Methods and apparatuses for managing effluent products in a fuel cell system

In a fuel cell system comprising:

• an anode chamber having a fuel,
• a cathode chamber in fluid communication with an oxidizing agent,
• a proton conducting membrane electrolyte separating said chambers, and
• a valve for controlling a flow of a gas from said anode chamber into said cathode chamber,
• a method for reducing the amount of water in said cathode chamber comprising:
• closing said valve;
• collecting an effluent gas produced by fuel oxidation in said anode chamber;
• and
• opening said valve to exhaust the effluent gas out of the fuel cell from the anode chamber through the cathode chamber to reduce water buildup within said cathode chamber.

In a fuel cell system comprising:

• an anode chamber having a fuel,
• a cathode chamber in fluid communication with an oxidizing agent,
• a proton conducting membrane electrolyte separating said chambers,
• a gas plenum,
• a first valve for controlling a first flow of a gas from said anode chamber into said gas plenum, and
• a second valve for controlling a second flow of said gas collected by said gas plenum into said cathode chamber,
• a method for reducing the amount of water in said cathode chamber comprising:
• opening said first valve allowing said first flow while said second valve is closed between said gas plenum and said cathode chamber;
• collecting an effluent gas produced by fuel oxidation in said gas plenum via said first flow;
• closing said first valve when an amount of said effluent gas reaches a predetermined value;
• and
• opening said second valve allowing said second flow.

A direct methanol fuel cell system comprising:

• an anode chamber having a fuel mixture comprising methanol and water, and a diffusion layer;
• a fuel supply cartridge in fluid communication with said anode chamber;
• a cathode chamber having a cathode and a diffusion layer, wherein said diffusion layer is in fluid communication with an oxidizer;
• a proton conducting, electrical non-conducting membrane electrolyte separating said chambers and positioned substantially adjacent to said diffusion layers, said membrane including a catalyst exposed to each said chamber;
• a gas plenum;
• a first valve for controlling a first flow of carbon dioxide gas from said anode chamber into said gas plenum;
• a second valve for controlling a second flow of carbon dioxide from said gas plenum into said cathode chamber, and for controlling a third flow of said oxidizer into said cathode chamber;
• a sensor for detecting an amount of carbon dioxide gas;
• and
• a controller for actuating said first valve and said second valve when said amount of carbon dioxide gas reaches a predetermined value.

In a water management system for a fuel cell system, said fuel cell system including:

• an anode chamber including a fuel, a cathode chamber in fluid communication with an oxidizing agent and a proton conducting membrane electrolyte separating said chambers,
• said water management system comprising a gas plenum, a first valve for controlling a first flow of a gas from said anode chamber into said gas plenum, and a second valve for controlling a second flow of said gas collected by said gas plenum into said cathode chamber,
• a method for reducing the amount of water in said cathode chamber comprising:
• opening said first valve allowing said first flow while said second valve is closed between said gas plenum and said cathode chamber;
• collecting an effluent gas produced by fuel oxidation in said gas plenum via said first flow;
• closing said first valve when an amount of said effluent gas reaches a predetermined value;
• and
• opening said second valve allowing said second flow.

A fuel cell system comprising:

• an anode chamber having a fuel;
• a cathode chamber in fluid communication with an oxidizer, said cathode chamber having an inlet positioned a first end of said cathode chamber and an outlet positioned adjacent a second end of said cathode chamber;
• a proton conducting membrane electrolyte separating said chambers and having an effluent gas-permeable portion allowing effluent gas produced in said anode chamber to flow into said cathode chamber;
• and
• a nozzle having an inlet positioned adjacent said gas-permeable portion in said cathode chamber and an outlet positioned adjacent said outlet of said cathode chamber.