Patent Application
20070181572
The present invention relates to a fuel container, and more particularly, to a fuel container used for supply fuel to a fuel cell.
A fuel cell is an electrochemical energy conversion device, similar to a battery in that it provides continuous DC power, which converts the chemical energy from a fuel directly into electricity and heat. When operated directly on hydrogen, the fuel cell produces this energy with clean water as the only by-product. Unlike a battery, which is limited to the stored energy within, a fuel cell is capable of generating power as long as fuel is supplied from an external fuel container. Although hydrogen is the primary fuel source for fuel cells, the process of fuel reforming allows for the extraction of hydrogen from more widely available fuels such as natural gas and propane or any other hydrogen containing fuel. For a growing number of power generators and users, fuel cells are the key to the future since it is an environment-friendly energy source with high energy conversion efficiency. It is therefore a need to design a fuel container especially to be used by fuel cells for enhancing the usage and economic efficiency of the fuel cells
A direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC), like an ordinary battery, provides dc electricity from two electrochemical reactions. These reactions occur at electrodes to which reactants are continuously fed. The anode electrode, (also called the “fuel electrode”), is be maintained by supplying a fuel such as methanol, whereas the cathode electrode, (also called the “air electrode”), is maintained by the supply of oxygen or air. Operationally, methanol is electrochemically oxidized at the anode electrode to produce electrons which travel through the external circuit to the cathode electrode where they are consumed together with oxygen in a reduction reaction and thus produce water to be drawn back to the anode electrode by an external pump. Conventionally, the DMFC use a replaceable fuel container for storing methanol and another water tank for storing replenishing water and water generated during the operating of the fuel cell. It is noted that not only the configuration of the aforesaid DMFC is not space-saving, but also the replenish of methanol and the storing of water will be performed separately. Therefore, it is troublesome and time-consuming for a user to replace water and fuel for the fuel cell, and also the structure of the DMFC is complicated. It is in great need to have a means capable of rapidly replacing the methanol and water of a fuel cell at once and thus simplifying the structure of the fuel cell.
From the above description, the present invention provides a fuel container for overcoming the abovementioned disadvantages, which has two independent accommodating spaces enclosed therein, respectively for storing methanol and water. The fuel container of the invention not only is capable of storing and supplying fuel to a fuel cell, but also is capable of recycling the water generated during the operating of the fuel cell to be used as replenishing water. Moreover, the replacing of water and methanol can be accomplished at the same time as the fuel container is replaced, so that the -structure of the fuel cell can be simplified and the space utilization of fuel cell can be rationalized and optimized for enhancing the usability and convenience of the fuel cell.
It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a fuel container having two independent accommodating spaces enclosed therein, respectively for storing methanol solution and water, by which a user is able to supply a fuel cell rapidly and conveniently by replacing the fuel container without having to replenish methanol solution and water separately.
It is another object of the invention to provide a fuel container, which adapted to be used by a specific fuel cell designed corresponding thereto for enabling the same to recycle the water generated during the operating of the fuel cell.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a fuel container, adapted to be used by a specific fuel cell designed corresponding thereto, which has space of thermal insulation ability formed therein for preventing the heat of the water recycled form the fuel cell form being transmitted to the methanol solution used as fuel of the fuel cell and thus preventing the evaporation of the methanol solution.
To achieve the above objects, the present invention provides a fuel container adapted for supplying fuel to a fuel cell, which is composed of a tank and a cover covering the tank, in that the tank is further comprised of: a first reservoir for accommodating a methanol solution; and a second reservoir for accommodating the water generated during the operating of the fuel cell and the water to be replenished therein.
Preferably, a space of thermal insulation ability is formed between the first reservoir and the second reservoir.
Preferably, the space of thermal insulation ability is channeled to an air inlet for enabling air to flow therein.
Preferably, the space of thermal insulation ability is filled with a thermal insulation material.
Preferably, the tank is integrally formed.
Preferably, the first reservoir is a hollow jar-like structure.
Preferably, the second reservoir is a hollow ring-like structure.
Preferably, the first reservoir is surrounded by the second reservoir.
Preferably, the cover further comprises a first outlet for enabling the methanol solution stored in the first reservoir to flow out therefrom.
The Preferably, the cover further comprises an aperture, for balancing the pressure difference between the air enclosed in the first reservoir and the ambient atmosphere.
Preferably, the cover further comprises an inlet, for enabling the water generated during the operating of the fuel cell to flow in to the second reservoir therefrom.
Preferably, the cover further comprises a second outlet, for enabling the water stored in the second reservoir to flow out therefrom.
Preferably, a third outlet is arranged at a side of the tank, which is used for enabling air entrapped in the second reservoir to flow out therefrom.
Preferably, the methanol solution is a mixture of water and methanol of any ratio.
It is noted that the first reservoir is able to store other aqueous fuels, which is not limited by the methanol solution. Preferably, the first reservoir can be used to store fuels, such as alcohol solution and other aqueous hydrogen containing fuels.
To sum up, the fuel container of the invention, adapted to be used by a specific fuel cell designed corresponding thereto, not only is capable of storing and supplying fuel to the fuel cell, but also is capable of recycling the water generated during the operating of the fuel cell to be used as replenishing water. Moreover, the replacing of water and methanol can be accomplished at the same time as the fuel container is replaced, so that the space utilization of fuel cell can be rationalized and optimized for enhancing the usability and convenience of the fuel cell. Moreover, the fuel container of the invention has space of thermal insulation ability formed therein for preventing the heat of the water recycled form the fuel cell form being transmitted to the methanol solution used as fuel of the fuel cell and thus preventing the evaporation of the methanol solution.
Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the present invention.
For your esteemed members of reviewing committee to further understand and recognize the fulfilled functions and structural characteristics of the invention, several preferable embodiments cooperating with detailed description are presented as the follows.
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The tank, cover, reservoirs embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respect as illustrative and not restrictive. For instance, the fuel container can be a cubic structure, and the first reservoir can be used to store water instead of methanol solution while the second reservoir is used to store methanol solution, moreover, the fuel stored in the reservoir of the fuel container is not limited by the methanol solution, it can be a alcohol solution or other aqueous hydrogen containing fuels.
While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been set forth for the purpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed embodiment of the invention as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all embodiments which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.
