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:
Apr. 19, 2011
Filed:
Dec. 17, 2004
Chao-yang Wang, State College, PA (US);
Guoqiang LU, State College, PA (US);
Wenpeng Liu, State College, PA (US);
Fuqiang Liu, State College, PA (US);
Yuusuke Sato, Tokyo, JP;
Eiichi Sakaue, Tokyo, JP;
Kei Matsuoka, Kawasaki, JP;
Chao-Yang Wang, State College, PA (US);
Guoqiang Lu, State College, PA (US);
Wenpeng Liu, State College, PA (US);
Fuqiang Liu, State College, PA (US);
Yuusuke Sato, Tokyo, JP;
Eiichi Sakaue, Tokyo, JP;
Kei Matsuoka, Kawasaki, JP;
The Penn State Research Foundation, University Park, PA (US);
Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
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.