US 2003/0165720 A1 · Method and apparatus for water management of a fuel cell system

Abstract

A method and apparatus for water management in a direct oxidation fuel cell system includes a direct oxidation fuel cell, including: a housing surrounding an anode, a cathode, a protonically conductive electronically non-conductive membrane electrolyte disposed between the anode and the cathode, a current collector, and a gas-permeable liquid-impermeable membrane disposed on a side of the cathode opposite the electrolyte. Excess water accumulation is removed from an area between the membrane electrolyte and the gas-permeable liquid-impermeable membrane by a pressure differential generated, preferably by a pump. The pressure differential draws air to the surface of, into, or through the cathode diffusion layer. The pump can be driven by the electricity generated by the fuel cell.

Claims31

Dependent claims

A system comprising:

a direct oxidation fuel cell, comprising a housing surrounding an MEA, a current collector disposed on the outside of the MEA to collect and conduct electrical current to a load, and a gas-permeable liquid-impermeable membrane disposed on a cathode-side outer surface of the current collector, wherein said MEA comprises an anode aspect, a cathode aspect, and a PCM disposed between the anode aspect and the cathode aspect;
a source of fuel in communication with the anode aspect;
a source of oxygen in communication with the cathode aspect, so as to produce electricity-generating reactions, comprising anodic disassociation of a fuel and water mixture to produce carbon dioxide, protons and electrons and a cathodic combination of protons, electrons and oxygen to produce water;
and
a pump in fluid communication with an area between the PCM and the gas-permeable liquid-impermeable membrane, connected to remove excess water produced at the cathode aspect.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for water management of a fuel cell system

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for water management of a fuel cell system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims31