Abstract:
A direct isopropanol fuel cell adapted for use in ambient conditions and utilizing as fuel isopropanol and water preferably with isopropanol at relatively high concentrations representing 30% to 90% isopropanol.
Abstract:
Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.
Abstract:
Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.
Abstract:
Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.
Abstract:
This invention relates to fuel cells. A fuel cell 10 defines a space 11 having an air/ethanol inlet 12 and an outlet source 13. The operative part of the fuel cell, 14, includes a pvc substrate 15, a working electrode 16 and a counter electrode 17. A working electrode current collector 20 extends over the working electrode 16, whilst a counter electrode current collector 21 extends across the counter electrode 17. The electrodes formed from tantalum. At least one of the current collector electrodes 20, 21 are non-conformably depressed into their associated electrode to define a channel for containing electrolyte whereby charge can be transferred to the current collector by ionic exchange.
Abstract:
A fuel cell for a portable electronic device having a liquid fuel reservoir (100) wherein at least a part of the inner surface (103) and a part of an outer surface (104) of the fuel reservoir wall (102) are gas permeable, wherein said wall is adapted such that the area of the open parts of the inner surface (103) of the wall is larger than the area of the open parts of said outer surface (104) of the wall, wherein said wall is porous and adapted to allow gas to enter said wall and to be transported along said wall in a direction substantially parallel with the plane of the wall and to leave said wall, and wherein said wall is adapted such that the inner surface is hydrophobic. The invention further provides a portable electronic device and a method of manufacturing a liquid fuel reservoir.
Abstract:
A fuel cell including primarily (a) a membrane electrode assembly, which comprises (i) a proton exchange membrane having a front face and a rear face, (ii) an anode being coupled to the front face, and (iii) a cathode being coupled to the rear face; (b) a fuel permeation-controlling member positioned in front of the anode; the member being substantially impermeable to an organic fuel or water at an ambient temperature or below, but being permeable at a temperature higher than an activation temperature; (c) heating means in control relation to the fuel permeation-controlling member to activate fuel permeation through the member on demand. The invented fuel cell is compact and lightweight, with significantly reduced fuel crossover and improved fuel utilization efficiency. The fuel cell is particularly useful for powering small vehicles and portable devices such as a notebook computer, a personal digital assistant, a mobile phone, and a digital camera.
Abstract:
Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.
Abstract:
Methods and systems for fuel, chemical, and/or electricity production from electrochemical cells are disclosed. A voltage is applied between an anode and a cathode of an electrochemical cell. The anode includes a metal or metal oxide electrocatalyst. Oxygen is supplied to the cathode, producing oxygen ions. The anode electrocatalyst is at least partially oxidized by the oxygen ions transported through an electrolyte from the cathode to the anode. A feed gas stream is supplied to the anode electrocatalyst, which is converted to a liquid fuel. The anode electrocatalyst is re-oxidized to higher valency oxides, or a mixture of oxide phases, by supplying the oxygen ions to the anode. The re-oxidation by the ions is controlled or regulated by the amount of voltage applied.
Abstract:
Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.