Claims
- 1. A liquid fuel tank storing a liquid fuel for a fuel cell, comprising a pressure adjusting mechanism which maintains constant the pressure within said tank so as to permit a required amount of the liquid fuel to be discharged from a liquid outlet port to the outside of the tank.
- 2. The liquid fuel tank according to claim 1, wherein said pressure adjusting mechanism consists of a selectively permeable membrane mounted to a predetermined region of the outer wall of the tank.
- 3. The liquid fuel tank-according to claim 1, wherein said pressure adjusting mechanism consists of a fine hole made through a predetermined region of the outer wall of the liquid fuel tank.
- 4. The liquid fuel tank according to claim 1, further comprising a liquid absorbing material which is arranged within said tank and guides the liquid fuel to said liquid outlet port and a gas pathway arranged within the tank which introduces a gas generated outside the liquid fuel tank into the liquid fuel tank.
- 5. The liquid fuel tank according to claim 1, further comprising a liquid absorbing material arranged on the inner wall of the liquid fuel tank in contact with the liquid outlet port, at least a part of said liquid absorbing material being kept in contact with said liquid fuel.
- 6. The liquid fuel tank according to claim 2, further comprising a liquid absorbing material arranged on the inner wall of the liquid fuel tank in contact with said liquid outlet port, at least a part of said liquid absorbing material being kept in contact with said liquid fuel.
- 7. The liquid fuel tank according to claim 3, further comprising a liquid absorbing material arranged on the inner wall of the liquid fuel tank in contact with said liquid outlet port, at least a part of said liquid absorbing material being kept in contact with said liquid fuel.
- 8. The liquid fuel tank according to claim 4, further comprising a liquid absorbing material arranged on the inner wall of the liquid fuel tank in contact with said liquid outlet port, at least a part of said liquid absorbing material being kept in contact with said liquid fuel.
- 9. The liquid fuel tank according to claim 1, further comprising a pressure mechanism positioned within the liquid fuel tank to guide the liquid fuel to the liquid outlet port, and maintaining contact between the liquid fuel and the liquid outlet port.
- 10. The liquid fuel tank according to claim 2, further comprising a pressure mechanism positioned within the liquid fuel tank to guide the liquid fuel to the liquid outlet port, and maintaining contact between the liquid fuel and the liquid outlet port.
- 11. The liquid fuel tank according to claim 3, further comprising a pressure mechanism positioned within the liquid fuel tank to guide the liquid fuel to the liquid outlet port, and maintaining contact between the liquid fuel and the liquid outlet port.
- 12. The liquid fuel tank according to claim 4, further comprising a pressure mechanism positioned within the liquid fuel tank to guide the liquid fuel to the liquid outlet port, and maintaining contact between the liquid fuel and the liquid outlet port.
- 13. The liquid fuel tank according to claim 1, further comprising a storage section, which is said liquid fuel tank itself or which stores the liquid fuel, having a rotary mechanism to keep the liquid fuel above said liquid outlet port.
- 14. The liquid fuel tank according to claim 2, further comprising a storage section, which is said liquid fuel tank itself or which stores the liquid fuel, having a rotary mechanism to keep the liquid fuel above said liquid outlet port.
- 15. The liquid fuel tank according to claim 3, further comprising a storage section, which is said liquid fuel tank itself or which stores the liquid fuel, having a rotary mechanism to keep the liquid fuel above said liquid outlet port.
- 16. The liquid fuel tank according to claim 4, further comprising a storage section, which is said liquid fuel tank itself or which stores the liquid fuel, having a rotary mechanism to keep the liquid fuel above said liquid outlet port.
- 17. The liquid fuel tank according to claim 1, wherein said pressure adjusting mechanism includes a mechanism which takes a measure against an excessively high pressure, and said mechanism consists of a pressure release valve mounted to the liquid fuel tank.
- 18. The liquid fuel tank according to claim 2, wherein said pressure adjusting mechanism includes a mechanism which takes a measure against an excessively high pressure, and said mechanism consists of a pressure release valve mounted to the liquid fuel tank.
- 19. The liquid fuel tank according to claim 3, wherein said pressure adjusting mechanism includes a mechanism which takes a measure against an excessively high pressure, and said mechanism consists of a pressure release valve mounted to the liquid fuel tank.
- 20. The liquid fuel tank according to claim 4, wherein said pressure adjusting mechanism includes a mechanism which takes a measure against an excessively high pressure, and said mechanism consists of a pressure release valve mounted to the liquid fuel tank.
- 21. The liquid fuel tank according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of said liquid fuel tank is formed of a transparent or semi-transparent material.
- 22. The liquid fuel tank according to claim 2, wherein at least a part of said liquid fuel tank is formed of a transparent or semi-transparent material.
- 23. The liquid fuel tank according to claim 3, wherein at least a part of said liquid fuel tank is formed of a transparent or semi-transparent material.
- 24. The liquid fuel tank according to claim 4, wherein at least a part of said liquid fuel tank is formed of a transparent or semi-transparent material.
- 25. A fuel cell, comprising:
a fuel cell body equipped with a unit cell having an electromotive section in which an electrolyte membrane is held between a fuel electrode and an oxidant electrode; and a liquid fuel tank housing a liquid fuel that is to be supplied to said fuel cell body and is connected to the fuel cell body; wherein said liquid fuel is introduced into-said unit cell by a capillary action within the fuel cell body and the liquid fuel is vaporized within the unit cell so as to be supplied to the fuel electrode for the power generation, and said liquid fuel tank is equipped with a pressure adjusting mechanism which introduces a required amount of the liquid fuel from a liquid outlet port into the unit cell.
- 26. A fuel cell, comprising:
a fuel cell body equipped with a unit cell having an electromotive section in which an electrolyte membrane is held between a fuel electrode and an oxidant electrode; and a liquid fuel tank housing a liquid fuel that is to be supplied to said fuel cell body and is connected to the fuel cell body; wherein said liquid fuel is introduced into said unit cell by a capillary action within the fuel cell body and the liquid fuel is vaporized within the unit cell so as to be supplied to the fuel electrode for the power generation, said liquid fuel tank is equipped with a pressure adjusting mechanism which introduces a required amount of the liquid fuel from a liquid outlet port into the unit cell, and a connecting section between said liquid fuel tank and said fuel cell body is hermetically sealed.
- 27. The fuel cell according to claim 26, wherein said liquid fuel tank is connected to said fuel cell body via a pathway having a liquid permeating material arranged therein.
- 28. The fuel cell according to claim 26, wherein said fuel cell body is provided with a liquid fuel holding material in said fuel cell body stably supplying said liquid fuel to said unit cell, and said liquid fuel tank is connected such that the liquid fuel is directly supplied to the liquid fuel holding material.
- 29. The fuel cell according to claim 28, wherein said liquid fuel tank is connected to said fuel cell body such that the surface of the liquid fuel is perpendicular to the main surface of the electrolyte membrane included in the unit cell of the fuel cell body.
- 30. The fuel cell according to claim 26, wherein said liquid fuel tank is connected to said fuel cell body such that the surface of the liquid fuel is parallel to the main surface of the electrolyte membrane included in the unit cell of the fuel cell body.
- 31. The fuel cell according to claim 28, wherein said liquid fuel tank is connected to said fuel cell body such that the surface of the liquid fuel is parallel to the main surface of the electrolyte membrane included in the unit cell of the fuel cell body.
- 32. The fuel cell according to claim 25, wherein:
said liquid fuel tank includes a first liquid absorbing material which guides the liquid fuel to the fuel outlet port from which said liquid fuel is introduced to the outside; the connection section to which said liquid fuel tank is connected includes a second liquid absorbing material which guides the liquid fuel to said fuel cell body; and said first liquid absorbing material and said second liquid absorbing material are brought into mutual contact to supply the liquid fuel by the capillary action.
- 33. The fuel cell according to claim 25, wherein:
said liquid fuel tank includes an inserting cylinder provided with a liquid outlet hole which introduces the liquid fuel from within the tank and a movable-opening-closing valve; and the connecting section-connected to the liquid fuel tank includes unit which opens the movable opening-closing valve.
- 34. The fuel cell according to claim 25, wherein said pressure adjusting mechanism consists of a fine hole extending through a predetermined region of the outer wall of the liquid fuel tank.
- 35. The fuel cell according to claim 25, wherein said liquid fuel tank includes a liquid absorbing material arranged on the inner wall of the liquid fuel tank in contact with said liquid outlet port, at least a part of said liquid absorbing material being kept in contact with said liquid fuel.
- 36. The fuel cell according to claim 25, wherein said liquid fuel tank includes a pressurizing mechanism which guides said liquid fuel to said liquid outlet port and the liquid fuel within the liquid fuel tank is kept in contact with said liquid outlet port.
- 37. The fuel cell according to claim 25, wherein a storage section which is said liquid fuel tank itself or which stores the liquid fuel includes a rotary mechanism which keeps the liquid fuel above said liquid outlet port.
- 38. The fuel cell according to claim 25, wherein said pressure adjusting mechanism includes a mechanism which takes a measure against an excessively high pressure, and said mechanism consists of a pressure release valve mounted to the liquid fuel tank.
- 39. The fuel cell according to claim 25, wherein at least a part of said liquid fuel tank is formed of a transparent or semi-transparent material.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
11-267211 |
Sep 1999 |
JP |
|
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 11-267211, filed Sep. 21, 1999, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Divisions (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09653458 |
Aug 2000 |
US |
Child |
10315101 |
Dec 2002 |
US |