Patent ID: 7374832

Claim:
A direct methanol fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell main body comprising an anode, a cathode, an electrolyte membrane provided between the anode and the cathode, an anode fluid channel plate and a feed tank, the anode fluid channel plate comprising a fluid channel having a feed port at one end and a discharge port at the other end, and the feed tank containing a methanol-containing liquid fuel to be fed to the feed port of the anode fluid channel plate; a first liquid fuel storage tank which contains a methanol-containing liquid fuel having a higher methanol concentration than a methanol concentration of the methanol-containing liquid fuel contained in the feed tank, and the first liquid fuel storage tank separated from the feed tank; a second liquid fuel storage tank which is connected to the first liquid fuel storage tank and contains a methanol-containing liquid fuel having a higher methanol concentration than a methanol concentration of the methanol-containing liquid fuel contained in the feed tank; a pump which connects the first liquid fuel storage tank to the feed tank; a fuel pipe which connects the discharge port of the anode fluid channel plate to the feed tank; and a liquid level change detecting mechanism which detects changes in the level of the methanol-containing liquid fuel stored in the first liquid fuel storage tank.