The Penn State Research Foundation

Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba

Panasonic Corporation

Fuqiang Liu

Chao-Yang Wang

Guoqiang Lu

Yuusuke Sato

Takashi Akiyama

Eiichi Sakaue

Kei Matsuoka

Wenpeng Liu

A direct methanol fuel cell unit is provided with a fuel cell including an anode, a cathode with a hydrophobic microporous layer, an electrolyte membrane put in-between, and a fuel supply path supplying fuel to the anode. The fuel supply path is provided with an upwind water barrier preventing back-diffusion of water and a gas flow path channeling gas generated at the anode and disposed between the barrier and the anode. A water-rich zone is formed between the water barrier and the cathode microporous layer. Water loss from either side of this zone is eliminated or minimized, thereby permitting direct use of highly concentrated methanol in the fuel flow path with good fuel efficiency and power performance. The cell unit can be applied equally well to both an active circulating air cathode and an air-breathing cathode.

Methods to control water flow and distribution in direct methanol fuel cells

A direct oxidation fuel cell system includes a membrane electrode assembly (MEA), a high concentration fuel and an oxidant source. Embodiments include a controller for adjusting the oxidant stoichiometric ratio or air flow to maximize the liquid water phase in the cathode exhaust and minimize the water vapor in the exhaust thereby eliminating the need for a water condenser for condensing water vapor produced and exhausted from the cathode of the MEA.

Direct oxidation fuel cell and system operating on concentrated fuel using low oxidant stoichiometry

Growing community of inventors

State College, PA, United States of America

Fuqiang Liu