Passively pumped liquid feed fuel cell system
AssigneeMTI MicroFuel Cells Inc.
InventorsGeorge C. McNamee, William P. Acker
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) system is provided with a pump for pumping methanol into the cell. The pump is driven by carbon dioxide produced by the electrochemical reaction at the anode of the fuel cell. Because the amount of CO2 generated is proportional to the power generated by the cell, and thus the amount of fuel demanded by the cell, the pump is self-regulating. The system may be integrated using microelectromechanical system fabrication techniques.
Claims18
A passively-pumped direct methanol fuel cell system comprising:
- an anode, a cathode, and a membrane electrolyte disposed between the anode and cathode;
- a source of air or oxygen coupled to the cathode;
- a source of methanol;
- a first gas separator coupled to the anode for separating effluent from the anode into methanol and water as liquids and carbon dioxide as gas;
- a second gas separator coupled to the cathode for separating effluent from the cathode into water and air;
- and
- a pump coupled to the source of methanol, the first and second gas separators and the anode, said pump being driven by said separated carbon dioxide and operating to pump methanol and water to said anode.
A method of passively pumping a direct methanol fuel cell system comprising:
- providing a gas-driven pump coupled to a source of methanol, a source of water and said fuel cell;
- separating carbon dioxide from an effluent drawn from an anode of said fuel cell;
- and
- using said carbon dioxide to drive said pump.
A method of pumping a direct oxidation fuel cell system comprising:
- providing a gas-driven pump coupled to a source of fuel and said fuel cell;
- separating a gas from an effluent drawn from said fuel cell;
- and
- using said separated gas to drive said pump.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.