Processing of fuel gases, in particular for fuel cells and apparatus therefor
US5436086A · kind A · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 12, 1993 |
| Grant date | Jul 25, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 12, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus for processing fuel gases, in particular for a fuel cell, includes primary and secondary catalytic oxidation means for the oxidation of carbon monoxide in a reformed fuel gas flow. Small quantities of oxygen required for the secondary oxidation are provided by passing the oxygen through a first oxygen permeable membrane. The oxygen may be supplied as air, pure oxygen or an oxygenated solution. An oxygen fuel supply to the fuel cell may additionally be humidified by allowing water to pass from a water flow across a further membrane into the oxygen supply. Oxygen passing across the further membrane in the opposite sense to the water may serve to oxygenate the water for supplying to the first membrane.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.