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Title: Preventing CO poisoning in fuel cells

Abstract

Proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell performance with CO contamination of the H.sub.2 fuel stream is substantially improved by injecting O.sub.2 into the fuel stream ahead of the fuel cell. It is found that a surface reaction occurs even at PEM operating temperatures below about 100.degree. C. to oxidatively remove the CO and restore electrode surface area for the H.sub.2 reaction to generate current. Using an O.sub.2 injection, a suitable fuel stream for a PEM fuel cell can be formed from a methanol source using conventional reforming processes for producing H.sub.2.

Inventors:
 [1]
  1. Los Alamos, NM
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
867310
Patent Number(s):
4910099
Assignee:
United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01M - PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
DOE Contract Number:  
W-7405-ENG-36
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
preventing; poisoning; fuel; cells; proton; exchange; membrane; pem; cell; performance; contamination; stream; substantially; improved; injecting; ahead; found; surface; reaction; occurs; operating; temperatures; below; 100; degree; oxidatively; remove; restore; electrode; generate; current; injection; suitable; formed; methanol; source; conventional; reforming; processes; producing; proton exchange; cell performance; fuel cell; substantially improved; temperatures below; fuel stream; fuel cells; operating temperature; operating temperatures; electrode surface; pem fuel; reaction occurs; exchange membrane; substantially improve; surface reaction; forming process; rate current; reaction occur; /429/

Citation Formats

Gottesfeld, Shimshon. Preventing CO poisoning in fuel cells. United States: N. p., 1990. Web.
Gottesfeld, Shimshon. Preventing CO poisoning in fuel cells. United States.
Gottesfeld, Shimshon. Mon . "Preventing CO poisoning in fuel cells". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/867310.
@article{osti_867310,
title = {Preventing CO poisoning in fuel cells},
author = {Gottesfeld, Shimshon},
abstractNote = {Proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell performance with CO contamination of the H.sub.2 fuel stream is substantially improved by injecting O.sub.2 into the fuel stream ahead of the fuel cell. It is found that a surface reaction occurs even at PEM operating temperatures below about 100.degree. C. to oxidatively remove the CO and restore electrode surface area for the H.sub.2 reaction to generate current. Using an O.sub.2 injection, a suitable fuel stream for a PEM fuel cell can be formed from a methanol source using conventional reforming processes for producing H.sub.2.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1990},
month = {1}
}