Title:
FUEL CELL OXYGEN REMOVAL AND PRE-CONDITIONING SYSTEM
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO2003063278
Kind Code:
A3
Abstract:
A fuel cell having an anode, a cathode and an ion exchange membrane is supplied by hydrogen fuel through an anode fuel delivery conduit. A recirculation loop is provided to recycle gases in the fuel delivery conduit to a mixing point where a controlled flow rate of fuel is supplied and mixed therewith. Any oxidant species remaining in the fuel delivery conduit are thereby combusted in a controlled manner to avoid damage to the fuel cell membrane-electrode assembly. Small quantities of oxidant may be deliberately introduced into the fuel delivery conduit to generate water vapour and heat to pre-condition the fuel delivered to the anode. Such preconditioning assists in hydration control of the membrane, and temperature control of the membrane-electrode assembly for optimum fuel cell performance.
Inventors:
MITCHELL PHILIP JOHN (GB)
ADCOCK PAUL LEONARD (GB)
ADCOCK PAUL LEONARD (GB)
Application Number:
PCT/GB2003/000169
Publication Date:
December 09, 2004
Filing Date:
January 15, 2003
Export Citation:
Assignee:
INTELLIGENT ENERGY LTD (GB)
MITCHELL PHILIP JOHN (GB)
ADCOCK PAUL LEONARD (GB)
MITCHELL PHILIP JOHN (GB)
ADCOCK PAUL LEONARD (GB)
International Classes:
H01M8/10; B60R9/04; H01M8/04; (IPC1-7): H01M8/04; H01M8/06
Domestic Patent References:
| WO2001039310A1 | 2001-05-31 | |||
| WO2001097310A2 | 2001-12-20 |
Foreign References:
| US6376113B1 | 2002-04-23 | |||
| US6007931A | 1999-12-28 |
Other References:
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 0133, no. 71 (E - 807) 17 August 1989 (1989-08-17)
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 0174, no. 24 (E - 1410) 6 August 1993 (1993-08-06)
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 0174, no. 24 (E - 1410) 6 August 1993 (1993-08-06)
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