IP Library Granted Patent US 9,437,887
Granted Patent B2
US 9,437,887 · App. 14/365,006 · Granted Sep 6, 2016

Internally controllable fuel cell

Inventor: Detlef Schulz (Hamburg, DE)
Assignees: Helmut Schmidt Universität, Universität der Bundeswehr Hamburg; Hamburg Innovation GmbH
H01M8/04291C25B1/12C25B13/02C25B13/04H01M8/0271H01M8/04582H01M8/04895H01M8/04902H01M2008/1095H02N2/18Y02E60/366Y02E60/50
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,437,887
App. No.
14/365,006
Granted
Sep 6, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Fuel cell and/or high-pressure electrolysis cell and a fuel cell membrane arrangement for improved control of a fuel cell by an actuator connected to the fuel cell membrane.

Claims (20)

1. A fuel cell membrane unit for use between an anode and a cathode in a fuel cell, wherein the fuel cell membrane unit comprises:

a fuel cell membrane, and

an actuator, which is connected to the fuel cell membrane and is configured to control a current density distribution in the fuel cell membrane.

2. The fuel cell membrane unit according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a grid for generating at least one of an electrical field and a magnetic field.

3. The fuel cell membrane unit according to claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the grid structure is embedded in the fuel cell membrane.

4. The fuel cell membrane unit according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a horizontal grid and a vertical grid, wherein the horizontal grid is arranged so that it is rotated by essentially 90° relative to the vertical grid.

5. The fuel cell membrane unit according to claim 4 , wherein the horizontal grid and the vertical grid lie directly one above the other.

6. The fuel cell membrane unit according to claim 4 , wherein the horizontal grid and the vertical grid are arranged on opposite surfaces of the fuel cell membrane.

7. The fuel cell membrane unit according to claim 4 , wherein at least one of the horizontal grid and the vertical grid is constructed as a grid having a plurality of piezo elements connected in parallel.

8. The fuel cell membrane unit according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a piezo element which is designed to generate at least one of an electrical field and a magnetic field under the influence of pressure to control the fuel cell membrane.

9. The fuel cell membrane unit according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a semiconductor layer and an optical fiber, such that the optical fiber is designed to generate at least one of an electrical field and a magnetic field on a p-n structure of the semiconductor layer with a photoelectric effect for controlling the fuel cell membrane.

10. The fuel cell membrane unit according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises at least one field effect transistor structure which is designed to control at least one of an electrical field and a magnetic field via a gate for controlling the fuel cell membrane.

11. A fuel cell comprising

an anode,

a cathode,

a fuel cell membrane unit arranged between the anode and the cathode according to claim 1 for operation with energy flow primarily chemically to secondarily electrically.

12. A high-pressure electrolysis cell comprising

an anode,

a cathode,

a fuel cell membrane unit arranged between the anode and the cathode according to claim 1 for operation with energy flow primarily electrically to secondarily chemically.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 23, 2014
From: SCHULZ, DETLEF
To: HELMUT SCHMIDT UNIVERSITÄT, UNIVERSITÄT DER BUNDESWEHR HAMBURG; HAMBURG INNOVATION GMBH
Reel/Frame 033798/0471 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2011 088 613 · Dec 14, 2011 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20140370414A1 · Dec 18, 2014