Patent ID: 6911275

Claim:
A high molecular weight direct antifreeze cooled fuel cell 10 for producing electrical energy from a reducing fluid and a process oxidant stream, comprising: a. an electrolyte 52 secured between an anode catalyst 54 and a cathode catalyst 56 ; b. a porous anode substrate 58 secured in direct fluid communication with the anode catalyst 54 for passing the reducing fluid stream adjacent the anode catalyst 54 and a wetproofed cathode support means 62 secured in direct fluid communication with the cathode catalyst 56 for passing the process oxidant stream adjacent the cathode catalyst 56 ; c. a porous water transport plate 64 secured in direct fluid communication with the wetproofed cathode support means 62 ; and, d. a high molecular weight direct antifreeze solution passing through the porous water transport plate 64 for cooling the fuel cell 10 , wherein the high molecular weight direct antifreeze solution is a solution including polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of between about 200 AMU and about 400 AMU.