Electrolyte creepage barrier for liquid electrolyte fuel cells

Abstract

A dielectric member for electrically insulating a manifold or other component from a liquid electrolyte fuel cell stack wherein the dielectric member is adapted to include a barrier which chemically reacts with the liquid electrolyte to form solid products which are stable in the liquid electrolyte.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A dielectric member for use in electronically insulating a manifold or other component from a liquid electrolyte fuel cell, said dielectric member including a barrier which chemically reacts with the liquid electrolyte to form solid products which are stable in the electrolyte.  
     
     
         2 . A dielectric member in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said barrier comprises one of CaAl 2 O 4  powder, MgAl 2 O 3  powder, Al 2 O 3  powder and calcium aluminate cement.  
     
     
         3 . A dielectric member in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said barrier is formed as a surface layer on a surface of the dielectric member.  
     
     
         4 . A dielectric member in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein said surface of said dielectric member faces said manifold.  
     
     
         5 . A dielectric member in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said barrier member is embedded in the sides of said dielectric member.  
     
     
         6 . A dielectric member in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said dielectric member has the shape of a frame.  
     
     
         7 . A dielectric member in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein said frame includes a plurality of segments joined at a joint and said barrier is situated in the area of said joint.  
     
     
         8 . A dielectric member in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein said joint includes a keyway area for receiving a key for joining said segments.  
     
     
         9 . A liquid electrolyte fuel cell system comprising: 
 a liquid electrolyte fuel cell stack;    a manifold member abutting a surface of said liquid electrolyte fuel cell stack;    a dielectric member situated between said manifold member and said surface of said liquid electrolyte fuel cell stack, said dielectric member including a barrier which chemically reacts with the liquid electrolyte to form solid products which are stable in the liquid electrolyte.    
     
     
         10 . A liquid electrolyte fuel cell system in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein: 
 said liquid electrolyte is carbonate.    
     
     
         11 . A liquid electrolyte fuel cell system in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein: 
 said barrier members comprise one of CaAl 2 O 4  powder, MgAl 2 O 3  powder, Al 2 O 3  powder and calcium aluminate cement.    
     
     
         12 . A liquid electrolyte fuel cell system in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein: 
 the barrier is formed as a surface layer on a surface of the dielectric member.    
     
     
         13 . A liquid electrolyte fuel cell system in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein: 
 said surface of said dielectric member faces said manifold.    
     
     
         15 . A liquid electrolyte fuel cell system in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein: 
 said barrier member is embedded in the sides of said dielectric member.    
     
     
         16 . A liquid electrolyte fuel cell system in accordance with  claim 9  further comprising: 
 a gasket situated between said dielectric member and said surface of said fuel cell stack.  
 
     
     
         17 . A liquid electrolyte fuel cell system in accordance with  claim 9  wherein: 
 said dielectric member has the shape of a frame.  
 
     
     
         18 . A liquid electrolyte fuel cell system in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein: 
 said frame includes a plurality of segments joined at a joint and said barrier is situated in the area of said joint    
     
     
         19 . A liquid electrolyte fuel cell system in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein: 
 said joint includes a keyway area for receiving a key for joining said segments.