JP2003092128A - Fuel cartridge and electronic device using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent water, unreacted fuel, intermediate products and the like, which are discharged from a fuel cell, from being released into the atmosphere, and to effectively use fuel when the fuel is supplied in a cartridge type. It is required to use up. SOLUTION: The inside of the fuel cell is divided into two chambers by a partition wall made of a material that does not transmit water, and one of the two chambers divided by the partition wall is used for the purpose of containing the discharge from the fuel cell. Provided is a battery cartridge. Preferably, the partition is made of a polymer material having flexibility or elasticity. Further, the one chamber is filled with a water-absorbing material.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fuel cartridge for supplying fuel to a fuel cell and an electronic device using the fuel cartridge.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A fuel cell is provided with electrodes carrying a catalyst material on both sides of an electrolyte which is an ionic conductor. One electrode (oxidizer electrode) is supplied with an oxidizing gas such as oxygen and air, and the other electrode is supplied with the other. This is a power generation device that supplies gas (fuel electrode) such as hydrogen, methane, ethane, or propane, or liquid fuel such as alcohol to cause an electrochemical reaction to generate electricity.

There are several types of electrolytes for fuel cells,
Liquid electrolyte phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC), polymer electrolyte fuel cell using solid polymer electrolyte membrane as electrolyte (P
In EFC, a fuel cell of a system that supplies hydrogen produced by externally reforming a hydrocarbon as a fuel or hydrogen produced directly in a factory is in a state of near commercialization. The latter PEFC can be operated at a low temperature and can obtain a high power density, so that it is being put to practical use for vehicle power generation and small-scale residential power generation.

Direct type methanol fuel cell (DMFC) which directly supplies alcohol, especially methanol as fuel.
Since a solid polymer electrolyte membrane can be used as an electrolyte, it is possible to operate at 100 ° C or lower, and in addition, it is easy to transport and store as a liquid fuel, so it is small and portable. It is suitable as a power source for automobiles and portable electronic devices in the future.

A direct methanol fuel cell (PEM-DMFC) using a solid polymer electrolyte membrane is a fluoropolymer partially having a sulfonic acid group, for example, Du Pont.
A thin film such as Nafion (trademark) manufactured by the company is used as an electrolyte membrane,
It has a structure in which both surfaces thereof are sandwiched by porous electrodes supporting a catalyst, and an aqueous methanol solution is directly supplied to the fuel electrode and oxygen or air is supplied to the oxidizer electrode.

In this structure, methanol and water are decomposed into hydrogen and carbon dioxide by the action of the catalyst supported on the fuel electrode. The process can be described as a chemical reaction in the following three steps. CH ₃ OH → HCHO + H ₂ (1) HCHO + H ₂ O → HCOOH + H ₂ (2) HCOOH → H ₂ + CO ₂ (3) Equations (1) to (3) can be summarized as the following equation. CH ₃ OH + H ₂ O → 3H ₂ + CO ₂ (4) Here, CH ₃ OH is methanol, HCHO is formaldehyde, HCOOH is formic acid, and from formula (1), (3)
From the formula, it can be seen that hydrogen is generated at each reaction stage. That is, it is understood that it is possible to generate hydrogen by using formaldehyde or formic acid as a starting fuel. Moreover, it is difficult to achieve 100% of the reaction of the formula (4),
Finally, formaldehyde and formic acid are partially generated as intermediate products as shown in the formulas (2) and (3).

The produced hydrogen passes through the electrolyte membrane in a wet state in the form of protons and is supplied to the surface of the oxidant electrode by utilizing the action of the catalyst supported on the oxidant electrode, usually the oxidant. Generates water by being oxidized by air.

As the catalyst on the fuel electrode side, fine platinum powder supported on the surface of the carbon-based electrode is usually used. Here, in order to decompose as much methanol as possible into protons, measures to increase the surface area of platinum or increase the amount of platinum supported can be considered, but due to problems of dispersion technology and platinum cost, it will be supplied in the future. 100% of the methanol
It is difficult to protonate.

That is, in the electrolyte membrane, a short circuit phenomenon (crossover) occurs in which methanol, formaldehyde and formic acid dissolved in water permeate from the fuel electrode side to the oxidant electrode side, so that the fuel utilization efficiency is 100%. It is virtually impossible to do so, and fuel components such as methanol and intermediate products are dissolved in water which is a reaction product on the oxidizer electrode side and discharged.

It is also possible to use formaldehyde, formic acid or the like as a starting material as an alternative to methanol, and by using this a catalyst reaction at the electrode can be further simplified to improve the fuel utilization efficiency. However, it is still very difficult to completely eliminate the phenomenon of crossover and the discharge from the oxidizer electrode side.

The idea of using a DMFC as a power source for a portable electronic device based on such a principle has been proposed by Motorola, Inc. (for example, Nikkei Science 1999 1
January issue P. 40, or Nikkei Mechanical April 2000 issue P. 31). This is a small DMFC inside the mobile phone.
, And the fuel is supplied from a replaceable cartridge that is filled with methanol inside.

Further, a method of supplying fuel from a fuel container is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 4-223058 and 2001-935.
No. 51 publication. JP-A-4-223058
The gazette has a structure in which the inside of a fuel tank is separated by an elastic membrane, the fuel is stored on the side where the pressure of the elastic membrane is applied, and the generated water is taken into the side where the fuel is consumed and the inside of the tank becomes negative pressure. Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-93551 proposes a method for stably supplying fuel in a liquid fuel supply system, and has an adjusting mechanism such that the supply pressure is constant in the liquid fuel outlet. It is characterized by that.

[0013]

When such a fuel cell system is used as a power source of a portable electronic device, it is necessary to discharge water, which is a reactive organism, out of the system. At this time, if water is released to the atmosphere, water or water vapor is released during use of a mobile phone, for example, causing a problem that water drops adhere to hands, face, or clothes. Even when the fuel cell is not in use, the fuel cell may operate to generate standby power. In such a case, for example, the inside of the pocket containing the mobile phone or the bag may get wet. Problem arises.

Further, as described above, the unreacted fuel and its intermediate products are discharged in a state of being dissolved in water. As is well known, methanol, holomaldehyde, formic acid, etc. have a unique odor. However, when it is exposed to the atmosphere, it is uncomfortable for the user, and above all, since these substances are basically toxic to the human body, it is not desirable to expose them to the atmosphere. In the case of a stationary type DMFC, there is a concern that the problem of discharge of fuel and intermediate products may affect not only the main user but also the surrounding environment.

Therefore, it is required to prevent the fuel supplied to the fuel cell, the intermediate products, and the exhaust from the fuel cell from being released into the atmosphere. The above-mentioned prior art JP-A-2004-2
The publication No. 001-93551 focuses on the supply of fuel, and therefore does not have a configuration that does not discharge the exhaust from the fuel cell to the atmosphere. JP-A-4-223058 discloses a configuration in which fuel is supplied to a fuel cell and water discharged from the fuel cell is taken in by a negative pressure generated in a tank. However, once water is stored in a reservoir, It guides the water stored in the reservoir to the air outlet. Further, although the structure for supplying the fuel from the fuel cartridge to the fuel cell is described, there is no specific description about the structure for guiding the water stored in the reservoir to the air discharge port.

When the fuel is supplied from the closed fuel cartridge to the fuel electrode of the fuel cell, it is necessary to provide the fuel cartridge with small air holes. These air holes cause leakage and evaporation of fuel, and there are problems from the viewpoint of the effect of the release of fuel to the atmosphere on the surroundings and the effective use of fuel. If this air hole is made small in order to prevent this, this hinders the introduction of air into the fuel cartridge due to the fuel supply to the fuel cartridge, and it becomes impossible to supply sufficient fuel, especially when a large amount of power generation is required. Have a point.

[0017]

The basic means for solving the above-mentioned problems is to provide a void in the fuel cartridge which is generated by reducing the amount of the fuel filled in the fuel cartridge with the use of the fuel cell. By storing the exhaust from the fuel cell, while effectively utilizing the space,
It is intended to collect the exhaust gas of the fuel cell which is a problem without being discharged to the atmosphere, and for that purpose is characterized by a specific structure for connecting the fuel cartridge and the fuel cell in communication. Further, it is characterized by the structure of an electronic device using this fuel cartridge. These will be specifically described below.

A fuel cartridge according to the present invention, which is intended to solve the above problems, divides the inside of the fuel cartridge into two chambers by a partition wall, and the first chamber of the two divided chambers is a chamber for storing fuel. The second chamber is a chamber for accommodating the exhaust from the fuel cell, and has a hollow needle communicating with the fuel cell up to the first chamber or the second chamber at the inlet of the first chamber or the second chamber. An elastic member to be inserted is provided.

With this construction, the hollow needle is directly inserted into the first chamber containing the fuel, so that the fuel is taken out from the fuel cartridge and the hollow needle is directly inserted into the second chamber containing the discharged substance. By being inserted, it is possible to realize the storage of the discharged matter from the fuel cell into the fuel cartridge. A hollow needle that communicates with the fuel and discharge passages for the fuel cell is passed through this elastic material, and the fuel cartridge is used with the hollow needle inserted in the cartridge. At this time, the elastic material has a sealing function so as to prevent a void between the hollow needle and the elastic material. This allows the fluid to flow in and out between each of the two chambers in the cartridge and the outside.

Further, the fuel cartridge according to the present invention is characterized in that the partition wall is a polymer material composed of an alkene monomer or an alkagen monomer. Since the partition wall made of such a material is flexible or stretchable, the partition wall itself is freely deformable or stretchable, so that the internal volumes of the two chambers in the divided fuel cartridge are changed according to the consumption of fuel. It is possible to adopt a configuration in which the first chamber containing the changed fuel gradually decreases its inner volume, while the second chamber containing the exhaust gradually increases its inner volume. Further, the alkene monomer, a polymer material composed of an alkagen monomer means a rubber-like polymer material composed of ethylene, acrylonitrile, butadiene, or the like, and these materials have water impermeability and are preferable. It is a material.

The fuel cartridge according to the present invention is characterized in that a water absorbing material is housed in the two chambers. In addition, the water-absorbing material is a material capable of retaining several tens to several hundred times the volume of water in the initial dry state, and is a material that swells with the absorption of water to increase the apparent volume. For example, it is a constituent material such as a disposable diaper or a non-woven fabric.

Further, the fuel cartridge according to the present invention is characterized in that the water absorbing material contains cellulose as a main component. Cellulose is inexpensive and has a high water absorption.

The fuel cartridge of the present invention is characterized in that the volume of the water absorbing material is represented by the following general formula. Y <AX + X X: Volume (c of the water absorbent material contained in the cartridge
m ³ ) Y: Total effective internal volume of the first chamber and the second chamber (cm ³ ) A: Ratio of the unit volume of the water-absorbent material before absorption at atmospheric pressure and the maximum water absorption amount per unit volume (cm ³ / cm ³ ) With this configuration, the water-absorbent material contained in the second chamber and swollen by the exhaust from the fuel cell gives an internal pressure to the fuel on the fuel filling side through the partition wall, thereby smoothly supplying the fuel. It can be carried out.

The fuel cartridge according to the present invention is characterized in that a member made of a non-flexible material is provided in the first chamber or the second chamber on an extension line reached by the tip of the hollow needle. .

By providing a member made of a non-flexible material on the extension reached by the tip of the hollow needle, the sharp tip of the hollow needle does not contact the diaphragm and damage the diaphragm, and The tip of the hollow needle can be blocked so as not to impede the flow of fuel and effluent from the fuel cell. Further, the fuel can be consumed to the end without being left behind, and waste can be eliminated.

Further, the electronic device of the present invention includes a fuel cartridge housing portion containing a fuel cell therein, the first hollow needle communicating with the fuel electrode side of the fuel cell in the fuel cartridge housing portion, and the air of the fuel cell. A second hollow needle communicating with the pole side is provided, and the first and second hollow needles are inserted into the fuel cartridge when the fuel cartridge is inserted into the fuel cartridge accommodating portion.

With this configuration, when the fuel cartridge is inserted into the fuel cartridge accommodating portion, the hollow needle is automatically inserted into each chamber of the fuel cartridge and can communicate with the fuel cell.

Also, in the electronic device of the present invention, the first hollow needle is formed long and is inserted into substantially the center of the fuel cartridge, and the second hollow needle is formed short and toward the end of the fuel cartridge. It is characterized by being inserted.

Due to this structure, the fuel can be surely consumed to the end, and the emission from the fuel cell can be collected.

In order to deepen the contents of the present invention, a detailed description will be given below.

[0031]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (Embodiment 1) A first structure of a fuel cartridge according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 1, and its manufacturing process will be described below as Embodiment 1. The cartridge main body 1 is a resin-molded product made of polyethylene, polypropylene or the like, and a cylindrical part having one end opened. Cartridge main part 1 is rectangular, square,
A triangle, an ellipse, or any other shape can be used. At least one positioning protrusion 2 is simultaneously molded on a part of the outer periphery of the cartridge main portion 1. The positioning protrusion 2 is not necessary when the cartridge main portion 1 has an asymmetrical shape. Also, a first auxiliary member 3 and a second auxiliary member 4 which are resin molded products made of the same material as the cartridge main portion 1 and have a T-shaped tip with a bent tip are separately molded. . Here, the first auxiliary member 3 is a position where the attachment portion 31 and the tip of the hollow needle reach, and the protrusion 32 provided on the extension line of the axial center of the hollow needle and the extension arranged along the hollow needle. It consists of a part 33. Similarly, the second auxiliary member 4 has a protrusion 42 provided on the extension line of the axial center of the hollow needle at a position where the attachment portion 41 and the tip of the hollow needle reach.
And a stretched portion 43 arranged along the hollow needle.

First, the second auxiliary member 4 is positioned by the mounting portion 41 toward one of the open ends of the cartridge main portion 1. It should be noted that the end surface of the cartridge main portion 1 is provided in advance with a notch into which the respective attachment portions 31, 41 of the first auxiliary member 3 and the second auxiliary member 4 fit. Next, while setting the bag 5 shaped like a bag with one end opened, the end of the opening covers the opening end surface of the cartridge main portion 1 and the mounting portion 41 of the second auxiliary member 4. The diaphragm 5 is inserted inside the cartridge main body 1. The bag-shaped size of the diaphragm 5 is substantially the same as the internal volume of the fuel cartridge main part 1. The material of the diaphragm 5 used here is flexible or strongly stretchable, impermeable to water, and chemically stable against acids, alkalis and aldehydes, A material made of the material used for the sanitary article is applied. Specific examples of these diaphragm materials include resins made of polymer materials of alkene monomers or alkagen monomers such as ethylene, propylene, vinylidene chloride, acrylonitrile, styrene and butadiene, or copolymers thereof. In particular, in order to prevent film deterioration due to hydrolysis or the like, it is preferable to form a composite of two or more layers of the above two or more resins, specifically, UC fiber (Ube Nitto Kasei), Septon (Kuraray). What is marketed under the name such as is applied. Further, since the diaphragm 5 is required to have a mechanical strength, a thickness of at least 0.3 mm or more is applied.

Next, the first auxiliary member 3 is positioned by the mounting portion 31 in the vicinity of the diametrical position of the open end of the cartridge main portion 1. As shown, this allows the diaphragm 5
The first auxiliary member 3 is suspended near the center of the inside.

Next, a predetermined amount of an aqueous solution of methanol, which serves as a fuel for the fuel cell, is injected into the diaphragm 5 to cover the entire end portion of the cartridge main portion 1 with the elastic member 6, and the cartridge lid 7
Hold down with. The fuel to be filled here may be, instead of methanol, formaldehyde or formic acid, which is an intermediate product when methanol undergoes a decomposition reaction by a catalyst of a fuel cell, as a starting material. The fuel may be injected after the end portion of the cartridge main portion 1 is covered with the elastic member 6 and the cartridge lid 7 is pressed.

Here, the alkene monomer mentioned above as the material of the diaphragm 5 can be used for the elastic member 6, but from the viewpoints of adhesion, film strength, weather resistance and the like, a fluorine-containing alkene is used. A copolymer material having a monomer (for example, vinylidene fluoride) or an alkagen monomer (for example, butadiene) as a core is preferable. Further, in order to have a sealing function of preventing liquid leakage inside and outside the elastic member 6 when punched with a hollow needle made of stainless steel described later, the thickness of the elastic portion is important together with the material of the elastic portion. Member 6
The thickness is preferably about 1 mm or more. At this point, the cartridge lid 7, the elastic member 6, and the first auxiliary member 3
Mounting portion 31 of the second auxiliary member 4
1 and the diaphragm 5 are folded at the end surface of the cartridge main portion 1, and the overlapping portions are collectively fixed by ultrasonic fusion.

Through the above steps, the inside is divided into two chambers by the diaphragm 5 made of a material that is flexible or stretchable and impermeable to water, and one of the two chambers divided by the diaphragm is filled with fuel. The fuel cartridge 20 containing the is completed. Here, the chamber containing the fuel will be referred to as the first chamber 8 and the chamber containing no fuel will be referred to as the second chamber 9.

Next, in the structure of the fuel cartridge described above, the actual use state is shown in FIG. 2, and the function and operation of each component will be described.

Electronic device 1 containing a fuel cell (not shown)
10, for example, a stationary type fuel cell built-in device such as a mobile phone, a portable information terminal device (PDA, a notebook computer, etc.) or a vending machine, is fitted to the outer shape of the fuel cartridge 20 as shown in the sectional view of FIG. Cartridge housing 1
00 is provided. If the fuel cartridge 20 is cylindrical, the cartridge housing portion 100 is also cylindrical. The cartridge accommodating portion 100 has a first hollow needle 101 made of stainless steel, which communicates with the fuel electrode side of the fuel cell and has a sharpened tip, and a second stainless steel needle, which communicates with the air electrode side of the fuel cell. The hollow needle 102 is attached and protrudes. The first hollow needle 101 and the second hollow needle 102 correspond to the first chamber 8 and the second chamber 9 of the cartridge main portion 1, and the first hollow needle 101 is near the center of the cartridge housing portion 100. Two
The hollow needle 102 is disposed at the end of the cartridge housing portion 100. Further, the cartridge housing portion 100 is formed with a positioning groove 103 having a shape into which the positioning protrusion 2 of the fuel cartridge 20 is fitted.

When the fuel cartridge 20 is inserted into the cartridge accommodating portion 100, the first hollow needle 101 and the second hollow needle 101 are pushed when the fuel cartridge 20 is pushed in the axial direction after the positioning protrusion 2 and the positioning groove 103 are aligned. 102
Are sequentially inserted in the order of the lengths, and the elastic members 6 are inserted into the predetermined positions while being pierced and mounted. At this time, the first hollow needle 10
1 is arranged along the extending portion 33 of the first auxiliary member 3,
The tip portion is set at a position facing the protrusion 32 of the first auxiliary member 3. Further, the second hollow needle 102 is arranged along the extending portion 43 of the second auxiliary member 4, and its tip end portion is set at a position facing the protrusion 42 of the second auxiliary member 4.

Here, when the fuel cartridge is used in a mobile phone or a portable information terminal device, the direction of the fuel cartridge is not constant depending on the usage condition or the storage condition, so that the first hollow needle 101 is extremely short or When the length is extremely long, the tip of the first hollow needle 101 is
It may be located in the gas phase part of the chamber 8, and it is assumed that fuel cannot be supplied. Therefore, the position of the protrusion 32 is provided at the center of the fuel cartridge 20 so that the gas phase portion of the first chamber does not move in any direction of the fuel cartridge 20. That is, the first hollow needle 101 is set so that the tip portion thereof is set near the center in the axial direction and the center in the width direction of the fuel cartridge 20.
The length of the auxiliary member 3 and the length and attachment position of the first hollow needle 101 are determined. The second hollow needle 102 guides the intermediate product and water discharged from the fuel cell to the fuel cartridge 20, and prevents the fuel from flowing backward.
Shortened for insertion from the top towards the 0 end.

The elastic member 6 is made up of the first hollow needle 101.
Even when the second hollow needle 102 penetrates, the elastic force acts as a seal material between the inside of the fuel cartridge and the outer cartridge without forming a gap between the second hollow needle 102 and the hollow needle.

In this state, when the fuel cell starts power generation, the aqueous methanol solution filled in the first chamber 8 becomes the first
It is supplied to the fuel electrode side of the fuel cell through the hollow needle 101. At the same time, the exhaust discharged from the air electrode side of the fuel cell due to the chemical reaction returns to the second chamber 9 via the second hollow needle 102. The diaphragm 5 changes its shape as the fuel consumption progresses and at the same time the emission increases, and when the fuel is almost consumed, the inside of the fuel cartridge 20 is filled with the emission. The internal state of the fuel cartridge in this case is shown in FIG. In this example, the diaphragm 5 is deformed so as to be substantially along the first auxiliary member 3. Should the diaphragm 5 be pierced or broken in the process of deformation of the diaphragm 5, the aqueous methanol solution serving as the fuel and the exhaust gas are diffusively mixed, and the concentration of the aqueous methanol solution required as the fuel is lowered, which is expected in the fuel cell. Output is insufficient. However, in the present example, the tips of the first hollow needle 101 and the second hollow needle 102 are the protrusions 32 of the first auxiliary member 3.
Since it is opposed to the protrusion 42 of the second auxiliary member 4,
The diaphragm 5 does not come into contact with the tip of each sharp needle, and the diaphragm 5 is prevented from being pierced or broken by each tip.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 4 shows a second structure of the fuel cartridge according to the present invention and an actual use state thereof, which will be described below as a second embodiment.

The difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment is that the water absorbent material 10 is contained in the second chamber 9 of the fuel cartridge. Water absorbent material 10
Are formed in a shape along the inner wall and the bottom wall of the second chamber of the fuel cartridge 20, that is, in a cylindrical shape in this example.

Next, the storage volume of the water absorbent material will be described. Although there are various dimensions of the fuel cartridge 20 in practice, the internal dimensions here are 0.5 cm in diameter and 3 cm in height.
The case will be described. If the total volume of the first auxiliary member 3, the second auxiliary member 4, the first hollow needle 101, and the second hollow needle 102 is 0.09 cm ³ , the internal effective volume (first chamber and Calculated as Y = 0.5 cm ^{3 for} the total of 2 rooms.

As the water absorbing material, specifically, gelled poly N-vinylacetamide PNVA (manufactured by Showa Denko) which is a nonionic polymer is used. In addition, this material is
It has excellent resistance to hydrolysis and counterion, and is capable of absorbing alcohol, which could not be realized with conventional water-absorbing materials, and is effective in the case of water containing methanol as the discharge of a fuel cell as in the present invention. Is.

Here, the maximum water absorption amount A is not determined only by the material, but by making the structure porous, the maximum water absorption amount A becomes large, so that the initial storage volume can be small. Therefore, the maximum water absorption of this material under atmospheric pressure A = 100 cm ³ /
The following calculation is performed assuming that it is about cm ³ . According to the invention,
Since the storage volume X of the water absorbent material is defined by Y <AX + X, X> 0.5 / (100 + 1) from this equation. That is, this water absorbing material has X = 0.005c.
It will accommodate m ³ or more as the initial volume. Therefore, the effective thickness T of the water-absorbing material 10 molded into a cylindrical shape is
′ Is T ′> 0.005 / 3 / π / 0.5 = 0.001 cm =
Calculated as 0.01 mm.

However, the water-absorbent material is fibrous in order to enhance the water-absorbing effect and contains an air layer of 100 times or more of the substantial volume, so that the bulk of the water-absorbent material is expected to be 100 times. Then, the actual thickness T of the water-absorbent material is calculated as T> T ′ × 100 = 1 mm.

In addition, cellulose is mentioned as a typical water absorbent material, and specifically, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose and the like can be inexpensively used. Needless to say, the required storage volume in this case is calculated according to each maximum water absorption amount.

In the calculation result of this embodiment, T> 1 mm is set, but the storage volume X of the water absorbing material is too large, that is,
If the thickness T is too large in the present embodiment, a large internal pressure is applied to the cartridge main body member at the final stage of water absorption, which may cause rupture or the like depending on the strength of the cartridge main body. Although it depends on the material and wall thickness of the cartridge material, the volume of the water-absorbing material actually contained is preferably about 1.1 times the minimum value calculated.

FIG. 5 shows a state in which fuel consumption has advanced in this configuration.

In the fuel cartridge, the water-absorbent material in the second chamber is swelled by the discharge from the fuel cell in the water-absorbent material 10 contained in the second chamber 9. Water absorbent material 10
Since the internal volume of the cartridge is finally determined so that the internal pressure of the cartridge becomes equal to or higher than the atmospheric pressure, the swollen water-absorbing material 10 will pass through the septum 5 through the diaphragm 5 when the remaining amount of the fuel decreases.
Internal pressure is applied to the fuel in the chamber 8.

By such an operation, even when the fuel is used up, the fuel necessary for the reaction can be fully used up to the end.

[0054]

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION The fuel filled in the fuel cartridge is reduced in amount as the fuel cell is used, and the amount of the fuel is reduced. It can be housed inside, and can prevent the problem that water or water vapor, which is a reaction product, is released and adheres to clothes when attached to a mobile phone, for example. The fuel cell may operate to generate standby power even when it is not in use. Even in such a case, for example, it is possible to prevent the inside of the pocket or the bag containing the portable telephone from getting wet. it can.

Further, although unreacted fuel and its intermediate products such as methanol, formaldehyde, and formic acid may be discharged, substances having these unique odors and having toxicity to the human body are also collected in the cartridge. Therefore, the user is not uncomfortable and the safety to the human body can be secured. Regarding the emission of this fuel and intermediate products,
The stationary DMFC is also effective in terms of the influence on the surrounding environment.

Further, the water absorbing material is housed in the chamber for collecting the exhaust gas, and the volume increase when the exhaust gas is absorbed by the water absorbing material is used as the pressure to apply the internal pressure to the fuel. The fuel can be effectively used without being left in the cartridge.

Further, by dividing the inside of the cartridge into the fuel chamber and the discharge accommodating chamber by the diaphragm whose shape can be changed, the fuel consumption and the replacement of the discharge in the cartridge can be smoothly realized.

Furthermore, the cartridge should be in a hermetically sealed state when not in use, and a part of the outer wall member of the cartridge is made of an elastic material, and this elastic material is connected to the fuel and exhaust passages for the fuel cell. With the structure in which the hollow needle is penetrated, the elastic material exerts a sealing function such that a gap between the hollow needle and the elastic material does not occur, and leakage of fuel and exhaust during use can be prevented. Furthermore, in the above-mentioned in-use state, by providing a protruding member made of an inflexible material on the extension line of the shaft center of the hollow needle at the site reached by the tip of the hollow needle, It is possible to prevent damage to the diaphragm due to the contact of the tip with the diaphragm, and it is possible to prevent the distal end of the hollow needle from being blocked by the deformation of the diaphragm so as to prevent the flow of the fuel and the exhaust from the fuel cell.

Further, the electronic apparatus of the present invention comprises a fuel cartridge housing portion containing a fuel cell therein, and a hollow needle communicating with the fuel electrode side of the fuel cell in the fuel cartridge housing portion and an air electrode side of the fuel cell. Since the hollow needle is provided in communication with the fuel cartridge and the hollow needle is inserted into the fuel cartridge at the same time when the fuel cartridge is inserted into the fuel cartridge accommodation portion, when the fuel cartridge is inserted into the fuel cartridge accommodation portion, the hollow needle automatically moves to the fuel cartridge. It can be inserted into each chamber of the cartridge and can communicate with the fuel cell.

Further, in the electronic device of the present invention, the hollow needle communicating with the fuel electrode side of the fuel cell is formed long and is inserted almost to the center of the fuel cartridge, and the hollow needle communicating with the air side is formed short. Since it is inserted toward the end of the fuel cartridge, the fuel can be surely consumed to the end, and the emission from the fuel cell can be collected.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a fuel cartridge according to a first embodiment,
(A) shows a longitudinal sectional view, and (b) shows a transverse sectional view.

2A and 2B show a usage state of the fuel cartridge of Embodiment 1, where FIG. 2A is a vertical sectional view and FIG. 2B is a horizontal sectional view.

3A and 3B show a state in which fuel consumption of the fuel cartridge according to the first embodiment has advanced, where FIG. 3A is a vertical sectional view and FIG. 3B is a horizontal sectional view.

4A and 4B show a usage state of a fuel cartridge according to Embodiment 2, where FIG. 4A is a vertical sectional view and FIG. 4B is a horizontal sectional view.

5A and 5B show a state in which fuel consumption of the fuel cartridge according to the second embodiment has advanced, where FIG. 5A is a vertical sectional view and FIG. 5B is a horizontal sectional view.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Cartridge main part 2 ... Positioning protrusion 3 ... First auxiliary member 4 ... Second auxiliary member 5 ... diaphragm 6 ... Elastic member 7 ... Cartridge lid 8 ... Room 1 9 ... Room 2 10 ... Water absorbent material 31, 41 ... Mounting part 32, 42 ... Projection 33, 43 ... Stretching part 100 ... Cartridge housing 101 ... First hollow needle 102 ... Second hollow needle 103 ... Positioning groove

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. The inside of the fuel cartridge is separated by a partition wall.
The first chamber is a chamber for storing fuel, and the second chamber is a chamber for storing exhaust gas from the fuel cell. A fuel cartridge comprising an elastic member for inserting a hollow needle communicating with the fuel cell to the first chamber or the second chamber at the inlet of the second chamber. 2. The fuel cartridge for a fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the partition wall is a polymer material composed of an alkene monomer or an alkagen monomer. 3. The fuel cartridge for a fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein a water absorbing material is stored in the second chamber. 4. The fuel cartridge for a fuel cell according to claim 3, wherein the water absorbing material is a material containing cellulose as a main component. 5. The fuel cartridge for a fuel cell according to claim 3, wherein the volume of the water absorbing material is represented by the following general formula. Y <AX + X X: Volume (c of the water absorbent material contained in the cartridge
m ³ ) Y: Total effective internal volume of the first chamber and the second chamber (cm ³ ) A: Ratio of the unit volume of the water-absorbent material before absorption at atmospheric pressure and the maximum water absorption amount per unit volume (cm ³ / cm ³ ) 6. The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein a member made of a non-flexible material is provided in the first chamber or the second chamber on an extension line reached by the tip of the hollow needle. Fuel cartridge. 7. An electronic device containing a fuel cell is provided with a fuel cartridge accommodating portion, and the fuel cartridge accommodating portion is communicated with a first hollow needle communicating with a fuel electrode side of the fuel cell and an air electrode side of the fuel cell. An electronic device, comprising: a second hollow needle, the first hollow needle and the second hollow needle being inserted into the fuel cartridge when the fuel cartridge is inserted into the fuel cartridge housing portion. 8. The first hollow needle is elongated and is inserted substantially at the center of the fuel cartridge, and the second hollow needle is shortened and inserted toward the end of the fuel cartridge. The electronic device according to claim 7.