US 12,334,612 B2
Method and a device for operating PEM fuel cell with CO contaminated hydrogen gas
Chinmay Chaudhari, Faridabad (IN); Sachin Chugh, Faridabad (IN); Meenakshi Sundarraman, Faridabad (IN); Kapil Sonkar, Faridabad (IN); Alok Sharma, Faridabad (IN); Gurpreet Singh Kapur, Faridabad (IN); and Sankara Sri Venkata Ramakumar, Faridabad (IN)
Assigned to Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Mumbai (IN)
Filed by Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Mumbai (IN)
Filed on May 26, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/330,688.
Claims priority of application No. 202021021946 (IN), filed on May 26, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0376363 A1, Dec. 2, 2021
Int. Cl. H01M 8/06 (2016.01); B01D 53/86 (2006.01); B01D 53/96 (2006.01); C01B 3/56 (2006.01); H01M 8/0662 (2016.01); H01M 8/0668 (2016.01)
CPC H01M 8/0681 (2013.01) [B01D 53/864 (2013.01); B01D 53/96 (2013.01); C01B 3/56 (2013.01); H01M 8/0668 (2013.01); H01M 8/0687 (2013.01); C01B 2210/0014 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An assembly for purifying impure hydrogen fuel comprising:
a pre-treatment unit;
a source configured to supply a first mixture of gases with carbon monoxide and hydrogen gas to the pre-treatment unit;
an apparatus including:
a housing including a first chamber and a second chamber, wherein the first chamber is adapted to receive the first mixture of gases with carbon monoxide and hydrogen gas at a first concentration and the second chamber is adapted to receive a second mixture of gases with hydrogen gas at a second concentration;
a solid-state electrolyte disposed inside the housing separating the first chamber and the second chamber, wherein the solid-state electrolyte includes a coating of carbon monoxide adsorption catalyst on a surface facing the first chamber; and
a pair of electrodes disposed in each of the first chamber and the second chamber to generate a potential difference across the solid-state electrolyte; and
a buffer tank placed downstream with respect to the apparatus and in fluid communication with the first chamber and the second chamber, wherein the buffer tank is adapted to:
receive a third mixture of gases with hydrogen at a third concentration from the first chamber, wherein the third mixture of gases is formed by adsorption of carbon monoxide in the first mixture of gases by the coating, and
receive the second mixture of gases with hydrogen at the second concentration from the second chamber;
wherein the generated potential difference causes the carbon monoxide adsorption catalyst to desorb the adsorbed carbon monoxide on the coating in the first chamber thereby generating hydrogen in the second chamber,
wherein the pre-treeatment unit is installed downstream to the source and upstream to the first chamber, and wherein the pre-treatment unit increases humidity in the first mixture of gases, and
wherein the first chamber is adapted to discharge, a fourth mixture of gases including oxidised carbon monoxide, into a ventilation structure, wherein the fourth mixture of gases is discharged from the first chamber after generation of hydrogen in the second chamber.