FUEL CELL GENERATOR WITH FUEL ELECTRODES THAT CONTROL ON-CELL FUEL REFORMATION

摘要

A fuel cell for a fuel cell generator including a housing including a gas flow path for receiving a fuel from a fuel source and directing the fuel across the fuel cell. The fuel cell (12) includes an elongate member (20) including opposing first (22) and second ends (24) and defining an interior cathode portion (32) and an exterior anode portion (36). The interior cathode portion (32) includes an electrode in contact with an oxidant flow path. The exterior anode portion (36) includes an electrode in contact with the fuel in the gas flow path. The anode portion (36) includes a catalyst material for effecting fuel reformation along the fuel cell between the opposing ends. A fuel reformation control layer (50) is applied over the catalyst material for reducing a rate of fuel reformation on the fuel cell. The control layer (50) effects a variable reformation rate along the length of the fuel cell.