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:
Nov. 02, 2004
Filed:
May. 21, 2002
Cecelia C. Cropley, Acton, MA (US);
Simon G. Stone, Arlington, MA (US);
Giner Electro Chemical Systems, LLC, Newton, MA (US);
Abstract
A fuel cell and method using the same. The fuel cell comprises a membrane electrode assembly, the membrane electrode assembly comprising a proton exchange membrane having a front face and a rear face. An anode is coupled to the front face of the proton exchange membrane, and a cathode is coupled to the rear face of the proton exchange membrane. A vapor diffusion chamber is positioned in the front of the anode, and a vapor transport member is positioned in front of the vapor diffusion chamber. The vapor transport member is substantially impermeable to an organic fuel/water mixture in a liquid phase but is permeable to the organic fuel/water mixture in a vapor phase. In operation, a liquid fuel mixture delivered to the vapor transport member evaporates from the vapor transport member and is delivered to the anode in vapor form.