Enhanced methanol utilization in direct methanol fuel cell

Patent · Tue Oct 02 00:00:00 EDT 2001

OSTI ID:874028

Ren, Xiaoming ^[1]; Gottesfeld, Shimshon ^[1]

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1. Los Alamos, NM

The fuel utilization of a direct methanol fuel cell is enhanced for improved cell efficiency. Distribution plates at the anode and cathode of the fuel cell are configured to distribute reactants vertically and laterally uniformly over a catalyzed membrane surface of the fuel cell. A conductive sheet between the anode distribution plate and the anodic membrane surface forms a mass transport barrier to the methanol fuel that is large relative to a mass transport barrier for a gaseous hydrogen fuel cell. In a preferred embodiment, the distribution plate is a perforated corrugated sheet. The mass transport barrier may be conveniently increased by increasing the thickness of an anode conductive sheet adjacent the membrane surface of the fuel cell.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• Assignee: Regents of University of California (Los Alamos, NM)
• Patent Number(s): US 6296964
• Application Number: 09/472387
• OSTI ID: 874028
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

enhanced
methanol
utilization
direct
fuel
cell
improved
efficiency
distribution
plates
anode
cathode
configured
distribute
reactants
vertically
laterally
uniformly
catalyzed
membrane
surface
conductive
sheet
plate
anodic
forms
mass
transport
barrier
relative
gaseous
hydrogen
preferred
embodiment
perforated
corrugated
conveniently
increased
increasing
thickness
adjacent
membrane surface
fuel cell
gaseous hydrogen
preferred embodiment
distribution plate
methanol fuel
catalyzed membrane
fuel utilization
corrugated sheet
cell efficiency
conductive sheet
improved cell
surface form
direct methanol
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