Method of operating a fuel cell

Chemistry: electrical current producing apparatus – product – and – Having magnetic field feature

Patent

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

429 16, 429 17, 429 19, H01M 804

Patent

active

056019360

ABSTRACT:
A fuel cell is operated at a temperature which is not greater than substantially 250.degree. C., has an electrolyte which can be a solid polymer electrolyte, a liquid phosphoric acid electrolyte, or a liquid alkaline electrolyte, and a cathode and an anode each comprising a platinum catalyst. Hydrogen fuel gas is supplied to the anode and a gaseous oxidant, for example oxygen is supplied to the cathode. The cathode and anode are both connected to first and second circuits in parallel. The first circuit includes a load to be powered by the fuel cell and a first switch. The second circuit includes a battery and a second switch. The switches are operated by a control. When the first swtich is closed the cell powers the load and the second switch is open. When the first switch is open the second switch is closed so the battery applies a reverse D.C. potential the anode and cathode. The first switch is closed and the second switch is open for a time period T1 which is substantially at least ten times greater than time period T2 for which the first switch is open and the second switch is closed. The time period T2 does not exceed substantially 0.25 seconds. The switches can be relays or solid state electronic switch arrangements.

REFERENCES:
patent: 3207682 (1965-09-01), Elmsford et al.
patent: 3300345 (1967-01-01), Lyons, Jr.
patent: 3436271 (1969-04-01), Cole et al.
patent: 3544380 (1970-12-01), Dey
patent: 4756718 (1988-07-01), Ueno et al.
patent: 5100742 (1992-03-01), Wang et al.
patent: 5132193 (1992-07-01), Reddy et al.
patent: 5462815 (1995-10-01), Horiuchi
J. Electrochem. Soc., vol. 139, No. 9, Sep. 1992, pp. 2519-2525, Shing-Ru Wang, et al., "Pulsed-Potential Oxidation of Methanol".
Electrochemical Technology, vol. 4, No. 9-10, Sep.-Oct. 1966, pp. 460-464, M. L. Kronenberg, et al., "Effects of Heavy Discharge Pulsing on Fuel Cell Electrodes".
Product Engineering, vol. 37, No. 9, Apr. 25, 1966, p. 40, M. C. Deibert, "A New Way To Improve The Electrochemical Efficiency of Hydrocarbon Fuel Cells".
Chemical Abstracts, vol. 103, No. 12, Sep. 23, 1985, AN-90483, JP-60-062063, Apr. 10, 1985.
Chemical Abstracts, vol. 106, No. 14, Apr. 6, 1987, AN-105462, JP-61-243663, Oct. 29, 1986.

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for the USA inventors and patents. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Method of operating a fuel cell does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Method of operating a fuel cell, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method of operating a fuel cell will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-340631

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.