JP2005190975A - Fuel storing device of fuel cell - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fuel storing device enabled to alleviate designing restrictions due to fuel being liquid, for example, to protect a structure which is not always high enough in a fuel resistant property, to improve safety, for example, to reduce contamination of surroundings due to the fuel at breakage of an outer shell. <P>SOLUTION: The fuel storing device 1-1 of a fuel cell 1-5 has a gelled, solated, or solidified fuel phase 1-4. The fuel phase is composed of a polymer and fuel having liquid phase in a single body. The polymer has an affinity to the fuel by loosely bonding with each other. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

The present invention relates to a fuel storage device for a fuel cell that uses liquid fuel by itself such as methanol. For example, it relates to a fuel tank and a fuel cartridge of a methanol fuel cell.

In response to long-time driving demands and multifunctional demands in portable electronic devices and the like, a high-capacity power supply source is required. Under such circumstances, a fuel cell using a liquid fuel as a battery active material has attracted attention. For example, direct methanol fuel cells are attracting attention.

JP 2002-331879 A JP 2003-203668 A JP 2003-109633 A Japanese Patent Publication No. 8-21396

The problems to be solved by the present invention are as follows.

First, if the fuel is liquid, there is a problem that the surroundings may be extensively contaminated when the fuel tank or the like is damaged.

In particular, portable electronic devices may be used upside down. Therefore, in the case of using a flowing liquid fuel, there is a problem that a separate mechanism for supplying fuel stably to the power generation unit without using the top and bottom is necessary.

Furthermore, when a fuel having a low boiling point is used, the fuel volatilizes, and there is a problem that the fuel easily leaks to the outside when refilling the fuel.

Conventional fuel cells have a problem in that there is a mechanism that cannot always increase the resistance to fuel. Or there was a problem that the required ability would be reduced if resistance to fuel was added. For example, in a direct methanol fuel cell, the catalyst and the electrolyte do not necessarily have resistance to high concentration methanol. That is, the catalyst may be poisoned by intermediate products such as carbon monoxide generated in an environment of high concentration methanol. In addition, some electrolytes have a trade-off in that unnecessary methanol also propagates when the propagation ability of hydrogen ions is increased.

Therefore, in order to protect the mechanism having low resistance, a measure of using a low concentration of methanol may be taken. However, when the fuel concentration is lowered, there is a problem that the volume of the fuel tank increases.

Or in order to protect the mechanism with low tolerance, the countermeasure of interposing solid porous was taken. That is, the fuel was gradually supplied using the porous capillary phenomenon. However, in these measures, there is a problem that the porous material deteriorates when a temperature change is repeatedly applied due to the difference in the thermal expansion coefficient between the porous material and the surrounding material. In addition, there is a problem that the porous material easily peels off from surrounding materials due to vibration and impact. Furthermore, since the solid porous material is not easily deformed, there is a problem that it becomes an obstacle in mounting on a portable electronic device in which the restriction on the volume of the fuel tank is particularly large.

Means for Solving the Invention

The present invention is a fuel storage device for a fuel cell,
It has a gelled, solded or solidified fuel phase,
The fuel phase is a fuel phase composed of a polymer and a liquid fuel alone,
The present invention solves the above problems by using a fuel storage device for a fuel cell, wherein the polymer is a polymer having an affinity for fuel by loosely bonding to the fuel.

Here, as the fuel cell, a fuel cell in which a solid polymer electrolyte is incorporated and is mounted on a portable electronic device is mainly exemplified, but the fuel cell according to the present invention is not limited thereto. Also included are fuel cells that incorporate an electrolyte using an acid or alkali or an electrolyte incorporating a carbon nanostructure. In addition, a fuel cell for backup power supply fixed to a house or the like is also included. The fuel storage device may be a structure integrated with the fuel cell, or may be a structure that can be removed and attached. That is, either a fuel tank incorporated in the fuel cell or a removable fuel cartridge may be used.

The single liquid fuel is, for example, a fuel that can become liquid in the operation compensation temperature range or storage temperature range of the fuel cell. Specifically, there are alcohols such as methanol and ethanol. Also included are liquid fuels other than alcohol such as borohaloid, hydrazine, aqueous ammonia or hydrocarbon.

The fuel to the fuel phase may be injected in advance before power generation. Further, it may be injected during power generation.

Sollation, gelation, or solidification broadly includes colloidalization. In addition to fuel and polymer, the case where other components such as water intervene is also included.

The loose bond between the polymer and the fuel indicates a bond that attracts each other between the polymer and the fuel molecule. For example, a bond by hydrogen bond or intermolecular force is included. It also includes the case where fuel is taken into the polymer molecular structure. For example, the coupling | bonding by the capsule in which a polymer surrounds the whole fuel, and the coupling | bonding in which a polymer and a fuel become mutually entangled are also included. Furthermore, a bond in which a polymer constitutes a network structure and fuel molecules are taken into the molecular structure is also included.

The present invention also provides a fuel storage device for a fuel cell,
It has a gelled, solded or solidified fuel phase,
The fuel phase is a fuel phase composed of a polymer and a liquid fuel alone,
The above-mentioned problem is solved by using a fuel storage device for a fuel cell, wherein the polymer has a functional group that slowly binds to the fuel.

Here, the functional group that is gently bonded to the fuel includes a functional group that is bonded to the fuel by an intermolecular force or a hydrogen bonding force. When the fuel and water are mixed at an appropriate ratio, a form in which water is bound to the polymer by the hydrophilic functional group and the water and the fuel are bound is also included. It contains functional groups with ionic bond strength such as carboxyl groups and sulfone groups.

The present invention also provides a fuel storage device for a fuel cell,
It has a gelled, solded or solidified fuel phase,
The fuel phase is a fuel phase composed of a polymer and a liquid fuel alone,
The above-mentioned problem is solved by using a fuel storage device for a fuel cell, wherein the polymer has a network-like molecular structure and fuel molecules are confined inside the network structure.

Here, the polymer has a network-like molecular structure, and confining fuel molecules inside the network structure includes confining alcohol by a reaction product of strontium chloride and calcium acetate. That is, it includes a bond between the polymer constituting the commercially available solid alcohol and the fuel. It also contains a bond that traps fuel molecules in the side chain like a commercially available waste oil treatment agent.

The present invention also provides a fuel storage device for a fuel cell,
A fuel storage device for a fuel cell,
It has a gelled, solded or solidified fuel phase,
The fuel phase is a fuel phase composed of a polymer and a liquid fuel alone,
This problem is solved by using a fuel storage device for a fuel cell, in which the polymer is loosely bonded to the fuel by intermolecular force or hydrogen bonding.

The polymer includes a polymer having a functional group and a side chain that reacts with fuel. In addition, a solid network polymer is included.

The present invention also provides a fuel storage device for a fuel cell,
It has a gelled, solded or solidified fuel phase,
The fuel phase is a fuel phase composed of a polymer and a liquid fuel alone,
The present invention solves the above problem by using a fuel storage device for a fuel cell, in which a microcapsule is formed by loosely bonding the polymer to a fuel.

Here, the microcapsule includes a structure in which the fuel is coated with a reaction product of alginic acid and calcium chloride. Also included is a structure in which a polymer thin film is formed by interfacial polycondensation at the interface between the medium liquid and the fuel by dispersing the fuel in a medium that does not intermix with the fuel.

The present invention also provides a fuel storage device for a fuel cell,
It has a gelled, solded or solidified fuel phase,
The fuel phase is a fuel phase composed of a polymer absorbent or a thickener and a liquid fuel alone, and the above problem is solved by using a fuel storage device for a fuel cell.

Here, the thickener includes polyacrylic acid and the like. The polymer absorbent includes those obtained by appropriately processing polymers contained in sanitary products and diapers.

The present invention also provides a fuel storage device for a fuel cell as described above,
The polymer is an absorbent, thickener, solubilizer, gelling agent, polymer with carboxyl group, polymer with sulfone group, reaction product of strontium chloride and calcium acetate, calcium chloride and alginic acid The above problem is solved by using a fuel storage device for a fuel cell, which is a reactive organism or polyacrylic acid.

The present invention also provides a fuel storage device for a fuel cell as described above,
Fuel is methanol, ethanol or other alcohol,
The present invention solves the above problems by using a fuel storage device for a fuel cell, which is a hydrocarbon, borohaloid, hydrazine or ammonia aqueous solution.

The present invention also provides a fuel storage device for a fuel cell as described above,
With adjacent phases in contact with each other,
The above problem is solved by using a fuel storage device for a fuel cell, wherein the fuel affinity of the adjacent phase and the fuel affinity of the fuel phase are different from each other.

Here, the adjacent phase includes a power generation phase that generates power. Alternatively, when there is an intermediate phase between the power generation phase and the fuel phase, the intermediate phase is included. For example, when there is a mechanism such as a valve, a pump, a reformer that performs fuel reforming, or a column between the power generation phase and the fuel phase, the phase disposed in these mechanisms is included. That is, it includes a fuel induction phase constituted by an air phase, a glass bead phase, or other fuel induction material disposed in these mechanisms.

The present invention also provides a fuel storage device for a fuel cell as described above,
The present invention solves the above problems by using a fuel storage device for a fuel cell, which is provided with a mechanism for separating a fuel phase and an adjacent phase when power generation is stopped.

The mechanism that separates the fuel phase and the adjacent phase includes one that uses an electric actuator. In addition, a mechanism that does not require an electronic circuit such as feedback control is included.

The present invention also provides a fuel storage device for a fuel cell as described above,
The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems by using a fuel storage device for a fuel cell, characterized by comprising means for introducing water into the fuel phase.

The present invention also provides a fuel storage device for a fuel cell as described above,
This problem is solved by using a fuel storage device for a fuel cell that suppresses introduction of water when power generation is stopped.

The mechanism for introducing water and the mechanism for suppressing introduction may use a pump or a valve, or may use a simple column.

The present invention also provides a fuel storage device for a fuel cell as described above,
The fuel phase is composed of a plurality of cells to solve the above problems using a fuel storage device for a fuel cell.

Cell division includes division using a sponge. It also includes incomplete division using a semipermeable membrane. The fuel and polymer may be combined in different forms for each cell.

The invention's effect

According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

First, when the outer shell of the fuel tank is damaged, the effect of reducing the surrounding pollution can be obtained. This is because when the fuel is gelled, gelled or solidified by the polymer, the viscosity and surface tension become higher than in the case of liquid, and the scattering of the fuel is suppressed. Also, contamination is reduced by suppressing penetration into the gaps. In addition, these effects become higher when solidified.

Moreover, the effect that the mechanism for supplying fuel to the power generation unit without using the top and bottom can be reduced is obtained. Or the effect that it can simplify is acquired. This is because the fuel phase is more closely attached to the power generation phase due to the viscosity added to the fuel, and even if the top and bottom are reversed, they are not easily separated. Further, when solidified, for example, the fuel phase and the power generation phase can be brought into close contact by a spring mechanism.

The effect of reducing fuel volatilization can be obtained. This is because the polymer can be provided with a function as a humectant. For example, a polymer that performs gelation or sol formation can be provided with a function as a humectant.

Furthermore, the effect of protecting the mechanism that cannot increase the resistance to fuel can be obtained. Or the effect of adding the tolerance to a fuel, without reducing the capability of an essential function is acquired. This is because by suppressing the penetration rate of fuel from the fuel phase to the power generation phase, excessive fuel penetration into the power generation phase is prevented. Here, the permeation speed can be suppressed by reducing the difference between the fuel affinity of the fuel phase and the fuel affinity of the power generation phase and reducing the osmotic pressure.

The effect of reducing the volume of the fuel tank can be obtained. This is because high-concentration fuel can be used by protecting a mechanism that is not highly resistant to fuel.

This is a protective mechanism for reducing fuel poisoning and the like, and has an effect that a protective mechanism having resistance to thermal expansion and vibration from the surroundings can be obtained. This is because the gelled or solled fuel phase has plasticity as compared with the conventional structure in which the fuel is infiltrated into the solid porous body.

In addition, there is an effect that a protection mechanism that reduces fuel poisoning and the like and that can be easily processed and manufactured can be obtained. This is because the gelled or solled fuel phase can be processed and manufactured by, for example, coating.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a fuel tank of a mobile fuel cell according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

The best embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 1-1 denotes a fuel tank of a fuel storage device according to the present invention. 1-2 is a power generation unit. Here, the fuel tank is provided with a fuel phase 1-4 containing fuel and polymer. The power generation unit includes a power generation phase 1-5 including a catalyst, an electrode 1-6, and an electrolyte 1-7. In FIG. 1, the catalyst and the electrode 1-6 are shown as a unit. A semipermeable membrane 1-3 is sandwiched between the fuel tank and the power generation unit.

First, the fuel tank 1-1 will be described in detail. The fuel tank 1-1 includes a fuel phase 1-4 composed of a liquid fuel and a polymer as a single unit. For example, methanol is used as the fuel. As the polymer, a polymer that slowly binds to the fuel is used. For example, a polymer having a carboxyl group or a sulfone group, a thickener such as polyacrylic acid, a polymer absorbent, or a polymer encapsulating fuel is used. It is desirable that the polymer be selectively combined with methanol.

Here, it is confirmed that methanol is thickened when polyacrylic acid having a molecular weight of 100,000 is used as the polymer. That is, it has been confirmed that a fuel phase is formed by using polyacrylic acid. The fuel phase is also formed by using commercially available polymer absorbents (sanitary products and paper diapers). In commercially available polymer absorbents, carboxyl groups and the like are neutralized with sodium hydroxide or ammonia and do not readily absorb methanol. However, these polymer absorbents absorb methanol by acting with a strong acid. Specifically, the polymer absorbent is once swollen with water, and excess hydrochloric acid is added. Then, the polymer absorbent swollen by the action of hydrochloric acid is re-contracted. The polymer absorbent thus contracted does not swell with water. The polymer absorbent in the state is repeatedly washed with water to remove hydrochloric acid and sodium chloride. The fuel phase is constituted by absorbing methanol into the washed polymer absorbent. It has also been confirmed that the fuel phase is formed even if the polymer absorbent and polyacrylic acid are mixed appropriately.

Next, the power generation unit 1-2 will be described in detail. The power generation unit 1-2 includes a power generation phase 1-5 including a catalyst, an electrode, and an electrolyte. A carbon substrate is used for the electrode 1-6, Pt and Ru are used for the catalyst, and a solid polymer electrolyte such as perfluorosulfone polymer is used for the electrolyte 1-7. Here, after applying a catalyst to the electrode 1-6, it is a known technique to sandwich the electrolyte 1-7 between two electrodes and to integrate them by heating.

Further, the semipermeable membrane 1-3 will be described in detail. The semipermeable membrane 1-3 is provided between the fuel phase 1-4 of the fuel tank 1-1 and the power generation phase 1-5 of the power generation unit 1-2 as necessary. The fractional molecular weight is selected according to the high molecular weight of the fuel tank 1-1. The semipermeable membrane 1-3 prevents the polymer from penetrating from the fuel phase 1-4 to the power generation phase 1-5.

The power generation unit and the semipermeable membrane can also be realized by using existing products. For example, it is realized by using a product obtained by applying a catalyst to a Nafion membrane manufactured by DuPont for the power generation unit and using a PTFE membrane filter manufactured by Millipore for the semipermeable membrane.

Fuel phase (mixed phase of commercially available polymer absorbent with strong acid and polyacrylic acid and methanol), power generation phase (commercial power generation phase with Nafion membrane coated with platinum catalyst “DuPont Nafion 117Pt Ru Cathode. 4 mg / cm ² PT anode 2.0 mg / cm ² Pt-Ru ”) and a semi-permeable membrane (a mechanism in which a commercially available filter“ Millipore PBTK04310NMWL30K ”is sandwiched between commercially available filter papers and the filter paper is connected to a water tank) Therefore, power generation is possible.

In general, fuel permeates from a phase having a low fuel affinity to a phase having a high affinity according to the osmotic pressure difference between the two phases. The fuel movement can be adjusted by optimizing the osmotic pressure difference between the two phases. That is, by increasing the difference in fuel affinity, the concentration of fuel and the like can be suppressed in a phase with low fuel affinity.

The above is easily confirmed by an experiment using a beaker and a semipermeable membrane. That is, it is confirmed that there is a difference in the rate of increase in methanol concentration between when the fuel phase containing polymer is wrapped in a semipermeable membrane and immersed in water, and when the fuel is wrapped in a semipermeable membrane and immersed in water. The

In the present invention, fuel permeation from the fuel phase 1-4 to the power generation phase 1-5 is adjusted by optimizing the fuel affinity of the fuel phase. That is, the fuel slowly permeates the power generation phase 1-5 until equilibrium is reached between the two phases of the power generation phase 1-5 and the fuel phase 1-4. Furthermore, even if the equilibrium is lost due to the fuel consumption in the power generation phase 1-5, the consumed fuel is replenished until the equilibrium is reached again.

The optimization of the fuel affinity is realized as follows, for example. First, it is realized by selecting a functional group of the polymer. Moreover, it implement | achieves by processing the selected functional group appropriately. For example, it is realized by selecting a carboxyl group or the like and then partially esterifying or partially sodaizing. Further, it is possible to adjust the composition of the monomer to be polymerized. For example, the affinity of the whole polymer can be increased by increasing the proportion of the monomer having high fuel affinity.

The preceding is the best embodiment and description. Other embodiments will be described below.

First, other examples of the phase configuration will be described. The best embodiment is a single phase composed of a liquid fuel and a gelling agent. However, multiple phases may be mixed. For example, a phase composed of an aqueous solution and a gelled fuel (a mixed phase of a liquid phase and a gel phase) may be used. Alternatively, it may be a mixed phase (a mixed phase of a solid phase and a gel phase) configured by infiltrating a gelled fuel into a sponge-like solid phase.

Next, other examples of polymer and fuel distribution will be described. The best example has been described with a uniform distribution of fuel and gelling agent. However, these distributions do not necessarily have to be uniform. The fuel phase may be appropriately determined by a sponge or a semipermeable membrane. For example, the fuel phase is composed of a plurality of cells by the sponge. Different functions may be realized in each of the divided fuel phases. In other words, the fuel phase may be divided into two, and the function of holding a large amount of fuel and the function of gently supplying fuel to the power generation layer may be realized separately. These are realized by blending different polymers in the fuel phase divided into two.

In addition, an example is given for the loose coupling between fuel and polymer. The polyacrylic acid shown in the best example has a large number of carboxyl groups in the main chain. When polyacrylic acid is a simple substance, it has a structure called a thread-string with a small main chain. When water molecules or fuel molecules enter between the carboxyl groups, the main chain extends and changes to a rod-like structure. In particular, when the carboxyl group is ionized, the structural change becomes remarkable. When the rod-shaped polymers interfere with each other, the viscosity, surface tension or osmotic pressure of the solution changes. That is, polyacrylic acid can be gently combined with the fuel by the action of the functional group of the polymer. Moreover, a polymer absorbent is comprised by bridge | crosslinking polyacrylic acid. Since the polymer absorbent swells when the solution enters between the carboxyl groups, it can bind to the fuel more strongly.

When the fuel has a hydroxyl group such as alcohol, it can be combined with the fuel by hydrogen bonding. A fuel with a high molecular weight can be bound by intermolecular forces.

A polymer that gently binds by incorporating a fuel into a complicated molecular structure may be used. For example, there are polymers that entangle fuel in long side chains and polymers that take fuel into the network structure. As a polymer having a long side chain, there is a commercially available waste oil treating agent. As a polymer having a network structure, there are reactive organisms of strontium chloride and calcium acetate. In these polymers, optimization of fuel affinity is realized by adjusting the molecular structure. For example, since the network structure itself is deformed according to the cross-linking amount and average molecular weight of the polymer, the adjustment of the fuel affinity is easily realized.

Further, microcapsules may be used. For example, fuel encapsulation is realized by using calcium chloride and alginic acid. Alternatively, the encapsulation can also be realized by dispersing the fuel in a medium that does not mix with the fuel and forming a polymer thin film by interfacial polycondensation at the interface between the medium liquid and the fuel.

You may equip a power generation part with a reformer as needed. For example, it is assumed that a reformer that uses methanol as a fuel and generates hydrogen by selective oxidation of methanol is provided. If an excessive amount of methanol is supplied to the reformer, a large amount of intermediate products such as carbon monoxide are generated. If the supply is insufficient, even hydrogen is oxidized. When the reformer is provided, the reformer is in direct contact with the fuel phase. In other words, the permeation of fuel into the reformer is similarly adjusted by optimizing the fuel affinity of the polymer contained in the fuel phase.

Water may be required for power generation and reforming. In such a case, water may be mixed in advance in the fuel tank. Further, when water is generated during power generation, the water generated during power generation may be introduced into the fuel tank. There is a pump as a mechanism for introducing the generated water into the fuel tank. Water is also introduced by arranging the water polymer absorber so as to be in contact with both the power generation phase and the fuel phase. In addition, the technique itself which circulates water by arrange | positioning a water polymer absorber is a known thing. (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-203668)

Here, it is desirable to provide an adjustment mechanism that continuously supplies fuel to the power generation phase during power generation and suppresses the supply when power generation is stopped. This is because such an adjustment mechanism can suppress unnecessary fuel consumption. An example provided with such an adjustment mechanism is shown.

First, an adjustment mechanism is realized by bringing the fuel phase and the power generation phase into contact with each other during power generation, and separating both phases when power generation is stopped. For example, a water polymer absorbent that absorbs water generated during power generation and a spring are used. That is, the fuel phase and the power generation phase are brought into contact with each other by utilizing the swelling of the water polymer absorbent, and when the water polymer absorbent is dried, the two are separated using a spring stress. A similar function can be realized by using an electric microactuator or the like.

The adjustment mechanism is also realized by drying the semipermeable membrane interposed between the power generation phase and the fuel phase when power generation is stopped.

Furthermore, it is also realized by supplying water to the fuel phase during power generation and suppressing the supply of water when power generation is stopped. Water generated during power generation may be circulated with a pump or the like. When water is introduced here, the fuel is dissolved out of the fuel phase by the introduced water. In addition, when the introduction of water is stopped, the supply of fuel is stopped.

If necessary, the fuel storage device is a cartridge that can be removed and reattached from the fuel cell.

In a portable fuel cell, a mechanism called passive that does not include an electronic circuit such as a feedback circuit is desirable. The fuel cell of the passive mechanism using this invention is shown below.

Specifically, water generated during power generation is absorbed by the water polymer absorbent to increase the volume of the water polymer absorbent, and this volume variation is used for driving the cylinder. A column is used for water circulation. This will be described in detail with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 2-1 denotes a fuel tank, and 2-2 denotes a power generation unit. A semipermeable membrane 2-3 is disposed between the fuel tank 2-1 and the power generation unit 2-2. The fuel tank 2-1 includes a fuel phase 2-4, and the power generation unit 2-2 includes a power generation phase 2-5.

It is assumed that the column 2-9 is arranged to circulate water. A semipermeable membrane 2-3 and a polymer absorbent 2-8 are arranged at the tip of the column 2-9. The inside of the column 2-9 is packed with hydrophilic polymer, glass beads and the like. The polymer absorbent 2-8 is assumed to utilize a material that changes its volume by swelling and drying. A cylinder 2-10 is disposed at the tip of the polymer absorbent 2-8. A passive mechanism is realized by the movement of the cylinder 2-10 accompanying the volume change of the polymer absorbent 2-8. In addition, a space 2-12 is disposed at the tip of the cylinder 2-10, and a semipermeable membrane 2-3 is disposed at the tip of the space 2-12. Further, a window 2-11 is disposed within the operating range of the cylinder.

The operation will be described below. During power generation, water is generated from the power generation phase 2-5, and the semipermeable membrane 2-3 and the polymer absorbent 2-8 are humidified through the column 2-9. When the polymer absorbent 2-8 is humidified, the cylinder 2-10 moves due to swelling. When the cylinder 2-10 moves, the window 2-11 opens, and excess moisture generated thereafter is released to the outside from the opened window. Further, when the semipermeable membrane 2-3 is humidified, the fuel phase 2-4 and the semipermeable membrane 2-3 are brought into close contact with each other, and fuel permeation from the fuel phase is started.

When power generation is stopped, the generation of water stops, and the replenishment of new water to the semipermeable membrane 2-3 and the polymer absorbent 2-8 stops. However, since moisture is continuously released to the outside through the window 2-11, the polymer absorbent 2-8 is gradually dried. When the polymer absorbent 2-8 is dried, the cylinder 2-10 moves. Therefore, the space 2-12 becomes negative pressure as the cylinder 2-10 moves. When the space 2-12 has a negative pressure, the water in the semipermeable membrane 2-3 disposed at the tip of the space 2-12 is sucked out, and the semipermeable membrane is dehydrated. When the semipermeable membrane 2-3 is dehydrated, a gap is generated between the fuel phase 2-4 and the semipermeable membrane 2-3, and the permeation of fuel is suppressed. That is, when power generation is stopped, excessive fuel supply is suppressed. Further, the movement of the cylinder 2-10 closes the window 2-11 and seals the container. That is, excessive moisture release is also suppressed at the same time.

Here, the volume change of the polymer absorbent 2-8 is a change that proceeds on the time order of seconds or minutes. Therefore, when the penetration from the fuel phase 2-1 to the power generation phase 2-2 is fast, the above example cannot be implemented. This is because new liquid fuel is replenished from the fuel phase 2-1 to the semipermeable membrane 2-3 when the semipermeable membrane 2-3 is dehydrated. For example, when the fuel is liquid, the above mechanism cannot suppress excessive fuel supply. However, in this method, the fuel affinity of the fuel phase 2-1 is optimized by the polymer, and the fuel permeation rate is slow. For this reason, the supply and stop of the fuel are controlled by the volume fluctuation and pressure fluctuation at a relatively slow speed.

As described above, the battery according to the present invention is suitable for an electronic device power supply system.

Battery with fuel tank Battery with fuel tank

Explanation of symbols

1-1 Fuel Tank 1-2 Power Generation Unit 1-3 Semipermeable Membrane 1-4 Fuel Phase 1-5 Power Generation Phase 1-6 Electrode 1-7 Electrolyte 2-1 Fuel Tank 2-2 Power Generation Unit 2-3 Semipermeable Membrane 2-4 Fuel Phase 2-5 Power Generation Phase 2-6 Electrode 2-7 Electrolyte 2-8 Polymer Absorbent 2-9 Column 2-10 Cylinder 2-11 Window 2-12 Space 2-13 Spring

Claims (13)

A fuel storage device for a fuel cell,
It has a gelled, solded or solidified fuel phase,
The fuel phase is a fuel phase composed of a polymer and a liquid fuel alone,
A fuel storage device for a fuel cell, characterized in that the polymer is a polymer having an affinity for fuel by loosely bonding to the fuel. A fuel storage device for a fuel cell,
It has a gelled, solded or solidified fuel phase,
The fuel phase is a fuel phase composed of a polymer and a liquid fuel alone,
A fuel storage device for a fuel cell, wherein the polymer has a functional group that slowly binds to a fuel. A fuel storage device for a fuel cell,
It has a gelled, solded or solidified fuel phase,
The fuel phase is a fuel phase composed of a polymer and a liquid fuel alone,
A fuel storage device for a fuel cell, wherein the polymer has a network-like molecular structure, and fuel molecules are confined inside the network structure. A fuel storage device for a fuel cell,
It has a gelled, solded or solidified fuel phase,
The fuel phase is a fuel phase composed of a polymer and a liquid fuel alone,
A fuel storage device for a fuel cell, wherein the polymer is gently bonded to the fuel by intermolecular force or hydrogen bonding. A fuel storage device for a fuel cell,
It has a gelled, solded or solidified fuel phase,
The fuel phase is a fuel phase composed of a polymer and a liquid fuel alone,
A fuel storage device for a fuel cell, characterized in that the polymer forms a microcapsule by loosely bonding to the fuel. A fuel storage device for a fuel cell,
It has a gelled, solded or solidified fuel phase,
A fuel storage device for a fuel cell, wherein the fuel phase is a fuel phase composed of a polymer absorbent or a thickener and a liquid fuel alone. A fuel storage device for a fuel cell according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The polymer is an absorbent, thickener, solubilizer, gelling agent, polymer with carboxyl group, polymer with sulfone group, reaction product of strontium chloride and calcium acetate, calcium chloride and alginic acid A fuel storage device for a fuel cell, characterized by being a reactive organism or polyacrylic acid. A fuel storage device for a fuel cell according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
Fuel is methanol, ethanol or other alcohol,
Hydrocarbon, borohaloid, hydrazine or ammonia aqueous solution,
A fuel storage device for a fuel cell. A fuel storage device for a fuel cell according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
With adjacent phases in contact with each other,
A fuel storage device for a fuel cell, wherein the fuel affinity of the adjacent phase and the fuel affinity of the fuel phase are different from each other. A fuel storage device for a fuel cell according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
A fuel storage device for a fuel cell, comprising a mechanism for separating a fuel phase and an adjacent phase when power generation is stopped. A fuel storage device for a fuel cell according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
A fuel storage device for a fuel cell, comprising means for introducing water into the fuel phase. A fuel storage device for a fuel cell according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
A fuel storage device for a fuel cell that suppresses introduction of water when power generation is stopped. A fuel storage device for a fuel cell according to any one of claims 1 to 12,
A fuel storage device for a fuel cell, wherein the fuel phase is composed of a plurality of cells.

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