Direct methanol fuel cell system and method of fabrication
First Claim
1. A fuel cell system 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 two fuel-bearing fluid inlets for the inlet of a fuel-beating fluid; and
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 system, 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.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fuel cell system and method of forming the fuel cell system including a base portion, formed of a singular body, and having a major surface. At least one fuel cell membrane electrode assembly is 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 including a water recovery and recirculation system is defined in the base portion and communicating with the membrane electrode assembly. The membrane electrode assembly and the cooperating fluid supply channel and cooperating exhaust channel forming a single fuel cell assembly.
70 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A fuel cell system 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 two fuel-bearing fluid inlets for the inlet of a fuel-beating fluid; and
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 system, 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A fuel cell array apparatus 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 in contact with the first electrode and formed of a protonically conductive electrolyte, and a second electrode in contact with the film;
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 assembly in fluidic communication with the send electrode of the at least one fuel cell membrane electrode assembly, in combination 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; and
a top portion for electrical integration of a plurality of fuel cell membrane electrode assemblies. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of fabricating a fuel cell array apparatus comprising the steps of:
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providing a base portion formed of a material selected from the group consisting of ceramic, plastic, glass, 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 Her and a methanol concentration sensor;
forming an exhaust channel in the base portion, the exhaust 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 system for the recover and recirculation of a spent fuel-bearing fluid;
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, providing for a film in contact with the first electrode and formed of a protonically conductive electrolyte, and 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; and
forming a top portion for electrical integration of a plurality of fuel cell membrane electrode assemblies. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification