Fuel cells with improved resistance to fuel crossover
US8753783B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 24, 2007 |
| Grant date | Jun 17, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 8, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The invention provides a fuel cell comprising an anode in an anode region of the cell and a cathode in a cathode region of the cell, the anode being separated from the cathode by an ion selective polymer electrolyte membrane, the anode region of the cell being supplied in use thereof with an alcoholic fuel, the cathode region of the cell being supplied in use thereof with an oxidant, the cell being provided with means for generating an electrical circuit between the anode and the cathode and with a non-volatile redox couple in solution in flowing fluid communication with the cathode in the cathode region of the cell, the redox couple being at least partially reduced at the cathode in operation of the cell, and at least partially re-generated by reaction with the oxidant after such reduction at the cathode, the redox couple and/or the concentration of the redox couple in the catholyte solution being selected so that the current density generated by the cell in operation is substantially unaffected by the crossover of the alcoholic fuel from the anode region of the cell to the cathode region of the cell across the polymer electrolyte membrane.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.