LEAK-PROOF LIQUID FUEL CELL

Abstract

Described is a leak-proof fuel cell which comprises at least one liquid within a casing that comprises at least one opening which is sealed by a first structure that is gas-pervious and substantially impervious to the at least one liquid. At least that portion of the casing which comprises the at least one opening is enclosed by a second structure which allows gas to pass therethrough. A space defined by the casing and the second structure comprising therein at least one material that is capable of binding the at least one liquid. This Abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is further described in the detailed description which follows, in reference to the noted plurality of drawings by way of non-limiting examples of exemplary embodiments of the present invention, in which like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings, and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross section view of a non-limiting embodiment of a fuel cell of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a cross section view of another non-limiting embodiment of a fuel cell of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a cross section view of yet another non-limiting embodiment of a fuel cell of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 shows a cross section view of a still further non-limiting embodiment of a fuel cell of the present invention.

Claims

1. A leak-proof fuel cell, wherein the fuel cell comprises at least one liquid within a casing that comprises at least one opening which is sealed by a first structure that is gas-pervious and substantially impervious to the at least one liquid, at least that portion of the casing which comprises the at least one opening being enclosed by a second structure which allows gas to pass therethrough, a space defined by the casing and the second structure comprising therein at least one material that is capable of binding the at least one liquid.

2. The fuel cell of claim 1, wherein the fuel cell is a portable fuel cell.

3. The fuel cell of any one of claim 1, wherein the fuel cell is a direct liquid fuel cell.

4. The fuel cell of claim 1, wherein the at least one liquid comprises a liquid fuel.

5. The fuel cell of claim 4, wherein the liquid fuel comprises at least one of a hydride compound and a borohydride compound.

6. The fuel cell of claim 1, wherein the at least one liquid comprises a liquid electrolyte.

7. The fuel cell of claim 6, wherein the liquid electrolyte comprises an aqueous solution.

8. The fuel cell of claim 7, wherein the aqueous solution comprises an alkali metal hydroxide.

9. The fuel cell of claim 1, wherein the first structure comprises a porous material that is gas-pervious and substantially impervious to liquids.

10. The fuel cell of claim 9, wherein at least a part of the second structure comprises a material that is gas-pervious and substantially impervious to liquids.

11. The fuel cell of claim 1, wherein the second structure is made of a material that is substantially impervious to gases and liquids and wherein the second structure comprises at least one opening that is sealed by a third structure that is gas-pervious and substantially impervious to liquids.

12. The fuel cell of claim 11, wherein the third structure comprises a porous material.

13. The fuel cell of claim 1, wherein the at least one material that is capable of binding the at least one liquid comprises a material that is capable of absorbing the at least one liquid.

14. The fuel cell of claim 13, wherein the material that is capable of absorbing the at least one liquid is present in a particulate form.

15. The fuel cell of claim 13, wherein the material that is capable of absorbing the at least one liquid comprises a superabsorbent.

16. The fuel cell of claim 13, wherein the material is capable of absorbing liquids having a pH of about 7 and above.

17. The fuel cell of claim 13, wherein the material that is capable of absorbing the at least one liquid comprises a polymeric material.

18. The fuel cell of claim 17, wherein the polymeric material comprises a polymer that comprises at least one monomeric unit having an acidic functionality.

19. The fuel cell of claim 18, wherein the acidic functionality comprises at least one of a carboxylic acid group and a sulfonic acid group.

20. The fuel cell of claim 18, wherein the at least one monomeric unit having an acidic functionality therein comprises a unit of an unsaturated carboxylic acid.

21. The fuel cell of claim 18, wherein the polymeric material comprises at least one of polyacrylic acid and a salt thereof.

22. The fuel cell of claim 18, wherein the polymer is at least partially crosslinked.

23. The fuel cell of claim 22, wherein the polymer is at least partially neutralized.

24. The fuel cell of claim 1, wherein the at least one material that is capable of binding the at least one liquid comprises a spongy material.

25. A leak-proof fuel cell, wherein the fuel cell comprises at least one liquid within a casing that is substantially impervious to liquids and allows gas to pass therethrough, at least that part of the casing which allows gas to pass therethrough being enclosed by a structure that is capable of substantially preventing liquid that has leaked from the casing to reach an outer surface of the structure.

26. The fuel cell of claim 25, wherein the at least one liquid comprises a liquid fuel.

27. The fuel cell of claim 25, wherein the casing comprises a plurality of openings which are sealed by one or more gas-pervious materials that are substantially impervious to the at least one liquid.

28. The fuel cell of claim 25, wherein the structure is made of a material that is gas-pervious and substantially impervious to liquids

29. The fuel cell of claim 25, wherein the structure comprises a plastic material.

30. The fuel cell of claim 29, wherein the plastic material is flexible.

31. The fuel cell of claim 25, wherein the structure comprises a bag structure.

32. The fuel cell of claim 25, wherein the structure is made of a first material that is substantially impervious to gases and liquids and comprises at least one opening that is sealed by a second material that is gas-pervious and substantially impervious to liquids.

33. The fuel cell of claim 25, wherein the fuel cell further comprises at least one material that is capable of binding the at least one liquid and is disposed between the casing and the structure.

34. The fuel cell of claim 33, wherein the at least one material that is capable of binding the at least one liquid comprises a material that is capable of absorbing the at least one liquid.

35. The fuel cell of claim 25, wherein the structure comprises at least two portions.

36. The fuel cell of claim 35, wherein the structure comprises an innermost portion which encloses at least that part of the casing which allows gas to pass therethrough, and an outermost portion which surrounds at least partially the innermost portion.

37. The fuel cell of claim 36, wherein the innermost portion is gas-pervious and the outermost portion is substantially impervious to liquids and allows gas to pass therethrough.

38. The fuel cell of claim 36, wherein the structure further comprises at least one material that is capable of binding the at least one liquid and is disposed between the innermost portion and the outermost portion of the structure.

39. A leak-proof fuel cell, wherein the fuel cell comprises a liquid fuel and a liquid electrolyte within a casing that comprises at least one opening which is sealed by a first structure that is gas-pervious and substantially impervious to the liquid fuel and the liquid electrolyte, at least that portion of the casing which comprises the at least one opening being enclosed by a second structure which allows gas to pass therethrough, a space defined by the casing and the second structure comprising therein at least one material that is capable of absorbing the liquid fuel and the liquid electrolyte.

40. The fuel cell of claim 39, wherein the liquid fuel comprises a borohydride compound.

41. The fuel cell claim 40, wherein the liquid electrolyte comprises a hydroxide solution.

42. The fuel cell of claim 41, wherein the first structure comprises a porous material that is gas-pervious and substantially impervious to liquids.

43. The fuel cell of claim 42, wherein at least a part of the second structure comprises a material that is gas-pervious and substantially impervious to liquids.

44. The fuel cell of claim 39, wherein the second structure is made of a material that is substantially impervious to gases and liquids and wherein the second structure comprises at least one opening that is sealed by a third structure that is gas-pervious and substantially impervious to liquids.

45. A fuel cell which comprises a casing having a cathode, an anode and at least one liquid enclosed therein, wherein the casing comprises at least one opening sealed by a gas-pervious material and wherein an enclosed space adjacent an outer surface of the casing has disposed therein at least one material that is capable of binding the at least one liquid.

46. A method of leak-proofing a fuel cell which comprises at least one liquid within a casing that comprises in at least a part thereof a gas-pervious material, wherein the method comprises enclosing at least that part of the casing which comprises the gas-pervious material with a gas-pervious structure to create an enclosed space between an outer surface of the casing and an inner surface of the structure and disposing within the space at least one material that is capable of substantially preventing liquid that has leaked from the casing to escape from the space.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the at least one liquid comprises a liquid fuel.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the at least one material that is capable of substantially preventing liquid that has leaked from the casing to escape from the space comprises a material that is capable of absorbing the at least one liquid.

49. A method of leak-proofing a fuel cell which comprises at least one liquid within a casing that comprises in at least a part thereof a gas-pervious material, wherein the method comprises disposing within an enclosed space adjacent an outer surface of the casing at least one material that is capable of binding the at least one liquid.