Patent ID: 7276303
Filing Date: 2007-10-02
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A method of detecting an amount of liquid fuel remaining in a direct methanol fuel cell system, comprising: a fuel cell main body comprising an anode, a cathode, an electrolyte membrane provided between the anode and the cathode, and a feed tank containing a methanol-containing liquid fuel to be fed to the anode; a first liquid fuel storage tank which contains a methanol-containing liquid fuel having a higher methanol concentration than a methanol concentration of the methanol-containing liquid fuel contained in the feed tank; a second liquid fuel storage tank which is connected to the first liquid fuel storage tank and contains a methanol-containing liquid fuel having a higher methanol concentration than a methanol concentration of the methanol-containing liquid fuel contained in the feed tank; a pump provided between the first liquid fuel storage tank and the feed tank; and a liquid level change detecting mechanism which detects changes in the level of the methanol-containing liquid fuel stored in the first liquid fuel storage tank, said method comprising: determining that the methanol-containing liquid fuel is insufficient in the second liquid fuel storage tank, from changes in the methanol-containing level of the liquid fuel stored in the first liquid fuel storage tank.