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. 30, 2013
Filed:
Nov. 23, 2005
Mahmoud H. Abd Elhamid, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI (US);
Gayatri Vyas, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
Youssef M. Mikhail, Sterling Heights, MI (US);
Mahmoud H. Abd Elhamid, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI (US);
Gayatri Vyas, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
Youssef M. Mikhail, Sterling Heights, MI (US);
GM Global Technology Operations, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A fuel cell system that employs a surface active agent that reduces the surface tension of the water in the flow field channels. The fuel cell system includes humidifiers that humidify the cathode inlet airflow and the hydrogen anode gas. The surface active agent is mixed with the humidifying water in the humidifiers so that the surface active agent enters the flow field channels to reduce the surface tension of the water therein, thus allowing the water to wick the channels. In one non-limiting embodiment, the surface active agent is ethanol. Ruthenium can be added to the platinum in the catalyst layers of the fuel cells to mitigate the poisoning of platinum by carbon monoxide, which is one of the oxidation products of ethanol on the cathode side of the fuel cell.