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Patent Number: |
6849356 |
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Case ID: |
79530 |
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Patent Title:
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Separated flow liquid catholyte aluminum hydrogen peroxide seawater semi fuel cell |
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Status: |
ACTIVE |
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Status Date: |
3/18/2005 11:22:02 AM |
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Issue Date:
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2/1/2005 |
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Filed Date:
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1/3/2002 |
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Serial #:
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037808 |
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Assignee Name:
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The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy (Washington, DC) |
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Inventor(s):
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Dow, Eric G. ,Yan, Susan G. ,Medeiros, Maria G. ,Bessette, Russell R. |
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STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT INTEREST
The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the
Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes
without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefore.
CROSS REFERENCE TO OTHER PATENT APPLICATIONS
Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid catholyte aluminum-hydrogen
peroxide seawater semi fuel cell which has particular utility as an energy
source for underwater vehicles.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Primary batteries employing aqueous electrolytes have been under
development since the 1940s. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,296,184 to Stachurski, U.S.
Pat. No. 4,352,864 to Struthers, U.S. Pat. No. 4,485,154 to Remick et al,
U.S. Pat. No. 4,492,741 to Struthers, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,496,659 to Zito
show some of the electrochemical power cells tha . . . . More |
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The present invention relates to an improved semi-fuel cell and an improved
cathode used therein. The semi-fuel cell stack comprises a housing, an
anode within the housing, a porous cathode within the housing, an aqueous
catholyte within the housing, an aqueous anolyte stream flowing in the
housing, and a membrane for preventing migration of the catholyte through
the porous cathode and into the anolyte stream. In a preferred embodiment
of the present invention, the catholyte comprises an aqueous hydrogen
peroxide solution, the anolyte comprises a NaOH/seawater solution, and the
membrane permits passage of OH.sup.- ions while inhibiting the passage of
hydrogen peroxide. The membrane is attached to a surface of the cathode or
alternatively, impregnated into the cathode.
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What is claimed is:
1. A semi-fuel cell stack comprising:
a housing;
an anode and a porous cathode in said housing;
an aqueous catholyte stream of hydrogen peroxide flowing within said
housing;
an aqueous anolyte stream flowing in said housing; and
a membrane which allows selective ion transfer of OH.sup.- ions through
said membrane and into the anolyte stream and which inhibits transfer of
hydrogen peroxide through said membrane for preventing migration of said
catholyte through the porous cathode and into the anolyte stream.
2. A semi-fuel cell stack according to claim 1 wherein said membrane is in
contact with said porous cathode.
3. A semi-fuel cell stack according to claim 2 wherein said membrane covers
a surface of said porous cathode.
4. A semi-fuel cell stack according to claim 2 wherein said membrane is
impregnated into said porous cathode.
5. A semi-fuel cell sta . . . . More |
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