Title of Invention

"NEW/IMPROVED FUEL CELL USING METHANOL DIRECTLY WITHOUT USING REFORMER"

Abstract

The present invention relates to a new/improved Fuel Cell capable of using methanol directly without using reformer for generating hydrogen. The present invention in fact eliminates the need for a reforming system. Methanol contains hydrogen protons and electrons and carbon dioxide, which are split by the present invention in the presence of an anode catalyst. The protons so generated by the present invention pass through a special membrane electrolyte and deposit on the cathode while the electrons get detained. The detained electrons are deposited on the anode. The accumulation of negative charge creates a potential difference, which becomes a source of electrical power. On connecting the anode and cathode, the electric current flows between the two poles. A stack of fuel cells can be used to power the electric motors. The present invention provides for a silent, non-polluting power, which uses a fuel, which is extracted, from renewable sources. The internal combustion engines required for propulsion of vehicles and for generation off electricity are dependent on fossil fuels like petrol and diesel. The drawbacks of the presently known system are becoming more and more apparent. The main drawbacks are the following: The sources of fossil fuels are depleting fast. To find an alternate source of power is not an option but an absolute necessity The internal combustion engines in their present form using the existing fuels are highly polluting. The gaseous emissions and noise pollution generated by these engines is very harmful to the environment.

Full Text

Various alternatives to address the above drawbacks are being developed. Some of the areas of development are: Internal combustion engines to run on fuels obtained from biomass such as Ethanol, Methanol etc. Internal combustion engines run on hydrogen. Hybrid engines, which use both the internal combustion engine and the electric motor Fuel Cells. The fuel cell technology is of recent origin. During the Second World War, the military equipment made a limited use of the fuel cells. These have been used in space technology also. The fuel cells are now being developed for propulsion of vehicles and as stationary power source. The present known developments use the following technologies to obtain the hydrogen for use in the fuel cells. Reforming of petrol or diesel to generate hydrogen. Reforming of Natural Gas to generate hydrogen. Methanol reformed to generate hydrogen. Hydrogen used as compressed gas. Liquefied Hydrogen. In all the first three processes mentioned above, a reformer and a reforming system are required. This is cumbersome particularly so if the fuel cell is required to be used to run a vehicle. The weight and volume of the reforming system makes these processes unviable. The reformers being bulky cannot be easily accommodated on a vehicle. Moreover the sources of petroleum products like petrol, diesel and natural gas are depleting fast. With the use of hydrogen in the compresses or liquefied form a new set of problems are faced which are: The volume of the tank required for storing compresses hydrogen is too large to be viable on vehicles at present Due to the physical properties of the hydrogen, it has a very high rate of leakage. With the stored hydrogen, there is always a chance of explosion. The liquid hydrogen must be stored cryogenically, as it must be kept at -253°C for it to remain liquefied for propulsion of vehicle. Thus it can be seen that the above routes of developing alternate energy source have major hindrances. The prior art, thus, has its own limitations, which are addressed by the present invention. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention, therefore, addresses all the limitations of the prior art and provides for a unique Fuel Cell, which uses Methanol directly without using any reformer or reforming system. The present invention in fact eliminates the need for a reforming system. Methanol is known to contain hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The present invention provides for a catalyst containing platinum. The Methanol and water react in the presence of catalyst containing platinum. The mixture is separated directly into carbon dioxide, hydrogen protons and electrons. The heart of the fuel cell is the Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM). This high tech membrane is a specially developed plastic film that functions as a proton exchanger. The plastic membrane is coated on both sides with a catalyst containing platinum. On the two sides of the PEM there are two thin graphite papers on each side for better contact with end plates. This assembly is contained between two metal plates. Those metal plates have a pattern of grooves. These grooves are a flow channel that ensures the proper mixing of the inputs. The above constitute one fuel cell. A stack of fuel cells is used containing a number of fuel cells. The number of fuel cells in a stack depends on the application. The methanol and water mixture is passed through pattern of grooves on Bipolar plate (Fig.1 Sheet 1 and Fig.4 Sheet 2) and is separated directly into carbon dioxide, protons and electrons in the presence of catalyst (Fig.2 Sheet 1 and Fig.5 Sheet 2). The protons (H+ions) pass through the Proton Exchange Membrane being a specially developed plastic film (Fig.2 Sheet 1 and Fig.6 Sheet 2) to the cathode side (Fig.8 Sheet 2) and collect there as a positive charge. The electrons are detailed and thereby an excess of negative charge is created (Fig.9 Sheet 2). Due to this potential difference, an electric current starts flowing between the two poles when the anode (Fig.9 Sheet 2) and cathode (Fig.8 Sheet 2) are connected. The hydrogen protons combine with oxygen from the incoming air and form water (Fig.3 Sheet 1 and Fig. 10 Sheet 2). This is discharged through the outlet. The present invention has the following advantages over the prior art: No reformer is required. This eliminates the in between process and related bulky equipment. Due to this the present invention becomes viable for use on vehicles. Methanol can.be produced from multiple sources including the renewable sources like biomass. The storage, handling the transportation of Methanol are easy. The distribution of Methanol can be done through the existing fuel stations just like petrol and diesel. These fuel cells are non-polluting. The only byproducts are water and a small quantity of carbon dioxide. The net increase of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere is nil if the methanol is produced from biomass. We claim, 1. A new/improved fuel cell using methanol directly without using reformer. 2. A new/improved fuel cell as claimed in claim 1 comprising Bipolar plate with a pattern of grooves that ensure proper mixing of methanol and water. 3. A new/improved fuel cell as claimed in claim 1 comprising catalyst containing platinum capable of separating methanol and water mixture directly into carbon dioxide, protons and electrons. 4. A new/improved fuel cell as claimed in claim 1 comprising Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM), a specially developed plastic film than functions as a proton exchanger and is coated on both sides with a catalyst containing platinum as claimed in claim 3. 5. A new/improved fuel cell as claimed in claim 1 comprising Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) as claimed in claim 4 with two thin graphite papers on each side for better contact with end plates.

Documents:

32-del-2002-abstract.pdf

32-del-2002-claims.pdf

32-del-2002-correspondence-others.pdf

32-del-2002-description (complete).pdf

32-del-2002-drawings.pdf

32-del-2002-form-1.pdf

32-del-2002-form-13.pdf

32-del-2002-form-18.pdf

32-del-2002-form-2.pdf

32-del-2002-form-26.pdf

32-del-2002-form-3.pdf

32-del-2002-form-4.pdf

32-del-2002-form-5.pdf

32-del-2002-petition-137.pdf