Fuel additives for fuel cell

• US 20030064258A1
• Filed: 09/28/2001
• Published: 04/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intelligent Energy Limited (Lb-shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Pan, Alfred I-Tsung, Hanson, Eric G.
• Granted Patent: US 6,921,593 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/13
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2008/1095 Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04186 of liquid-charged or electrolyte-charged reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1009 with one of the reactants being liquid, solid or liquid-charged H01M8/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/22 Fuel cells in which the fuel is based on materials comprising carbon or oxygen or hydrogen and other elements; Fuel cells in which the fuel is based on materials comprising only elements other than carbon, oxygen or hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A method of enhancing performance of liquid-type fuel cells by adding additives to the liquid fuel. For example, hemoglobin, surfactants, oxygen scavengers, and chelating agents, may be added to the fuel to resolve problems such as CO poisoning of catalyst, wettability of electrodes, and electrode poisoning, and therefore enhance the performance of the fuel cell. The additives may be added individually based on needs, or mixed in a desired ratio for a given type of fuel cell. The additives may be used on a regular basis to improve fuel efficiency and prolong the life span of the fuel cells. The additives may also be pre-packed for field use when high quality fuel is not available.

Claims

1. A method for improving performance of liquid-type fuel cells comprising:

providing a liquid-type fuel cell having a fuel and a catalyst, and

incorporating into the fuel a fuel additive to reduce CO poisoning to the catalyst.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the fuel additive comprises hemoglobin.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the amount of hemoglobin is in the range of 0.0001-1% by weight.

4. A method for improving performance of liquid-type fuel cells comprising:

proving a liquid-type fuel cell having an electrode and a fuel, and

incorporating into the fuel a fuel additive to increase wettability of the electrode.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the fuel additive comprises a surfactant.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the amount of surfactant is in the range of 0.0001-1% by weight.

7. A method for improving performance of liquid-type fuel cells comprising:

providing a liquid-type fuel cell having a fuel, and

incorporating into the fuel a fuel additive to reduce dissolved oxygen in the fuel.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the fuel additive comprises an oxygen scavenger.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the amount of oxygen scavenger is in the range of 0.0001-1% by weight.

10. A method for improving performance of liquid-type fuel cells comprising:

providing a liquid-type fuel cell having a fuel, a catalyst, an electrolyte, and

incorporating into the fuel a fuel additive to remove metal ions that are detrimental to the catalyst or electrolyte.

11. The method of claim I 0, wherein the fuel additive comprises a chelating agent.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the amount of chelating agent is in the range of 0.0001-1% by weight.

13. A method for improving performance of liquid-type fuel cells comprising:

providing a liquid-type fuel cell having a fuel and a proton electrotransfer membrane, and

incorporating into the fuel a fuel additive in an amount sufficient to improve performance of said liquid-type fuel cell.

14. A method for improving performance of liquid-type fuel cells comprising:

providing a liquid-type fuel cell having a fuel, a catalyst, an electrode, a proton electrotransfer membrane, and

incorporating into the fuel one or more fuel additives that perform one or more of the following functions;

(a) reducing CO poisoning to the catalyst,

(b) increasing wettability of the electrode,

(c) reducing dissolved oxygen in the fuel,

(d) removing metal ions that are detrimental to the catalyst or the proton electrotransfer membrane.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more fuel additives are pre-packed for field use.