TUBULAR FUEL CELL DESIGN WITH IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATING EFFICIENCY

摘要

In this improved tubular fuel cell design the anode and cathode current collectors also may perform as the gas diffusion members at the respective anode and cathode as well as external electrical contacts for current flow in the external circuit. The fuel cell has a sealing system that is designed to effectively keep the anode and cathode gases on their perspective sides of the proton exchange membrane separating the cathode and anode. The fuel cell has a hollow gas chamber designed to have very small pressure drops. The construction of the hollow anode gas chamber reduces pressure drop of the hydrogen, thus increasing overall reaction rate. The hollow cathode gas chamber may be designed with decreasing cross section from inlet to outlet in order to reduce the pressure drop in the chamber and thus optimize the reaction rate at the cathode.