FUEL CELL AND GENERATOR BUILT AROUND IT Russian patent published in 2003 - IPC

FIELD: electrical engineering; generators built around fuel cells with hydraulic-diffusion water-repelling electrodes and liquid electrolyte. SUBSTANCE: proposed hydrogen-oxygen (air) fuel cell has hydraulic-diffusion water-repelling electrodes and electrolyte chamber holding liquid alkali electrolyte and separator disposed between mentioned electrodes. Separator is gas-tight device that functions to divide electrolyte chamber into two parts in plane parallel to electrodes. Mentioned parts may be equal in size or part abutting against hydrogen electrode may be greater than that abutting against oxygen (air) one, or chamber part abutting against oxygen (air) electrode may be greater than that abutting hydrogen electrode. Separator may be made of porous water-repelling material or of ion-exchange material conducting OH ions; vertical ribs are provided on opposite ends of separator where they are arranged in opposition. Separator porosity may be higher than that of electrodes. Another subject of invention is generator incorporating battery of at least two above-described fuel cells with water-repelling electrodes, liquid alkali electrolyte, and pipeline for draining diluted electrolyte, as well as chemical agent supply and blowdown systems, and makeup tank holding concentrated electrolyte. Generator may be provided with tank communicating with diluted-electrolyte drain pipeline. EFFECT: ability of generator operation under electrolyte dilution conditions without noticeable degradation of its power characteristics. 10 cl, 2 dwg