Patent ID: 9196916
Filing Date: 2015-11-24
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A thermal transpiration-based single chamber solid oxide fuel cell power generation device comprising: a thermal transpiration membrane chamber made from a porous material comprising a Knudsen number of between 0.01 and 10; a solid oxide fuel cell housed within said thermal transpiration membrane chamber; and a hydrocarbon fuel source; wherein said device is configured to self sustain combustion of hydrocarbon fuel within said thermal transpiration membrane chamber from the hydrocarbon fuel source after ignition of said fuel thereby creating a temperature gradient between the inside and outside of said thermal transpiration membrane chamber, wherein the temperature within the inside of said thermal transpiration membrane chamber is higher than the temperature on the outside of said thermal transpiration membrane chamber, and whereby the hydrocarbon fuel from the hydrocarbon fuel source and ambient air comprising oxygen outside of said thermal transpiration membrane chamber flows through said thermal transpiration membrane chamber to the inside of said thermal transpiration membrane chamber.