Method and a device for operating PEM fuel cell with CO contaminated hydrogen gas

An apparatus comprising:

• a housing including a first chamber and a second chamber, wherein the first chamber is adapted to receive from a source, a first mixture of gases with carbon monoxide and hydrogen gas at first concentration and the second chamber is adapted to receive a second mixture of gases with hydrogen at second concentration, wherein a pre-treatment unit is installed downstream to the source and upstream to the first chamber, wherein the pre-treatment unit increases humidity in the first mixture of gases, wherein the first chamber is adapted to discharge, a fourth mixture of gases including oxidised carbon monoxide, into a ventilation structure, wherein the fourth mixture of gases is discharged from the first chamber after generation of hydrogen in the second chamber;
• a solid-state electrolyte disposed inside the housing separating the first chamber and the second chamber, wherein the solid-state electrolyte includes a coating of carbon monoxide adsorption catalyst on a surface facing the first chamber;
• and
• a pair of electrodes disposed in each of the first chamber and the second chamber to generate a potential difference across the solid-state electrolyte, wherein the generated potential difference causes the carbon monoxide adsorption catalyst to desorb adsorbed carbon monoxide on the coating in the first chamber thereby generating hydrogen in the second chamber.

A method comprising:

• receiving from a source, a first mixture of gases with hydrogen and carbon monoxide at first concentration by a first chamber of a housing and increasing humidity of the first mixture of gases using a pre-treatment unit installed downstream to the source and upstream to the first chamber, and a second mixture of gases with hydrogen at second concentration by a second chamber of the housing;
• adsorbing carbon monoxide from the first mixture of gases by a carbon monoxide adsorbing catalyst coated on a surface of a solid-state electrolyte, wherein the solid-state electrolyte separates the first chamber from the second chamber;
• discharging a third mixture of gases with third conentration from the first chamber to a buffer tank, wherein the third mixture of gases is formed by adsorption of carbon monoxide in the first mixture of gases by the coating;
• discharging a fourth mixture of gases from the first chamber formed after the generation of hydrogen in the second chamber;
• desorbing the adsorbed carbon monoxide on the coating in the first chamber;
• and
• applying an electric potential by a pair of electrodes in the first chamber and the second chamber across the solid-state electrolyte and generating hydrogen in the second chamber.