Alcan International Limited

Utdc Inc.

Steven P Lapp

Peter Edward Timan

A metal/air fuel cell is described in which hydrogen is effectively removed from a cell stack and electrolyte storage tank without emitting caustic vapor or mist. The fuel cell comprises: (a) a fuel cell assembly housing, (b) a plurality of metal/air cells disposed in the housing, (c) an electrolyte storage tank, (d) a recirculation loop for continuously recirculating electrolyte from the storage tank through the metal/air cells, (e) air injection means for flowing air between the metal/air cells, (f) a degassing vessel connected to the recirculating loop to receive electrolyte containing hydrogen gas from the metal/air cells, the vessel being arranged to discharge hydrogen gas through a top opening and discharge electrolyte through a bottom outlet for return to the storage tank and this vessel being further arranged to have at least the top portion thereof bathed in air which has passed between the metal/air cells, (g) purging air means adapted to pass air through the electrolyte storage tank and then through the degassing vessel, said purging air serving to dilute the hydrogen and to remove hydrogen from the storage tank, (h) a gas discharge conduit for drawing off purge air and hydrogen discharging from the degassing vessel and (i) filter means connected to said discharge conduit for removing caustic vapor or mist from the discharging purge air and hydrogen.

Hydrogen removal system for metal/air cell

A manifold system is described for equalizing electrolyte flow to a plurality of metal/air cells of a fuel cell assembly. The fuel cell comprises: (a) a housing, (b) a plurality of metal/air cells disposed vertically in the housing, (c) air injection means for flowing oxidizing air between the metal/air cells, (d) an electrolyte storage tank, (e) a recirculation loop for continuously recirculating electrolyte from the storage tank through the metal/air cells, (f) an electrolyte inlet manifold forming part of said recirculation loop, said manifold comprising a large manifold tube extending horizontally beneath a plurality of said metal/air cells and a plurality of small feeder tubes extending horizontally, laterally from said large tube, each small feeder tube extending across beneath a single metal/air cell and flow connecting to the bottom of the cell, said large tube having a diameter sufficiently greater than the diameter of the small feeder tubes such that the total combined flow of all of the small feeder tubes does not cause a significant pressure drop in the large manifold tube. Each feeder tube has a length and diemeter to provide a friction pressure drop therethrough which is sufficiently high that the static pressure head difference due to elevation at the cell inlet between the lowest and highest cells in an inclined stack is very small compared to the pressure drop across each individual small feeder tube.

Metal/air fuel cell with electrolyte flow equalization manifold

A chassis for an articulated vehicle comprises a pair of chassis portions pivotally connected to a central longitudinal beam. The beam is supported by inboard wheelsets and the chassis portions are supported by outboard wheelsets. Each portion is hinged intermediate its ends to permit elevation of one end relative the other. A body is supported on the wheelsets.

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Sydenham, Canada

Steven P Lapp