Mti Microfuel Cells Inc.

University of California

Celera Corporation

Elbit Systems Land and C4i Ltd.

Hydrolite Ltd

Pocell Tech Ltd.

Other

The Gillette Company

Shimshon Gottesfeld

Xiaoming Ren

Dario Dekel

Frank W Kovacs

William P Acker

Gerhard B Beckmann

Ziv Gottesfeld

Juan J Becerra

Robert S Hirsch

Kevin James Shufon

Miles Page

Michael S DeFilippis

Jay K Neutzler

Eric J Brown

Michael S Adler

Paul F Mutolo

David Stanislav Simakov

John Davey

Stanislav David Simakov

Steven Z Shi

Piotr Zelenay

Ervin Tal-Gutelmacher

Ludwig Lipp

William W Dailey

Cynthia A Rice

Yair Paska

Ben Achrai

Gal Tamir

Jerzy B Chlistunoff

Yair Benjamine

Sharon C Thomas

Disclosed is a method of operating an Alkaline Membrane Fuel Cell (AMFC) with direct ammonia feeding. The method may include providing AMFC comprising an anode inlet for receiving ammonia and a cathode inlet for receiving oxygen containing gas; operating the AMFC at an operation temperature of above 80&#xb0; C.; providing the oxygen containing gas; to a cathode of the AMFC at a pressure above the equilibrium vapor pressure of water at the operation temperature; maintaining the pressure during the operation of the AMFC as to maintain water in substantially liquid phase near the cathode; and providing the ammonia to an anode of the AMFC.

Direct ammonia alkaline membrane fuel cell and method of operating same

The invention relates to a system and method of operating alkaline exchange membrane fuel cells in a bipolar configuration. The system () may include a first fuel cell (A) and a second fuel cell (B) adjacent to the first fuel cell. Each of the first and second fuel cells may include: a cathode configured to generate hydroxide ions from water, oxygen and electrons, an anode configured to generate water and electrons from the hydroxide ions and hydrogen received from a hydrogen source, and an alkaline exchange membrane configured to transfer the hydroxide ions from the cathode to the anode, and to transfer water from a vicinity of the anode to a vicinity of the cathode. The first fuel cell (A) and a second fuel cell (B) are connected by a porous bipolar plate (A) positioned inbetween. A pressure profile across the first bi-polar plate may drop from higher level near the anode of the first fuel cell (A) to lower level near the cathode of the second fuel cell (B) so that water may be transferred from the anode of the first fuel cell (A) to the cathode of the second fuel cell (B).

Alkaline exchange membrane fuel cells system having a bi-polar plate

In an AMFC, in the formation of a CCM, the anode catalyst layer is selectively cross-linked while the cathode catalyst layer is not cross-linked. This has been found to provide structural stabilization of the CCM without loss of initial power value for a CCM without cross-linking.

Preparation of advanced CCMs for AMFCs by amination and cross-linking of the precursor form of the ionomer

An air COfiltration assembly or system is provided that includes COfilters or traps designed and configured with a limited, but high capacity, volume to maximize filtration/absorption of COfrom an air stream supplied to an alkaline fuel cell to thereby minimize the COlevel in the air stream fed into the fuel cell cathode. The COfilters or traps include at least one thermally regenerative COchemical filter or trap arranged in a tandem configuration with a strongly bonding COchemical filter or trap. The combination of the two types of filters or traps sequentially filter/absorb COfrom the air stream and reduce the level of COin the air stream fed into the cathode. The air COfiltration assembly or system may be used in conjunction with electrochemical purging of the alkaline fuel cell that enables removal of COfrom the fuel cell by anodic decomposition of accumulated carbonate ions in the fuel cell anode and release of COthrough the anode exhaust stream.

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Embodiments of the invention provide an ammonia operated fuel cell system including an alkaline membrane fuel cell (AMFC) having an anode, and an ammonia thermal cracker including a combustion chamber, the cracker being in gas communication with an ammonia source, and configured to provide a supply of Hdirectly to the AMFC anode.

Use of ammonia as source of hydrogen fuel and as a getter for air-CO2 in alkaline membrane fuel cells

A device to produce electricity by a chemical reaction without the addition of liquid electrolyte comprises an anode electrode, a polymer membrane electrolyte fabricated to conduct hydroxyl (OH&#x2014;) ions, the membrane being in physical contact with the anode electrode on a first side of the membrane, and a cathode electrode in physical contact with a second side of the membrane. The anode electrode and cathode electrode contain catalysts, and the catalysts are constructed substantially entirely from non-precious metal catalysts. Water may be transferred to the cathode side of the membrane from an external source of water.

Alkaline membrane fuel cells and apparatus and methods for supplying water thereto

Alkaline membrane fuel cells designed with silver cathode catalysts include a catalyst layer comprising silver metal nano-particles and an anion-conducting ionomer. The silver nano-particles are mixed with a solution of the ionomer to form a catalyst ink that is applied to an alkaline membrane to form an ultra-thin cathode catalyst layer on the membrane surface.

Catalyst coated membrane (CCM) and catalyst film/layer for alkaline membrane fuel cells and methods of making same

A simplified direct oxidation fuel cell system is provided. The fuel cell is constructed in such a manner that fuel is added to the cell anode as it is consumed and water is evaporated off at cell cathode so that there is no need for recirculation of unreacted fuel at the cell anode or water at the cell cathode. In addition, carbon dioxide generated from the anodic reaction is passively vented out of the system by using a CO2 gas permeable membrane material integrated as part of the anode chamber construction. It is thus possible that, the CO2 separation from the anode fluid occurs without the recirculation of the anode fluid outside the anode chamber. The passive system in which fuel is added as it is consumed and CO2 separated, both without pumping, ultimately will increase net power provided to the load due to low parasitic losses.

Method of controlling delivery of fuel to a direct oxidation fuel cell

Passive water management techniques are provided in an air-breathing direct oxidation fuel cell system. A highly hydrophobic component with sub-micrometer wide pores is laminated to the catalyzed membrane electrolyte on the cathode side. This component blocks liquid water from traveling out of the cathode and instead causes the water to be driven through the polymer membrane electrolyte to the cell anode. The air-breathing direct oxidation fuel cell also includes a layer of cathode backing and additional cathode filter components on an exterior aspect of the cell cathode which lessen the water vapor escape rate from the cell cathode. The combination of the well laminated hydrophobic microporous layer, the thicker backing and the added filter layer, together defines a cathode structure of unique water management capacity, that enables to operate a DMFC with direct, controlled rate supply of neat (100%) methanol, without the need for any external supply or pumping of water. The cell anode is provided with a hydrophilic backing layer. When the water is driven through the polymer membrane electrolyte from the cell cathode to the cell anode chamber, it is available for the anodic reaction, and any excess water is carried out along COventilation channels to the outside environment.

Passive water management techniques in direct methanol fuel cells

A conformable fuel cell is provided which includes a basic structure that provides flexibility while providing a high compression along the active surface of the fuel cell's membrane electrode assembly, which can be achieved by an injection-molded frame. A suitable fuel is delivered to the anode aspect of the fuel cell. Effective water management could also be provided by appropriate diffusion layers. The fuel cell can be contour-molded to a desired shape, or can be constructed of an array of flexibly connected individual fuel cells that overall have a curvilinear shape, or can be constructed as a pliable fuel cell that can be incorporated into an application device or an article of clothing.

Conformable fuel cell

A passive direct oxidation fuel cell system, which uses a high concentration fuel such as neat methanol as a direct feed to an anode aspect of the fuel cell, is provided. The fuel cell includes a passive water management capability, achieved by the combined functions of controlled fuel dosing, effective push back of liquid water from the cathode through the membrane electrolyte by a hydrophobic microporous layer well bonded to the cathode catalyst and the use of a thin ionomeric membrane. The rate of fuel delivery is controlled by a passive fuel transport barrier. Carbon dioxide management techniques are also provided.

Direct oxidation fuel cell operating with direct feed of concentrated fuel under passive water management

Growing community of inventors

Niskayuna, NY, United States of America

Shimshon Gottesfeld