Reducing loss of liquid electrolyte from a high temperature polymer-electrolyte membrane fuel cell
US8168339B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 19, 2011 |
| Grant date | May 1, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 19, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method for controlling an amount of a liquid electrolyte in a polymer-electrolyte membrane of a fuel cell is provided. The method comprises enriching one or more of a fuel flow and an air flow with a vapor of the liquid electrolyte, the liquid electrolyte being unreplenishable via an electrochemical reaction of the fuel cell. The method further comprises delivering the vapor of the liquid electrolyte to the fuel cell including the polymer-electrolyte membrane via one or more of the gas-permeable anode and or the gas-permeable cathode. In this manner, loss of liquid electrolyte from the PEM membrane of the fuel cell can be reduced, leading to improved fuel-cell endurance.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.