Nitric acid regeneration fuel cell systems
US9184463B2 · kind B2 · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 15, 2004 |
| Grant date | Nov 10, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 15, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention disclosed herein is directed to nitric acid regeneration fuel cell systems that comprise: an anode; a cathode confronting and spaced apart from the anode; an anolyte flowstream configured to flowingly contact the anode, wherein the anolyte flowstream includes a fuel, preferably methanol, for reacting at the anode; a catholyte flowstream configured to flowingly contact the cathode, wherein the catholyte flowstream includes nitric acid for reacting at the cathode to thereby yield cathode reaction products that include nitric oxide and water in a catholyte effluent flowstream; and a hydrogen peroxide flowstream configured to contact and react hydrogen peroxide with the nitric oxide of the catholyte effluent flowstream at a hydrogen peroxide oxidation zone to thereby yield a regenerated nitric acid flowstream. The regenerated nitric acid flowstream is preferably reused in the catholyte flowstream.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.