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Apparatus and method for controlling variable power conditions in a fuel cell

  • US 10,044,055 B2
  • Filed: 10/14/2009
  • Issued: 08/07/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2008
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A fuel cell comprising:

  • an anode electrode having an anode inner face fluidly communicable with a fuel;

    a cathode electrode having a cathode inner face ionically communicable with and physically separated from the anode inner face, and having a cathode outer face fluidly communicable with an oxidant, the cathode inner face being ionically communicable with the anode inner face by an electrolyte; and

    at least one movable guard having a planar face positioned near at least one selected electrode surface comprising at least one of the anode inner face and the cathode inner face, each of the at least one selected electrode surface being planar, the at least one movable guard being configured to slide into a directly adjacent position that is directly adjacent to and covers a first portion of an active area of the at least one selected electrode surface, while leaving a second portion of the active area uncovered, thereby reducing the active area of the at least one selected electrode surface to an effective active area corresponding to the uncovered second portion, wherein the active area consists of a surface area and is at least a portion of an electrocatalyst-bearing surface area of the at least one selected electrode surface,wherein the planar face of the at least one movable guard is configured to substantially prevent the fuel, the oxidant, or the electrolyte from directly contacting the covered first portion of the active area such that the covered first portion of the active area does not contribute significantly to a power output of the fuel cell and the power output of the fuel cell is reduced.

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