Patent ID: 7381491
Filing Date: 2008-06-03
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A fuel cell power plant comprising: a plurality of fuel cells, each including a proton exchange membrane having a cathode catalyst on a first surface and an anode catalyst on a second surface opposite to said first surface; a cathode flow field plate adjacent to said cathode catalyst and having an oxidant reactant gas flow field; an anode flow field plate adjacent to said anode catalyst and having a fuel reactant gas flow field; a source for providing hydrogen-containing gas to said fuel reactant gas flow field; and an air pump for pumping air from the earth's atmosphere to said oxidant reactant gas flow fields; characterized by the improvement comprising: a controller controlling pressure, P, of air provided by said pump to said oxidant reactant gas flow field; said pump having an adiabatic efficiency, E, of between 0.3 and 0.7 and providing air to said oxidant reactant gas flow fields at a pressure, P, substantially equal to: