US 6,981,877 B2 | ||
Simplified direct oxidation fuel cell system | ||
Xiaoming Ren, Guilderland, N.Y. (US); Juan J. Becerra, Altamont, N.Y. (US); Gerhard Beckmann, Altamont, N.Y. (US); Eric J. Brown, Voorheesville, N.Y. (US); Michael S. DeFilippis, Niskayuna, N.Y. (US); Jay K. Neutzler, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. (US); and Shimshon Gottesfeld, Niskayuna, N.Y. (US) | ||
Assigned to MTI MicroFuel Cells Inc., Albany, N.Y. (US) | ||
Filed on Feb. 19, 2002, as Appl. No. 10/78,601. | ||
Prior Publication US 2003/0157395 A1, Aug. 21, 2003 | ||
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer. | ||
Int. Cl. H01M 2/00 (2006.01); B01D 27/00 (2006.01) |
U.S. Cl. 439—34 | 30 Claims |
1. A direct oxidation fuel cell, comprising
(A) a catalyzed membrane electrolyte, having an anode aspect and a cathode aspect;
(B) a fuel cell housing enclosing said fuel cell with an anode chamber being defined between said anode aspect of the catalyzed
membrane electrolyte and an exterior portion of said cell housing, said fuel cell housing also including a cathode chamber
being defined between said catalyzed membrane electrolyte and an exterior portion of said fuel cell housing, opposite said
anode chamber;
(C) a direct fuel feed into said anode chamber that has no liquid exit port such that liquid that is present in said anode
chamber cannot exit said anode chamber except across said catalyzed membrane electrolyte;
(D) at least one gaseous effluent release port in said anode chamber, which is in substantially direct gaseous communication
with the ambient environment, to vent gaseous product of an electricity-generating reaction from said anode chamber to the
ambient environment, and not into said cathode chamber, as said gaseous product is generated; and
(E) a load coupled across said fuel cell, providing a path for electrons produced in electricity generating reactions of said
fuel cell.
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