JPH0133028B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a cylindrical liquid fuel cell having a structure completely different from conventional fuel cells.

Recently, electronic equipment has become more and more electronic.
It is small and lightweight, and power consumption has been significantly reduced.

When commercial electricity is not available as a power source for this type of equipment, dry cells or secondary batteries are used, and because they consume less power, they can operate for long periods of time. However, since dry batteries cannot be regenerated once discharged, there are problems in terms of environmental conservation and effective use of resources. Further, although secondary batteries can be regenerated by charging, there are problems such as charging takes time and the charge/discharge cycle life is short. In this regard, fuel cells can generate electricity as long as fuel and oxidizer are supplied. However, in a conventional fuel cell, as shown in FIG. Oxidizer chamber frame 8 with agent chamber 7
A method was used in which a large number of these were stacked one on top of the other.

With this method, it is difficult to replace a failed unit battery, and when applied to electronic devices with low power consumption,
Since the electrode area is small, the battery frame occupies a large proportion, resulting in low weight and volumetric efficiency.

In addition, the present inventors have proposed, as an example of Japanese Patent Application No. 57-59354, a unit cell member consisting of a fuel electrode, an electrolyte, and an oxidizer electrode, and a fuel chamber having a fuel supply hole to the fuel electrode in the side wall. It has a cylindrical case and an air supply cylindrical case having an air supply hole to the oxidizer electrode in a side wall, and the unit cell member is wound directly around the fuel chamber cylindrical case to supply the air. We have proposed a cylindrical liquid fuel cell that is housed in a cylindrical case for supply, with an insulating sealant interposed between the cylindrical case for the fuel chamber and the cylindrical case for air supply. When fuel or a mixed solution of fuel and electrolyte is supplied into the cylindrical case, it comes into direct contact with the fuel electrode, and the part in contact with the fuel electrode tends to change depending on the amount of fuel, so there is a risk of unstable cell performance. There is.

The present invention aims to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks. To achieve this objective, the present invention includes a unit cell member consisting of a fuel electrode, an electrolyte, and an oxidizer electrode, and a cylindrical case for a fuel chamber having a fuel supply hole to the fuel electrode in the side wall. and an air supply cylindrical case with an air supply hole to the oxidizer electrode on the side wall;
The unit cell member is wound around the fuel chamber cylindrical case and housed in the air supply cylindrical case, and the sealing material is connected to the fuel chamber cylindrical case and the air supply cylindrical case. In a cylindrical liquid fuel cell interposed between the cylindrical case and the bottom and opening thereof, a rib for reinforcing the electrode is provided between the cylindrical case for the fuel chamber and the unit cell member, and a rib for removing produced gas is provided. The fuel filter is characterized by a porous fuel filter having small pores for this purpose.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 shows a cylindrical liquid fuel cell according to the present invention. A porous filter 1 has ribs 11a for reinforcing the fuel electrode so as to cover the fuel supply holes 9 in a cylindrical case 10 for a fuel chamber having a plurality of fuel supply holes 9 on the side wall, and small holes for removing generated gas.
1 is wound around the electrode, and the laminate of the fuel electrode 12, electrolyte 13, and oxidizer electrode 14 is brought into close contact. Both upper and lower ends of these are kept liquid-tight and air-tight by sealing material 15 and housed in an air supply cylindrical case 17 having a plurality of air supply holes 16 in the side wall. A wire gauze 19 made of a conductive material is inserted as a spacer in the space between the oxidizer electrode 14 and the air supply cylindrical case 17, that is, the oxidizer chamber 18, and serves not only to reinforce the oxidizer electrode 14 but also to collect current. Electrical insulation between the air supply cylindrical case 17 and the fuel chamber cylindrical case 10 is provided by a sealing material 15. 20 is a cap for the cylindrical case 10 for the fuel chamber, and a gas discharge hole 21 is provided therein. In the cylindrical liquid fuel cell of the present invention, when fuel or a mixed solution of fuel and electrolyte is supplied into the cylindrical case 10 for the fuel chamber, these are directly supplied to the fuel electrode 1.
The porous fuel filter 11 absorbs and retains the fuel without contacting the porous fuel filter 11. When consumed at the fuel electrode 12, the fuel or a mixed solution of fuel and electrolyte moves from the porous fuel filter 11 to the fuel electrode 12 and is supplied, and the gas generated here flows through the small pores of the porous fuel filter 11. The fuel chamber cylindrical case 1
The method in which the fuel electrode 12 is directly brought into close contact with the oxidizer electrode 12 suppresses the diffusion of fuel to the oxidizer electrode 14, and stable cell performance can be obtained.

Since the present invention has the above structure, the voltage obtained is 1V or less, so it is necessary to connect several batteries to use as a power source for electronic equipment, but maintenance is easy and malfunctioning batteries can be easily replaced. Moreover, they have great advantages over conventional fuel cells, such as being small in weight, having high volumetric efficiency, and providing stable cell performance, and their industrial value is extremely large.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway view of a conventional fuel cell, and FIG. 2 is a cylindrical liquid fuel cell showing an embodiment of the present invention, in which a is a vertical cross-sectional view and b is a cross-sectional view of a main part. 9 is a fuel supply hole, 10 is a cylindrical case for the fuel chamber,
11a is a rib, 11 is a porous filter, 12 is a fuel electrode, 13 is an electrolyte, 14 is an oxidizer electrode, 16 is an air supply hole, and 17 is a cylindrical case for air supply.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A unit cell member consisting of a fuel electrode, an electrolyte, and an oxidizer electrode, a cylindrical case for a fuel chamber having a fuel supply hole to the fuel electrode in the side wall, and an air supply cylinder having an air supply hole to the oxidizer electrode in the side wall. the unit cell member is wound around the cylindrical case for the fuel chamber and is housed in the cylindrical case for supplying air; In a cylindrical liquid fuel cell interposed between the air supply cylindrical case and the bottom and opening thereof, a rib for electrode reinforcement is provided between the fuel chamber cylindrical case and the unit cell member. A cylindrical liquid fuel cell characterized by a porous fuel filter having small holes for removing produced gas.