Fuel cell with internal reforming
AssigneeEnergy Research Corporation
InventorsHansraj C. Maru, Pinakin S. Patel
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Abstract
A fuel cell system provided with a first passage means in communication with and adjacent to a cell diffusion electrode and with a second passage means having a catalyst for reforming hydrocarbons and communicating with the first passage means through a gas porous member. Differential pressure means is further provided to establish a pressure differential between the passage means for promoting reformed gas flow from the second passage means to the first passage means and retarding electrolyte vapor passage from the first passage means to the second passage means.
Claims35
An electrochemical cell system comprising:
- a gas diffusion electrode;
- first passage means in communication with said electrode;
- second passage means having a catalyst for reforming hydrocarbons and including a gas porous member in communication with said first passage means;
- and means for establishing a differential pressure between said first and second passage means so as to promote gas flow from said second passage means through said gas-porous member to said first passage means, whereby the hydrocarbon content of supply gas introduced into said second passage means is reformed by said catalyst and said reformed hydrocarbon content is aided by said differential pressure to pass through said gas-porous member into said first passage means to said gas-diffusion electrode for electrochemical reaction, and electrolyte vapor in said first passage means is retarded by said differential pressure from contacting and passing through said gas-porous member to said second passage means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.