초록 ▼

A method and apparatus for oxygen management in a direct oxidation fuel cell system is provided. The oxygen management apparatus forces oxygen (typically from ambient air) into the cathode chamber of the fuel cell to facilitate the flow of oxygen across the cathode face of the fuel cell. It does so

A method and apparatus for oxygen management in a direct oxidation fuel cell system is provided. The oxygen management apparatus forces oxygen (typically from ambient air) into the cathode chamber of the fuel cell to facilitate the flow of oxygen across the cathode face of the fuel cell. It does so by utilizing the carbon dioxide already produced in the chemical reaction on the anode chamber of the cell. In a first embodiment of the invention, a turbine assembly is placed in fluid communication with the anode chamber of the fuel cell. The turbine assembly is driven when the carbon dioxide produced at the anode chamber flows over the blades of a first turbine (which is referred to herein as "the vent turbine"). The vent turbine is attached to a drive shaft that is used to cause a second turbine (or fan) to draw oxygen (generally from ambient air) into the cathode chamber of the fuel cell. This drawn-in air forces oxygen over the cathode of the fuel cell. The second turbine is referred to herein as "the inlet turbine." Other embodiments of the invention allow for adjustments to be made depending upon the conditions in which the invention is used.

대표청구항 ▼

A method and apparatus for oxygen management in a direct oxidation fuel cell system is provided. The oxygen management apparatus forces oxygen (typically from ambient air) into the cathode chamber of the fuel cell to facilitate the flow of oxygen across the cathode face of the fuel cell. It does so

A method and apparatus for oxygen management in a direct oxidation fuel cell system is provided. The oxygen management apparatus forces oxygen (typically from ambient air) into the cathode chamber of the fuel cell to facilitate the flow of oxygen across the cathode face of the fuel cell. It does so by utilizing the carbon dioxide already produced in the chemical reaction on the anode chamber of the cell. In a first embodiment of the invention, a turbine assembly is placed in fluid communication with the anode chamber of the fuel cell. The turbine assembly is driven when the carbon dioxide produced at the anode chamber flows over the blades of a first turbine (which is referred to herein as "the vent turbine"). The vent turbine is attached to a drive shaft that is used to cause a second turbine (or fan) to draw oxygen (generally from ambient air) into the cathode chamber of the fuel cell. This drawn-in air forces oxygen over the cathode of the fuel cell. The second turbine is referred to herein as "the inlet turbine." Other embodiments of the invention allow for adjustments to be made depending upon the conditions in which the invention is used. A polymer electrolyte fuel cell shall be provided such that degradation of the fuel cell due to condensed water can be prevented. A polymer electrolyte fuel cell of the present invention is provided wherein a plate A, a plate B, and a plate C are used; a passage is formed on each of the front and rear sides of each of the above-mentioned plates; a cell D or a permeable film E is interposed between two of the above-mentioned plates; a cell unit is thus formed; a plurality of such cell units are integrally laminated to form a polymer electrolyte fuel cell. Fuel gas and cooling water are caused to flow into a humidifying chamber F to humidify fuel gas. The resulting humidified fuel gas is supplied to a fuel chamber G, and moreover, oxidant gas is supplied to an oxidant chamber, thereby generating electricity. It is so arranged that the flow of fuel gas moving inside the above-mentioned humidifying chamber F is a counter flow with respect to the flow of cooling water moving inside the above-mentioned humidifying chamber F; and the flow of fuel gas moving inside the above-mentioned fuel chamber G is a co-flow with respect to the flow of cooling water moving inside the above-mentioned fuel chamber G.