Methanol hydrogen fuel cell system

• US 4,659,634 A
• Filed: 02/03/1986
• Issued: 04/21/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ralph C. Struthers
• Original Assignee: Ralph C. Struthers
• Inventors: Struthers, Ralph C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Skapars, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US06/825,446
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• Field of Search: 429/19, 429/17, 429/20, 429/27, 429/13, 429/34
• US Class Current: 429/414
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/00 Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0612 from carbon-containing material
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

An electro-chemical electric power generating apparatus characterized by first and second electro-chemical fuel cells. Each cell includes a case containing spaced anode and cathode plates, an electrolyte between the plates and an external electric circuit connected therebetween. The apparatus next includes a steam-methane reformer to reform steam and methane to hydrogen enriched gas fuel. The cathode and anode fuels of the first cell are methanol and hydrogen and the byproducts of chemical reaction thereof are water and methane gas. The cathode and anode fuels of the second cell are oxygen and hydrogen and the byproduct of chemical reaction thereof is water. The methane gas byproduct of the first cell and the water byproduct of both cells are conducted to the steam-methane reformer and are reformed thereby into hydrogen enriched fuel gas which is conducted to and feeds the anodes of both of the cells.

Claims

1. An electro chemical electric power generating apparatus comprising first and second electro chemical fuel cells including spaced anodes and cathodes, electrolytes between the anodes and cathodes, and external electric circuits connecting the anodes and cathodes, a steam-methane reformer which operates to reform steam and methane gas into a hydrogen rich gas fuel, the cathode and anode fuels of the first fuel cells are methanol and hydrogen and the byproducts of chemical reaction thereof are water and methane gas, the cathode and anode fuels of the second fuel cell are oxygen and hydrogen and the byproduct of chemical reaction thereof is water, the methane gas byproduct of the first fuel cell and the water byproduct of the first and second fuel cells are conducted to the steam-methane reformer and reformed thereby into hydrogen rich fuel gas, the hydrogen rich fuel gas reformed by the steam-methane reformer is conducted to and feeds the anodes of the fuel cells.

2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein the oxygen fuel for the cathode of the second cell is oxygen from air.

3. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 which includes a start-up supply of hydrogen gas and valve controlled delivery means to selectively conduct hydrogen gas to the anodes of the first and second cells when the apparatus is put into operation and to commence fuel cell reaction.

4. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 which includes a supply of methanol and means to move the methanol from the supply of methanol to the cathode of the first cell.

5. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein the steam-methane reformer includes a burner to convert water to steam and to heat a catalytic heater that receives methane gas from the first cell and water from the first and second cells.

6. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein the steam-methane reformer includes a methanol and air supplied oxygen fueled burner to convert water to steam and to heat a catalytic heater that receives methane gas from the first cell and water from the first and second cells.

7. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein the steam-methane reformer includes a methanol and air supplied oxygen fueled burner to convert water to steam and to heat a catalytic heater that receives methane gas from the first cell and water from the first and second cells, said apparatus further includes a supply of methanol and means to move the methanol from the supply of methanol to the cathode of the first cell and to said burner.

8. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein the steam-methane reformer includes a methanol and air supplied oxygen fueled burner to convert water to steam and to heat a catalytic heater that receives methane gas from the first cell and water from the first and second cells, said apparatus further includes a supply of methanol and means to move the methanol from the supply of methanol to the cathode of the first cell and to said burner, said apparatus further includes a start-up supply of hydrogen gas and valve controlled delivery means to conduct hydrogen gas to the anodes of the first and second cells when the apparatus is put into operation and to initiate fuel cell reaction.