Patent · US Expired

Methods and apparatuses for a self-regulating gas displacement pump for a fuel cell system

US6737181B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
10References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 15, 2001
Grant dateMay 18, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 26, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E60/50
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A fuel cell system including a housing defining an anode chamber and a cathode chamber and including a catalyst, a protonically conductive but electronically non-conductive membrane positioned between the anode chamber and the cathode chamber, a mixing chamber, a fuel chamber in fluid communication with the mixing chamber, and a first conduit having a first end connected to the anode chamber and a second end connected to the mixing chamber. The first conduit directs a fuel-water solution from the mixing chamber to the anode chamber. The system also includes a second conduit having a first end connected to the anode chamber and a second end connected to the mixing chamber, where the second conduit directs effluent from the anode chamber to the mixing chamber. A coalescing surface provided with at least one of said conduits collects effluent gas produced by said fuel cell.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.