Publication date:09-November-2003 

November 04, 2003 
European Patent

Pub. Number EP 1357622

Appl. Data EP 02710411 2002 01 30

Applicant MATSUSHITA ELE CTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.

Inventor(s) KOBAYASHI, Susumu; HOSAKA, Masato; HATOH, Kazuhito; MURAKAMI, Hikaru;TAKEZAWA, Mikio;ONISHI, Takayuki

Title HIGH POLYMER ELECTROLYTE FUEL CELL AND ELECTROLYTE FILM-GASKET ASSEMBLY FOR THE FUEL CELL

Abstract The present invention provides an electrolyte membrane-gasket assembly for a fuel cell, including a polymer electrolyte membrane and a gasket, made of a seal material, covering the peripheral portion of the electrolyte membrane, in which the electrolyte membrane has a sequence of a plurality of through-holes in the peripheral portion, and a portion of the gasket covering one surface of the electrolyte membrane and a portion covering the other
surface are connected to each other through the through-holes of the electrolyte membrane. This assembly provides a polymer electrolyte fuel cell that is free from gas cross leakage caused by a detachment of the gasket from the polymer electrolyte membrane. It is preferable to further include catalyst layers carried on both surfaces of the polymer electrolyte membrane, respectively, and protective films covering, respectively, sections spanning from the peripheral portion of each of the catalyst layers to the peripheral portion of the polymer electrolyte membrane.

October 28, 2003 
European Patent

Pub. Number EP 1357618

Appl. Data EP 02702771 2002 03 06

Applicant MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.

Inventor(s) HASE, Nobuhiro, HATOH, Kazuhito , KUSAKABE, Hiroki , OHARA, Hideo , KOBAYASHI, Susumu , SHIBATA, Soichi TAKEGUCHI, Shinsuke

Title POLYMERIC ELECTROLYTE TYPE FUEL CELL

Abstract A polymeric electrolyte type fuel cell comprising a cell laminate, a pair of current collecting plates having the cell laminate interposed therebetween and a pair of end plates for fastening the cell laminate and the current collecting plates in pressurized condition. The cell laminate is a laminate of a plurality of unit cells each comprising a membrane of hydrogen ion conducting polymeric electrolyte, an anode and a cathode having the polymeric electrolyte membrane interposed therebetween, an anode side separator having a gas channel for feeding fuel gas to the anode and a cathode side separator having a gas channel for feeding oxidizer gas to the cathode. The current collecting plates are composed mainly of a conductive carbon material and have a terminal part for connecting current takeout cable disposed in the vicinity of fuel gas or oxidizer gas inlet side manifold. 

November 04, 2003 
European Patent

Pub. Number EP 1357620

Appl. Data  EP 02702919 2002 03 12

Applicant MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.

Inventor(s) MATSUOKA, Hiroaki; KOBAYASHI, Susumu; HORI, Yoshihiro; HATOH, Kazuhito; HOSAKA, Masato

Title Method Of Manufacturing Electolytic Film Electrode Connection Body For Fuel Cell

Abstract A method for producing an electrolyte membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell according to this invention comprises the steps of: laminating a hydrogen-ion conductive polymer membrane on one face of a first shape-retaining film; forming a first catalyst layer on the hydrogen-ion conductive polymer membrane; joining a shape-retaining member to the first catalyst layer side of the hydrogen-ion conductive polymer membrane; removing the first shape-retaining film from the hydrogen-ion conductive polymer membrane; and forming a second catalyst layer on a face of the hydrogen-ion conductive polymer membrane exposed by the removal, so that the hydrogen-ion conductive polymer membrane and the catalyst layers are not damaged even when a
thin hydrogen-ion conductive polymer membrane is used. 

November 04, 2003 
European Patent

Pub. Number EP 1357626

Appl. Data EP 02008530 2002 04 15

Applicant Becromal S.p.A.

Inventor(s) Chiavarotti, Giovanni Pietro Sunseri, Carmelo Gullo, Umberto Di Quarto, Francesco Bocchetta, Patrizia

Title Process for manufacturing a porous body

Abstract Process for manufacturing a porous body, in particular suitable as a membrane, e. g. for use a fuel cell. To provide membranes with higher inertia, the process comprises the following steps: a) providing a thin substrate having the geometrical base of the body which is to be produced, b) providing an alumina film by an electrochemical process on the substrate, c) separation of the substrate from the alumina film, and d) drying and chemical etching of the alumina film. 

5-Method For Making An Assembly Of Base Elements For A Fuel Cell Substrate

November 04, 2003 
European Patent

Pub. Number EP 1356536

Appl. Data EP 01989671 2001 12 28

Applicant COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE

Inventor(s) MOSDALE, Renaut; BAURENS, Pierre

Title METHOD FOR MAKING AN ASSEMBLY OF BASE ELEMENTS FOR A FUEL CELL SUBSTRATE

Abstract The invention concerns a method for making assemblies of several base elements of a fuel cell substrate, without resorting to costly machining processes and difficult mechanical mountings. It consists in using a basic porous matrix (20) wherein are deposited, for each base element, an ionic conductor (24) surrounded by an anode (22) and an electrode (23), the assembly is isolated by a peripheral joint (21) and pairs of isolating walls (25). Electronic conductors (26) connect the anode (22) of a base element to the cathode (23) of the adjacent base element. The invention is applicable to all fuel cells.

November 04, 2003 
European Patent

Pub. Number EP 1356532

Appl. Data EP 01997859 2001 11 27

Applicant Protonex Technology Corporation

Inventor(s) OSENAR, Paul; FORMATO, Richard, M.; HERCZEG, Attila, E.; ENAYETULLAH, Mohammad

Title ELECTROCHEMICAL POLYMER ELECTROLYTE MEMBRANE CELL STACKS

Abstract An electrochemical polymer electrolyte membrane cell stack is disclosed that comprises one or more fuel cell cassettes (1), each fuel cell cassette (1) having at least one membrane electrode assembly (2), fuel flow field (3) and oxidant flow field (4). Within each fuel cell cassette (1), each membrane electrode assembly (2) has at least one manifold opening (9) for the passage of reactant manifolds through the fuel cell cassette (1) and all such manifolds
openings are bonded about the perimeter by a sealant. Each flow field (3, 4) has at least one manifold opening (9) and each manifold openings (9) on a flow field (3, 4) that does not correspond to a manifold providing reactant for distribution to such flow field (3, 4) is bonded about the perimeter by a sealant. Each fuel cell cassette (1) may contain other typical components of a electrochemical polymer electrolyte membrane cell stack, such as separators plates (6) or coolant flow fields (5), which have manifold openings (9) that may or may not be bonded about the perimeter. The membrane electrode assembly (1), flow fields (3,4,5), and other components are stacked and encapsulated along their peripheral edges by a resin such that th entire periphery (18) of the fuel cell cassette (1) is encapsulated together by the resin to form the fuel cell cassette (1). 

November 04, 2003 
U.S. Patent

Pub. Number  US6641084

Appl. Data US2002000177427

Applicant The Boeing Company

Inventor(s) Huber, James M.; Lindstrom, Joel D.;  Daggett, David L.;  Friend, Michael G.

Title Solid oxide fuel cell as auxiliary power source installation in transport aircraft

Abstract An auxiliary power unit (APU) for an aircraft utilizing solid oxide fuel cells for providing electrical power. The solid oxide electrolytes of the fuel cells allow for reformed fuel to provide a catalyst for oxygen migration. The auxiliary power unit, utilizing solid oxide fuel cells, can also power systems of the aircraft to produce water for use on the aircraft. Waste exhaust energy may be captured from the APU by a power recovery turbine which drives a compressor to provide aircraft cabin air under increased pressure to the fuel cell, thereby increasing system efficiency. The APU may provide all of the electricity to the aircraft allowing for more efficient aircraft engine design and a decrease in aircraft engine size. Furthermore, the fuel cell APU can reduce airport ramp noise and exhaust emissions. 

What is claimed is:
    1. An aircraft comprising:

    * a fuselage comprising a cabin;
    * an engine for powering the aircraft;
    * a fuel supply to provide fuel to said engine;
    * an electronic component disposed in the aircraft to control or operate at least one function of the aircraft;
    * a power unit comprising a fuel cell; and
    * a reclamation turbine which is powered by thermal energy produced by said fuel cell;
    * wherein said fuel supply supplies said fuel to said power unit so that said power unit provides a first source of electricity for said electronic components.
 

November 04, 2003 
U.S. Patent

Pub. Number  US6541149

Appl. Data US2000000514494

Applicant Lucent Technologies Inc.

Inventor(s) Maynard, Helen Louise; Meyers, Jeremy Patrick

Title Article comprising micro fuel cell 

Abstract Improved micro fuel cells suitable for portable electrical devices are provided, and processes for forming such cells. In one embodiment of the invention, silicon substrates are used both as the gas delivery structure for the fuel and the oxidant, and as the current collectors. Such use of silicon is advantageous in that it becomes possible both to utilize micromachining and lithographic techniques to form the desired structures, e.g., the gas delivery channels, and also to integrate the fuel cell with silicon-based control circuitry. Advantageously, the silicon substrates comprise both gas delivery tunnels and porous silicon gas diffusion regions formed over the tunnels in the surface of the substrate, i.e., the porous regions over the gas delivery tunnels are integral with the silicon substrate. In another embodiment of the invention, a monolithic structure is employed. In this structure, in contrast to the sandwich-type structure of the previous embodiment, a single silicon substrate--not acting as a current collector--is used, with all flow systems contained therein.