Direct methanol fuel cell including integrated flow field and method of fabrication
First Claim
1. A fuel cell device comprising:
- a base portion, formed of a singular body, and having a major surface;
at least one fuel cell membrane electrode assembly formed on the major surface of the base portion;
a fluid supply channel defined in the base portion and communicating with the at least one fuel cell membrane electrode assembly, the fluid supply channel including a mixing chamber and at least one fuel-bearing fluid inlet;
an exhaust channel defined in the base portion and communicating with the at least one fuel cell membrane electrode assembly, the exhaust channel including a water recovery and recirculation channel in communication with the plurality of hydrophilic threads, the exhaust channel spaced apart from the fluid supply channel for exhausting fluid from the at least one fuel cell membrane electrode assembly, the at least one fuel cell membrane electrode assembly and the cooperating fluid supply channel and cooperating exhaust channel forming a single fuel cell assembly;
a multi-dimensional fuel flow field defined in the base portion and communicating with the fluid supply channel, the at least one fuel cell membrane electrode assembly, and the exhaust channel; and
a plurality of electrical components formed in the base portion for electrical integration of the fuel cell assembly.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fuel cell device and method of forming the fuel cell device including a base portion, formed of a singular body, and having a major surface. At least one fuel cell membrane electrode assembly formed on the major surface of the base portion. A fluid supply channel including a mixing chamber is defined in the base portion and communicating with the fuel cell membrane electrode assembly for supplying a fuel-bearing fluid to the membrane electrode assembly. An exhaust channel is defined in the base portion and communicating with the membrane electrode. A multi-dimensional fuel flow field is defined in the multi-layer base portion and in communication with the fluid supply channel, the membrane electrode assembly and the exhaust channel. The membrane electrode assembly and the cooperating fluid supply channel, multi-dimensional fuel flow field, and cooperating exhaust channel forming a single fuel cell assembly.
59 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A fuel cell device comprising:
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a base portion, formed of a singular body, and having a major surface;
at least one fuel cell membrane electrode assembly formed on the major surface of the base portion;
a fluid supply channel defined in the base portion and communicating with the at least one fuel cell membrane electrode assembly, the fluid supply channel including a mixing chamber and at least one fuel-bearing fluid inlet;
an exhaust channel defined in the base portion and communicating with the at least one fuel cell membrane electrode assembly, the exhaust channel including a water recovery and recirculation channel in communication with the plurality of hydrophilic threads, the exhaust channel spaced apart from the fluid supply channel for exhausting fluid from the at least one fuel cell membrane electrode assembly, the at least one fuel cell membrane electrode assembly and the cooperating fluid supply channel and cooperating exhaust channel forming a single fuel cell assembly;
a multi-dimensional fuel flow field defined in the base portion and communicating with the fluid supply channel, the at least one fuel cell membrane electrode assembly, and the exhaust channel; and
a plurality of electrical components formed in the base portion for electrical integration of the fuel cell assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A fuel cell device comprising:
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a base portion, formed of a singular body, and having a major surface, the base portion formed of a material selected from the group consisting of ceramic, plastic, glass, and silicon;
at least one fuel cell membrane electrode assembly formed on the major surface of the base portion, the at least one fuel cell membrane electrode assembly including a first electrode, a film formed of a protonically conductive electrolyte, and a second electrode;
a fluid supply channel defined in the base portion and communicating with the at least one fuel cell membrane electrode assembly for supplying a fuel-bearing fluid to the at least one fuel cell membrane electrode assembly, the fluid supply channel further including a first fuel-bearing fluid inlet, and a second fuel-bearing fluid inlet, and a mixing chamber;
an exhaust channel defined in the base portion and communicating with the at least one fuel cell membrane electrode assembly, the exhaust channel spaced apart from the fluid supply channel for exhausting fluid from the at least one spaced apart fuel cell membrane electrode assembly, the exhaust channel further including a water recovery and recirculation channel in fluidic communication with the at least one fuel cell membrane electrode assembly;
a multi-dimensional fuel flow field defined in the base portion and communicating with the fluid supply channel, the at least one fuel cell membrane electrode assembly, the exhaust channel, the multi-dimensional fuel flow field, the cooperating fluid supply channel, and the cooperating exhaust channel in combination forming a single fuel cell assembly; and
a top portion including a plurality of electrical components for electrical integration of the plurality of formed fuel cell assemblies. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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16. A method of fabricating a fuel cell device comprising the steps of:
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providing a multi-layer base portion formed of a material selected from the group consisting of ceramic, plastic, glass, graphite, and silicon;
forming a fluid supply channel in the base portion for supplying a fuel-bearing fluid to at least one fuel cell membrane electrode assembly, the fluid supply channel further including a mixing chamber and a methanol concentration sensor;
forming an exhaust channel in the base portion, the exhaust channel spaced apart from the fluid supply channel for exhausting fluid from the at least one spaced apart fuel cell membrane electrode assembly, the exhaust channel further including a water recovery and recirculation channel for the recover and recirculation of a spent fuel-bearing fluid and a reaction water;
forming the at least one fuel cell membrane electrode assembly on the major surface of the base portion, the step of forming the at least one spaced apart fuel cell membrane electrode assembly including the steps of providing for a first electrode on a major surface of the base portion, and providing for a film formed of a protonically conductive electrolyte in contact with the first electrode, providing for a second electrode in contact with the film, the at least one spaced apart fuel cell membrane electrode assembly and the cooperating fluid supply channel and cooperating exhaust channel forming a single fuel cell assembly;
forming a multi-dimensional integrated fuel flow field in communication with the fluid supply channel, the exhaust channel and the at least one fuel cell membrane electrode assembly; and
forming a top portion including a plurality of electrical components for electrical integration of the formed fuel cell assembly.
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Specification