Patent ID: 8043750

Claim:
A fuel cell comprising: a catalyzed anode; a catalyzed cathode; a polymer-electrolyte membrane disposed in face-sharing contact with the catalyzed anode and the catalyzed cathode, the polymer-electrolyte membrane comprising a liquid electrolyte, the liquid electrolyte being unreplenishable via an electrochemical reaction of the fuel cell; a sorbent structure charged with the liquid electrolyte; and an internal cavity configured to transport a gas over or through the sorbent structure en route to the catalyzed anode or the catalyzed cathode, a first region of the internal cavity coupled to an exhaust gas exit manifold of the fuel cell directing exhaust gas carrying vapor of the liquid electrolyte to the sorbent structure where the vapor condenses on or in the sorbent structure, and a second region of the internal cavity coupled to a fresh gas supply manifold of the fuel cell directing fresh gas into the fuel cell that is enriched with liquid electrolyte vapor from the sorbent structure to recycle the liquid electrolyte.