogen released from
the hydrogen storage tank 12 (using heat exchanger 5a) to provide
electricity which powers motor 18, which, for example, can propel a
car. The process of the present invention is described in further
detail below.
[0052] Initially, air from the atmosphere enters compressor 14
which thereby produces hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen is then
stored in hydrogen storage tank 12, while the oxygen is delivered
to electrolysis fuel cell 10. At the same time, water enters the
electrolysis fuel cell 10, and in conjunction with a supplied
single electric charge, electrically disintegrates the supplied
water to create hydrogen and oxygen.
[0053] The hydrogen, which is stored in the hydrogen storage tank
12, and the oxygen, taken from air in the atmosphere, are supplied
to the electrolysis-fuel cell 10 by compressor 14, which work
together to create the power of the device. In turn, this power
propells motor 18 thereby generating moving power.
[0054] In sum, the power device of the present invention provides
power to practical applications, such as electric cars, by
efficiently creating electrical power from hydrogen fuel and a
small, light electrolysis fuel cell. Additionally, the hydrogen
storage tank 12 is structured with hydrogen storage alloys, such as
titanium-iron alloy or lanthanum-nickel alloy, but is not limited
to these alloys. However, the alloys are limited to those with a
high hydrogen adsorption coefficient at low temperatures and to
those which are not micro-pulverized by the hydrogen adsorption.
This is important so that the storage of the hydrogen can last for
an extended period of time, and so that the hydrogen storage tank
12 does not have to be replaced often.
[0055] Also, temperature control is crucial to the storing of
hydrogen in the hydrogen storage tank 12, the removal of hydrogen
from the hydrogen storage tank 12, the electrical solving at
electrolysis-fuel cell 10 and the efficient creation of electric
power. This temperature control of the hydrogen storage tank 12 and
electrolysis-fuel cell 10 is accomplished with thermoelectrical
heat pump 5b and heat exchanger 5a in a cooling loop. Furthermore,
the storage rate can be raised by cooling the hydrogen storage
alloy used when sending hydrogen to the hydrogen storage tank 12.
Additionally, since the hydrogen storage alloy heats up when taking
hydrogen out of the hydrogen storage tank 12, cooling is important
at this stage to maintain efficiency.
[0056] Next, controller 16 controls the turning speed and torque of
motor 18. Controller 16 contains a storage cell for accelerating
time. This storage cell supplements a part of the electric power
that motor 18 needs at the time of acceleration and charging at the
time of fixed speed of the enforced practice. Also, the power
device of the present invention exhausts oxygen resulting from the
electrically resolved water at the time the hydrogen is supplied. A
small amount of water results from the oxidation reaction at the
time of the creation of the electric power. Heat is also generated
from motor 18. However, this exhaust and heat emission is very
small compared to a conventional car with an internal combustion
engine.
[0057] The electrolysis fuel cell 10 of FIG. 2 uses a solid polymer
electrolytic cell. Since a general polymer electrolytic cell has a
low power to weight ratio and is not practical for this use, the
present invention uses a polymer electrolytic cell with an elevated
cell density, which is created by a laser. Here, the power to
weight ratio of the solid polymer electrolytic cell is higher than
a gasoline engine and its peak electrical current reaches 1,000
Amperes. If a large hydrogen storage tank 12 is used, with a one
time charge, it is possible to run more than 1,000 kilometers on a
single charge.
[0058] Referring next to FIG. 3, shown is the electrolysis-fuel
cell of the present invention functioning as an electrolysis
process. The drawing shows a multiplex polymer membrane 21, the
negative pole 22 made of platinum to prevent oxidation, and the
positive pole 23 made of an iridium membrane to reduce loss of
oxygen by over voltage, which execute the function of the
electrolytic fluid.
[0059] In this process, water is supplied to the positive pole 23
and electricity is supplied to the region between the positive pole
23 and negative pole 22. The electricity causes hydrogen ions from
the supplied water to move toward the negative pole 22. This
results in the creation of hydrogen at the negative pole 22 and
oxygen at the positive pole 23. Furthermore, any form of
electricity, such as that used for household purposes, will produce
the desired results as previously mentioned. However, "midnight"
electricity reduces the cost of creating the hydrogen fuel in the
process of the present invention. Also, regarding the supplied
water, any water source will suffice for the present invention to
work, however water in which harmful ions have been removed by an
ion removing cartridge produces the best results.
[0060] Furthermore, the created hydrogen must be cooled before
being stored for later use. This is accomplished at the heat
exchanger 5a, whereby the hydrogen is sent to the hydrogen storage
tank 12 via compressor 14 after going through a water remover (not
shown) and an oxygen remover (not shown).
[0061] Finally, referring to FIG. 4, shown is the electrolysis-fuel
cell of the present invention functioning as a fuel cell. This
figure demonstrates that when oxygen is supplied to the negative
pole 32 and hydrogen is supplied to the positive pole 33, oxidation
occurs and electric power is generated by the electrode. The
reaction is as follows:
Positive
H.sub.2.fwdarw.2H.sup.+2e.sup.-
Negative
[0062] 4 2 H + 2 e - 1 2 O 2 H 2 O
Overall Cell Reaction
[0063] 5 H 2 1 2 O 2 H 2 O
[0064] According to the above described system of the present
invention, the creation of electricity is conducted through the
formation of water, with electrons being created in the positive
pole 33. Furthermore, the voltage occurrence changes according to
the current density of the electricity created, but ranges from
about 0.75 V to about 1.0 V per cell. With the present invention,
connecting several hundred cells in series creates the necessary
voltage for optimal efficiency in the operation of the fuel
cell.
[0065] Additionally, referring back to FIG. 1, when creating
electric power with the electrolysis fuel cell 10, it is important
to maintain energy efficiency by exhausting the heat that was
created in the electrolysis fuel cell 10. This exhaustion occurs
through the heat exchanger 5a. As explained in detail above,
according to the present invention, because hydrogen is created
from the supplied water and electricity in electrolysis fuel cell
10, the dangerous hydrogen fuel tank exchange or refill processes
become obsolete.
[0066] Also according to the present invention, by using a small,
light weight, high power to weight ratio electrolysis fuel cell 10
for the source of moving power, a highly efficient electric charge
and discharge can be obtained. Therefore, with one charge,
sufficient driving distance, in the range of 1000 kilometers can be
obtained. Furthermore, applications of this electrolytic fuel cell
are not limited to cars but also can be applied to boats, trains
and airplanes, or for cooling, heating and home electrical power
uses.
[0067] Also according to the present invention, the storage of
hydrogen created from the supplied water and electricity, and the
creation of electric power from this stored hydrogen and supplied
air, this power device generates electric power which can power a
variety of different machines such as automobiles, boats, etc., as
well as entire homes, stores, schools, hotels, factories, etc.
Therefore, with this invention, the dangerous exchange of hydrogen
fuel tanks and hydrogen refills become unnecessary, and a hydrogen
fuel cell car, boat, etc., which has a large traveling distance
with a one time electrical charge can be offered.
[0068] While the present invention has been described with
reference to one or more preferred embodiments, such embodiments
are merely exemplary and are not intended to be limiting or
represent an exhaustive enumeration of all aspects of the
invention. The scope of the invention, therefore, shall be defined
solely by the following claims. Further, it will be apparent to
those of skill in the art that numerous changes may be made in such
details without departing from the spirit and the principles of the
invention.
* * * * *