Method of improving the performance of a direct feed fuel cell
First Claim
1. A method of improving the performance of a direct feed fuel cell having an anode comprising a CO-tolerant catalyst, a solid polymer electrolyte, and a cathode, the fuel cell providing output power to a load in an operating range from a minimum operational output level to a maximum operational output level, comprising:
- providing a supply of fuel to the anode for the oxidation of the fuel to produce an oxidation product and electrons at the anode;
providing a supply of oxidant to the cathode for reduction of the oxidant, thereby producing a reduction product; and
reducing the output power of the fuel cell to the load at predetermined time intervals to be less than the minimum operational output level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The performance of a direct feed fuel cell such as, for example, a direct methanol fuel cell, with an anode having a CO-tolerant catalyst, such as a Pt—Ru catalyst, is improved by periodically reducing the output power of the cell to be less than the normal minimum output of the cell. This is effected, for example, by switching the cell at predetermined time intervals to an open circuit or reduced output power condition.
8 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of improving the performance of a direct feed fuel cell having an anode comprising a CO-tolerant catalyst, a solid polymer electrolyte, and a cathode, the fuel cell providing output power to a load in an operating range from a minimum operational output level to a maximum operational output level, comprising:
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providing a supply of fuel to the anode for the oxidation of the fuel to produce an oxidation product and electrons at the anode;
providing a supply of oxidant to the cathode for reduction of the oxidant, thereby producing a reduction product; and
reducing the output power of the fuel cell to the load at predetermined time intervals to be less than the minimum operational output level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification