Electrochemical system having multiple independent circuits

摘要

The present teachings relate to an electrochemical system including an electrochemical device and multiple independent circuits which permit independent control of the reaction rates at different sections of the electrochemical device. The electrochemical device can be a fuel cell or an electrolyzer, and can include a common electrode in electrical communication with two or more independent circuits. The present teachings also relate to operating methods of the electrochemical system described.

主权项

1. A method of operating a fuel cell, the method comprising:
providing a tubular fuel cell having a length divided into a front end and a back end, wherein the tubular fuel cell comprises an anode extending from the front end to the back end, a first cathode extending within the front end, a second cathode extending within the back end, and an electrolyte separating the anode from each of the first cathode and the second cathode; providing a first loading device that is electrically connected to the first cathode and the anode in a first electrical circuit; providing a second loading device that is electrically connected to the second cathode and the anode in a second electrical circuit; introducing a fuel along the anode from the front end of the tubular fuel cell to the back end of the tubular fuel cell; and varying independently a first electrical load applied by the first loading device to the first electrical circuit and a second electrical load applied by the second loading device to the second electrical circuit, such that during operation of the tubular fuel cell, the electrical potential across the front end of the tubular fuel cell is different from the electrical potential across the back end of the tubular fuel cell.