The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 20, 2003
Filed:
Feb. 07, 2001
Lothar Matejcek, Mommenheim, DE;
Martin Wohr, Pittsford, NY (US);
General Motors Corporation, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A fuel cell system is described with a so-called direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). To minimize the methanol crossover the concentration of the methanol/water mixture supplied to the anode of the fuel cell is made dependent on the magnitude of the electrical power takeoff. In order to be able to adapt the concentration of the methanol quickly in the case of a load change, it is proposed that a separating column be introduced into the anode cycle which reduces the concentration of the methanol. To achieve adapted increases in the concentration of methanol, both a concentrated methanol/water mixture from a secondary cycle and possibly additionally pure methanol from a tank are supplied. In the case of a reduction in the power demand only the secondary cycle needs to be blocked with the result that a lean mixture is available immediately.