Patent · US Expired

Direct dimethyl ether fuel cells

US6777116B1 · kind B1 · utility

11Cited by
9References
34Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 24, 1999
Grant dateAug 17, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 24, 2019

Classification

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

Abstract

Low temperature fuel cells, e.g. solid polymer fuel cells, can operate directly on a fuel comprising dimethyl ether with dimethyl ether being oxidized at the fuel cell anode. Being highly soluble in water, dimethyl ether can be supplied as a liquid aqueous fuel solution. As a fuel, dimethyl ether provides similar power characteristics as methanol but typically with a greater Faradaic efficiency in liquid feed solid polymer fuel cells.

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