Patent ID: 7416798

Claim:
A method of employing a direct oxidation fuel cell system as a combined power generator, and water generator, comprising: (A) providing a housing; (B) providing a source of fuel in fluid communication with said housing; (C) providing a source of oxygen in fluid communication with said housing; (D) providing a membrane electrode assembly having a catalyzed membrane electrolyte, with an anode aspect and a cathode aspect, disposed within said housing, an anode chamber being defined between said anode aspect of the catalyzed membrane electrolyte and a first exterior portion of said housing, and a cathode chamber being defined between said cathode aspect of the catalyzed membrane electrolyte and a second exterior portion of said housing; and (E) providing a first opening being an air inlet for the introduction of oxygen into the anode chamber; (F) providing a second opening being a separate fuel inlet for the introduction of fuel into said anode chamber; (G) detachably connecting a load across said membrane electrode assembly; and (H) introducing fuel and oxygen into said anode chamber to oxidize said fuel to produce water, and detaching said load such that the system produces no electricity.