IP Library › Granted Patent US 12665206
Granted Patent B2
US 12665206 · App. 17/075,574 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

Electrolyteless fuel cell system

Inventor: Emanuel E Shah (Austin, TX)
H01M8/0258H01M8/0247H01M8/04089H01M8/04902
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12665206
App. No.
17/075,574
Granted
Jun 23, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electrolyteless fuel cell system includes an anode; a cathode; an electrical grid between the anode and cathode; an anode side grid bias electrode; a cathode side grid bias electrode; and an electrical grid power supply, wherein the electrical grid is biased negative with respect to the anode through the anode side grid bias electrode and the electrical grid power supply, or wherein the electrical grid is biased positive with respect to the cathode through the cathode side grid bias electrode and the electrical grid power supply. In electrolyteless electrolyzer mode steam is introduced to the cathode, wherein the electrical grid is biased positive with respect to the cathode through the cathode side grid bias electrode and the electrical grid power supply.

Claims (23)

1 . An electrolyteless fuel cell system, comprising:

an anode;

a cathode;

an electrical grid between the anode and cathode;

an anode side grid bias electrode;

a cathode side grid bias electrode;

a first air gap between the anode side grid bias electrode and the electrical grid;

a second air gap between the cathode side grid bias electrode and the electrical grid; and

an electrical grid power supply,

wherein the electrical grid is biased negative with respect to the anode through the anode side grid bias electrode and the electrical grid power supply, or

wherein the electrical grid is biased positive with respect to the cathode through the cathode side grid bias electrode and the electrical grid power supply.

2 . The fuel cell system of claim 1 , wherein the electrical grid is biased negative with respect to the anode, to create a potential difference between the electrical grid and the anode, wherein incoming hydrogen is used as a fuel source at the anode.

3 . The fuel cell system of claim 2 , wherein the negatively biased electrical grid pulls protons generated by oxidation of the incoming hydrogen at the anode, towards the electrical grid.

4 . The fuel cell system of claim 3 , wherein the negatively biased electrical grid repels electrons generated by oxidation of the incoming hydrogen at the anode, away from the electrical grid and to the anode.

5 . The fuel cell system of claim 1 , wherein the electrical grid is biased positive with respect to the cathode to create a potential difference between the electrical grid and the cathode, wherein incoming oxygen is used as an oxidant at the cathode.

6 . The fuel cell system of claim 5 , wherein the positively biased electric grid pulls oxygen anions generated by reduction of the incoming oxygen at the cathode, towards the electrical grid.

7 . The fuel cell system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a plurality of flow channels in the anode side grid bias electrode and in the cathode side grid bias electrode,

wherein the plurality of flow channels in the anode side grid bias electrode allows incoming hydrogen to reach the anode, and

wherein the plurality of flow channels in the cathode side grid bias electrode allows incoming oxygen to reach the cathode.

8 . The fuel cell system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a screen grid located between the electrical grid and the anode, or located between the electrical grid and the cathode,

wherein the screen grid is maintained at an opposite polarity and at a lower potential to the electrical grid.