| 摘要 |
PURPOSE: Provided is a fuel cell including at least one electrode operatively disposed in the fuel cell, and having a catalytically active surface, wherein the fuel cell further includes a mechanism for maintaining a substantially uniform maximum catalytic activity over the surface of the electrode. CONSTITUTION: The fuel cell (10) comprises a flow passage (24) having a gas stream flowing therethrough; and at least one electrode (16,18) operatively disposed in the flow passage, and having at least one discrete, catalytically active area (16',16",16"',18',18",18"') having a composition and a structure, wherein at least one of the composition and structure is predetermined based upon an expected composition of the gas stream to which the at least one discrete area is exposed, wherein the fuel cell further comprises an inlet (20) adjacent an entrance to the flow passage, wherein the at least one electrode has an inlet end region (26) proximate the inlet, and wherein the at least one discrete area is located at the inlet end region, wherein the at least one electrode is an anode (16), wherein the expected composition of the gas stream comprises substantially unreformed hydrocarbon fuel, and wherein the at least one of the composition and structure of the at least one discrete area is optimized therefor, wherein the at least one electrode is a cathode (18), wherein the expected composition of the gas stream comprises a gas stream substantially undepleted of oxidants, and wherein the at least one of the composition and structure of the at least one discrete area is optimized therefor, wherein the fuel cell further comprises an outlet (22) adjacent an exit from the flow passage, wherein the at least one electrode has an outlet end region (28) proximate the outlet, and wherein the at least one discrete area is located at the outlet end region, wherein the flow passage has a midpoint (30), wherein the at least one electrode has a midpoint region (32) proximate the midpoint, and wherein the at least one discrete area is located at the midpoint region. |
