Patent ID: 7056610

Claim:
A fuel cell system comprising: a first methanol fuel cell a first anode compartment with an anode and a methanol feeds, a first cathode compartment with a cathode, and an anion-conducting membrane between said first anode compartment and said first cathode compartment; a water pathway between said first anode compartment and said first cathode compartment for removing water formed at said anode and delivering water to said first cathode compartment; and a methanol separator alone said pathway for separating methanol from water formed at said anode before the separated water is delivered to said cathode compartment, said methanol separator being a second acid electrolyte fuel cell connected to said methanol fuel cell and having: a second anode compartment receiving water formed in the first anode compartment, and a second cathode compartment for delivering water to the first cathode compartment of said first fuel cell.