Downhole fuel cell with steam adsorption and pressure compensation and methods of using same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10731440-B2
Application number	US-201715457441-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 13, 2017
Priority date	Jun 18, 2013
Publication date	Aug 4, 2020
Grant date	Aug 4, 2020

Abstract

A fuel cell for use in downhole applications stores steam created by the chemical reaction in a desiccant like Zeolite. The fuel cell also uses ambient hydrostatic pressure to increase cell voltage and power-density.

First claim

We claim:

1. An apparatus for use in a wellbore having a wellbore fluid at a hydrostatic pressure, comprising:
a downhole tool configured to be conveyed into the wellbore with a conveyance device;
a fuel cell associated with the downhole tool, the fuel cell receiving a flow of an oxidant and a flow of hydrogen; and
a pressure applicator applying at least a portion of the hydrostatic pressure of the wellbore fluid to the fuel cell to increase a pressure applied to the fuel cell.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pressure applicator communicates at least a portion of the hydrostatic pressure to the fuel cell via a passage in communication with the wellbore fluid surrounding the downhole tool.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the hydrostatic pressure is applied to at least one fluid fed to the fuel cell.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , the at least one fluid is one of: (i) hydrogen, and (ii) oxygen.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pressure applicator is configured to increase the hydrostatic pressure to a predetermined maximum pressure.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pressure applicator is configured to apply at least a portion of the hydrostatic pressure to an interior of the fuel cell.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pressure applicator is configured to apply at least a portion of the hydrostatic pressure to at least one electrode disposed in an interior of the fuel cell.

8. A method for use in a wellbore having a wellbore fluid at a hydrostatic pressure, comprising:
conveying a downhole tool into the wellbore with a conveyance device, the downhole tool having an associated fuel cell, the fuel cell receiving a flow of an oxidant and a flow of hydrogen; and
applying at least a portion of the hydrostatic pressure of the wellbore fluid to the fuel cell to increase pressure applied to the fuel cell using a pressure applicator.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the pressure applicator communicates at least a portion of the hydrostatic pressure to the fuel cell via a passage in communication with the wellbore fluid surrounding the downhole tool.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the hydrostatic pressure is applied to at least one fluid fed to the fuel cell.

11. The method of claim 10 , the at least one fluid is one of: (i) hydrogen, and (ii) oxygen.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the pressure applicator is configured to increase the hydrostatic pressure to a predetermined maximum pressure.

Assignees

• Baker Hughes Inc
• Baker Hughes A Ge Co Llc

Inventors

• Kruspe Thomas
• Oppelt Joachim F

Classifications

• E21B43/2401

  by means of electricity · CPC title

• Y02E60/50

  Fuel cells · CPC title

• H01M2250/00

  Fuel cells for particular applications; Specific features of fuel cell system · CPC title

• E21B41/0085 Primary

  Adaptations of electric power generating means for use in boreholes · CPC title