Abstract: A solid polymer electrolyte cell includes a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, an anode disposed on one side of and in contact with the membrane wherein the anode includes a substrate coated with lead dioxide and formed with one or more grooves therein, a cathode including a body of sintered nickel disposed on the other side of and in contact with the membrane, and a support structure corrugated on a surface portion thereof with such surface portion being in contact with the body of sintered nickel to maintain the body in contact with the membrane. With this construction, water may be supplied to the grooves in the anode to ultimately cause a reaction at the interface of the membrane and the cathode to product hydrogen gas.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrolyzer which includes a plurality of partitions, each of which are hollowed out on either side thereof, a plurality of substrates, each of which is disposed in the hollow of a different one of said partitions and each of which is corrugated on one side thereof, with the corrugated side coated with an anodic material, a plurality of solid polymer electrolyte membranes, one side of each of which is disposed in contact with the anodic material of a different one of said substrates, and a plurality of cathode plates composed of porous cathodic material, each of which is disposed in the other hollow of a different one of the partitions and is positioned in contact with the other side of a different one of the membranes.

Abstract: Electrodes containing zinc active material include a cadmium additive enhancing adherence of the electrode for zinc electroreduced from the solid zinc compound state or deposited thereon from electrolytes. Zinc alkaline batteries employing such electrodes exhibit extended discharge-recharge cycling capacity.

Abstract: A hydride fuel system is disclosed for use with a motor vehicle or other apparatus having a combustion unit and a mixing device for mixing hydrogen gas with air for introduction into the combustion unit. The system includes a hydride storage tank having a housing and a plurality of containers disposed in the housing for holding hydride material. The containers are spaced apart to enable the flow thereabout of fluid introduced into the housing of the hydride storage tank. Either exhaust gases or combustion unit cooling fluid is delivered into the hydride storage tank housing to heat the hydride material in the containers and cause the material to release hydrogen gas which is then conveyed to the mixing device. The pressure of the hydrogen gas in the containers is monitored and the amount of exhaust gases or cooling fluid delivered to the hydride storage tank is controlled accordingly.

Abstract: A structure for collecting solar energy and storing the same as heat in a body of water. An inclined southerly wall is provided with a solar absorption surface protected from convection losses by a transparent membrane overlaying the absorption surface. The absorption surface is also formed as a membrane which is wetted at its underside within the structure by water spray and as solar radiation is absorbed and converted to heat at the membrane, the water at the underside of the membrane is heated. This heated water drops from the membrane and flows to a reservoir.

Abstract: The hydrogen engine hereof introduces water as vapor with inlet hydrogen and air, as a mixture proportioned for practical internal combustion and efficient power output. Water vapor is a substantial component of the exhaust of hydrogen fueled engines. In one embodiment of the invention, water vapor is condensed from the exhaust, and thereupon arranged to provide the input water as a continuing self-supporting process. The resultant emissions are very low in oxides of nitrogen, and readily meet the EPA Standards on pollutants as presently set for 1976. Further, and importantly, engine backfire is eliminated in the operation. Also, engine output power and efficiency are improved with the invention principles.

Abstract: Electrode structures for fuel cells are made by blending noble metal black, dry polytetrafluoroethylene and a soluble bulking agent in a liquid, filtering liquid from the blend and rolling the remnant to form a sheet of fibrillated polytetrafluoroethylene containing noble metal black and bulking agent. The bulking agent may be leached from the sheet and the sheet then pressed or the sheet may be first pressed and the bulking agent then leached from the sheet.

Abstract: An electrode substrate is described which is suitable for supporting noble metal electrodes in fuel cells and similar electrochemical cells. It is composed of fine graphite particles enmeshed in a web of fibers of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) produced by forming a homogeneous mixture of graphite particles and PTFE powder in an organic liquid, removing the liquid, and milling the mixture in a series of steps to form a thin, porous, electrically conductive sheet of graphite-PTFE which is an excellent support for thin film metallic electrodes and which is resistant to corrosive electrolytes.