초록 ▼

A high molecular weight direct antifreeze cooled fuel cell 10 includes an electrolyte 52 secured between an anode catalyst 54 and a cathode catalyst 56; a porous anode substrate 58 secured in direct fluid communication with and supporting the anode catalyst 54; a porous wetproofed cathode substrate

A high molecular weight direct antifreeze cooled fuel cell 10 includes an electrolyte 52 secured between an anode catalyst 54 and a cathode catalyst 56; a porous anode substrate 58 secured in direct fluid communication with and supporting the anode catalyst 54; a porous wetproofed cathode substrate 62 secured in direct fluid communication with and supporting the cathode catalyst 56; a porous water transport plate 64 secured in direct fluid communication with the porous cathode substrate 62; and, a high molecular weight direct antifreeze solution passing through the porous water transport plate 64 to cool and remove product water from the fuel cell 10. The high molecular weight direct antifreeze solution preferably includes polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight ranging from 200 to 8,000 AMU. The direct antifreeze solution does not leave the water transport plate 64 in significant quantities to poison the catalysts.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A high molecular weight direct antifreeze cooled fuel cell 10 for producing electrical energy from a reducing fluid and a process oxidant stream, comprising:a. an electrolyte 52 secured between an anode catalyst 54 and a cathode catalyst 56; b. a porous anode substrate 58 secured in direct fluid

1. A high molecular weight direct antifreeze cooled fuel cell 10 for producing electrical energy from a reducing fluid and a process oxidant stream, comprising:a. an electrolyte 52 secured between an anode catalyst 54 and a cathode catalyst 56; b. a porous anode substrate 58 secured in direct fluid communication with the anode catalyst 54 for passing the reducing fluid stream adjacent the anode catalyst 54 and a wetproofed cathode support means 62 secured in direct fluid communication with the cathode catalyst 56 for passing the process oxidant stream adjacent the cathode catalyst 56; c. a porous water transport plate 64 secured in direct fluid communication with the wetproofed cathode support means 62; and, d. a high molecular weight direct antifreeze solution passing through the porous water transport plate 64 for cooling the fuel cell 10, wherein the high molecular weight direct antifreeze solution is a solution including polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of between about 200 AMU and about 400 AMU. 2. The high molecular weight direct antifreeze cooled fuel cell 10 of claim 1, wherein the fuel cell includes a pressure Control means 48 for maintaining a positive pressure differential between the process oxidant stream passing through the fuel cell 10 and the high molecular weight direct antifreeze solution passing through the porous water transport plate 64 so that the process oxidant stream within the fuel cell 10 is at a greater pressure than the antifreeze solution within the water transport plate 64.3. The high molecular weight direct antifreeze cooled fuel cell 10 of claim 1, wherein the wetproofed cathode support means includes a wetproofed cathode diffusion layer 68 secured between a wetproofed cathode substrate 62 end the cathode catalyst 56.4. The high molecular weight direct antifreeze cooled fuel cell 10 of claim 1, wherein the wetproofed cathode support means includes a wetproofed Cathode diffusion layer 68 secured between a cathode substrate 62 and the cathode catalyst 56.5. The high molecular weight direct antifreeze cooled fuel cell 10 of claim 1, wherein the electrolyte 52 is a proton exchange membrane.6. A high molecular weight direct freeze cooled fuel cell 10 for producing electrical energy from a reducing fluid and a process oxidant, comprising:a. an electrolyte 52 secured between an anode catalyst 54 and a cathode catalyst 56; b. a wetproofed anode support means 58 secured in direct fluid communication with the anode catalyst 54 for passing the reducing fluid stream adjacent the anode catalyst 54 and a wetproofed cathode support 62 means secured in direct fluid communication with the cathode catalyst 56 for passing the process oxidant stream adjacent the cathode catalyst 56; c. a porous anode water transport plate 60 secured in direct fluid communication with the wetproofed anode substrate means 58, and a porous cathode water transport plate 64 secured in direct fluid communication with the wetproofed cathode support means 62; end d. a high molecular weight direct antifreeze solution passing through the porous anode and cathode water transport plates 60, 64 for cooling the fuel cell 10, wherein the high molecular weight direct antifreeze solution is a solution including polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of between about 200 AMU and about 400 AMU.