Patent ID: 7781114

Claim:
A direct oxidation fuel cell (DOFC) system, comprising: (a) at least one fuel cell assembly including a cathode and an anode with an electrolyte positioned therebetween, said at least one fuel cell assembly adapted for performing selected electrochemical reactions at said anode and cathode; (b) a source of concentrated liquid fuel in fluid communication with an inlet of said anode; (c) an oxidant supply in fluid communication with an inlet of said cathode; (d) a liquid/gas (L/G) separator in fluid communication with outlets of each of said anode and cathode for receiving unreacted fuel and liquid and gaseous products of said selected electrochemical reactions at said cathode and anode; and (e) a converter for catalytically converting a portion of said unreacted fuel to said liquid and gaseous products, wherein a first outlet of said converter is in fluid communication with an inlet of said L/G separator and said converter supplies said L/G separator with said liquid product.