| Entries |
| Document | Title | Date |
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| 20100227230 | ANODE WATER SEPARATOR FOR A FUEL CELL SYSTEM - An anode reactant recycling system for a fuel cell is disclosed, the system including a hollow main body, a bleed conduit, an injector, a water separator, and a hydrophilic porous media. The anode reactant recycling system for a fuel cell is adapted to minimize a required number of components, eliminate the need for the anode heat exchanger, use a single valve for removal of condensate and reactant byproducts from the anode reactant recycling system, and provide an upstream volume for startup pressurization. | 09-09-2010 |
| 20100255391 | FUEL CELL STRUCTURE HAVING COMBINED POLAR PLATES AND THE COMBINED POLAR PLATES THEREOF - A fuel cell structure having combined polar plates and the combined polar plate thereof are disclosed. The fuel cell structure includes a membrane electrode assembly, the combined polar plate, and a charge collection plate. The combined polar plate and the charge collection plate are arranged on outer surfaces of the membrane electrode assembly. The combined polar plate includes a non-porous plate and a porous plate. The non-porous plate has a base plate and a frame which together define a recess. A portion of the base plate free of the frame has at least one flow channel. The porous plate is received in the recess and sandwiched between the membrane electrode assembly and the base plate. Pores of the porous plate increase flow rate of fuel, and the flow channel drains water, a product of electrochemical reaction, from the fuel cell structure quickly to enhance performance of power generation. | 10-07-2010 |
| 20100310947 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING FUEL CELL OPERATING CONDITIONS IN A MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE - The disclosure is directed at a method and apparatus for controlling fuel cell operating characteristics. In certain situations, the operating efficiency of fuel cells is degraded to external conditions. Providing a method and apparatus to control operating conditions for the fuel cell assists in improving the operating efficiency. This can be achieved by controlling certain environmental conditions, such as temperature and relatively humidity, in the area surrounding the fuel cell. | 12-09-2010 |
| 20110003217 | WICKING LAYER FOR MANAGING MOISTURE DISTRIBUTION IN A FUEL CELL - An exemplary device for managing moisture content within a fuel cell includes a reactant distribution plate having a plurality of members that establish reactant flow channels that are open on at least one side of the plate. A wicking layer is against the one side of the plate. The wicking layer includes a first portion that is uninterrupted and covers over at least some of the channels. A second portion of the wicking layer extends along ends of at least some of the members such that sections of the channels coextensive with the second portion are open toward the one side. | 01-06-2011 |
| 20110008690 | FUEL CELL STACK - A fuel cell stack is provided having a plurality of unit cells stacked in a horizontal direction. Each unit cell includes an electrolyte membrane having two surfaces and a peripheral edge, electrodes provided on both surfaces of the electrolyte membrane, frame-shaped members provided on both surfaces of the electrolyte membrane adjacent to the respective electrodes and adjacent the peripheral edge of the electrolyte membrane, separators provided on the electrodes and the frame-shaped members and having a reactant gas passage for supplying a reactant gas to each of the electrodes, and a manifold formed in the stacking direction in fluid communication with the reactant gas passage. The manifold includes a horizontal edge portion in fluid communication with the reactant gas passage. | 01-13-2011 |
| 20110014530 | RESERVOIR FOR HOT WEATHER OPERATION OF EVAPORATIVELY COOLED FUEL CELL - A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell having a cathode and an anode. A water flow field is in communication with the cathode for producing moist air. A cooling system for an evaporatively cooled fuel cell includes a condenser arranged to receive the moist air and produce condensed water. A separator may be arranged to receive the condensed water. A return line fluidly connects the separator and the water flow field. A reservoir has additional water that is in fluid communication with the return line for selectively providing the additional water to the water flow field in an out-of-balance hot fuel cell condition. The reservoir is connected in and to the cooling system in a manner that does not block water flow if the reservoir freezes. | 01-20-2011 |
| 20110033758 | POROUS FLOW FIELD PLATE FOR MOISTURE DISTRIBUTION CONTROL IN A FUEL CELL - A flow field plate for use in a fuel cell includes a porous, wettable plate body. A plurality of flow channels are arranged on the body such that an inlet portion of a first flow channel is adjacent an outlet portion of a second flow channel. Moisture from a fluid in the outlet portion of the second flow channel can move through the body of the porous, wettable plate from the outlet portion of the second flow channel toward the adjacent inlet portion of the first flow channel. | 02-10-2011 |
| 20110039169 | Electrical Power Generator Systems that Passively Transfer Hydrogen and Oxygen to Fuel Cells and Methods for Generating Power Via Same - A power generating system for operating below a surface of a body of water includes a fuel cell stack configured to react hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity. An oxygen source is configured to provide oxygen to the fuel cell stack. A hydrogen source is configured to provide hydrogen to the fuel cell stack. The hydrogen source is at least partially submerged in water and incorporates a non-hydride metal alloy that reacts with water to produce hydrogen from the water. | 02-17-2011 |
| 20110081584 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system is described that enables discharge of moisture generated by the fuel cell system based on pressure differences between components of the fuel cell system. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell that discharges oxidant offgas via a cathode discharge pipe and discharges fuel offgas and moisture to an anode drain opening that in turn discharges the fuel offgas and the moisture to a gas-liquid separator via an anode drainpipe. A throttle valve establishes a pressure difference downstream within the anode drainpipe to enable movement of the fuel offgas and the moisture from the anode drain opening to a lower pressure area of the gas-liquid separator. In addition, the pressure difference enables the fuel offgas to flow from the gas-liquid separator to the cathode discharge pipe through the throttle valve. | 04-07-2011 |
| 20110091782 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack that generates electricity by an electrochemical reaction using a fuel gas; an insulating first passage member through which produced water that is produced by the electrochemical reaction in the fuel cell stack and off-gas that is discharged from the fuel cell stack pass; a conductive second passage member that is connected to the first passage member; and a produced water flow disrupting portion that is provided on the first passage member and breaks up or stops the flow of the produced water that is introduced from an inside wall of the first passage member to the second passage member. | 04-21-2011 |
| 20110097633 | Fuel Cell System and Motor Vehicle with Such a Fuel Cell System - In the operation of a fuel cell of a fuel cell system, water contained in the exhaust gas is stored in a water tank. The water tank has means for discharging the water in increments or portions. For example, the water can exit as droplets through the porous floor surface of the water tank, and be carried off by the driving wind while the vehicle is driving; or it can be collected at a wall of a water tank and fed into lines, returning it to the exhaust gas flow as droplets. | 04-28-2011 |
| 20110097634 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR RECOVERING WATER FORMED IN FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes a fuel-cell power generation part containing a fuel electrode, a solid electrolyte and an air electrode, and a heat-exchange chamber configured to cool a gas emitted from the fuel-cell power generation part to thereby form water. A power generation reaction using a fuel yields electric power and water in the fuel-cell power generation part. The electric power is utilized as driving force typically for an electrical apparatus. A gas containing the water as vapor undergoes heat exchange and condensation to thereby form water in the heat-exchange chamber. The formed water remains inside the heat-exchange chamber without leaking out. The fuel cell system is free from deteriorated performance and uncomfortable feeling in use and can easily and reliably recover the water. | 04-28-2011 |
| 20110111312 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR RECOVERING WATER FORMED IN FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes a fuel-cell power generation part containing a fuel electrode, a solid electrolyte and an air electrode, and a heat-exchange chamber configured to cool a gas emitted from the fuel-cell power generation part to thereby form water. A power generation reaction using a fuel yields electric power and water in the fuel-cell power generation part. The electric power is utilized as driving force typically for an electrical apparatus. A gas containing the water as vapor undergoes heat exchange and condensation to thereby form water in the heat-exchange chamber. The formed water remains inside the heat-exchange chamber without leaking out. The fuel cell system is free from deteriorated performance and uncomfortable feeling in use and can easily and reliably recover the water. | 05-12-2011 |
| 20110129742 | Nonequilibrium Chemovoltaic Fuel Cell - A chemovoltaic cell converts chemical energy generated by an in-situ molecular hydrogen oxidation reaction into electrical energy by creating a chemically induced nonequilibrium electron population on a catalytic surface of a Schottky structure, followed by charge separation and electric power generation using the Schottky contact. | 06-02-2011 |
| 20110143232 | Gel-Filled Membrane Device and Method - Embodiments of the invention provide a membrane between a first stream of fluid that is partially or wholly in a gas phase and a second stream of fluid. The membrane includes a porous support and pores filled with a gel. The gel can selectively facilitate a transfer of compounds from the first stream to the second stream. The gel can be partially composed of the transferred compounds or materials with similar properties to the transferred compounds. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110143233 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - A fuel cell system for optimally controlling an amount and temperature of liquid component stored in a gas-liquid separator, and its control method. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a pump for supplying gas to the fuel cell, a gas-liquid separator for storing a liquid component discharged at least from a cathode side of the fuel cell, a cooler for cooling the stored liquid component, a temperature detector for measuring temperature of liquid component, a liquid level detector for measuring an amount of liquid component, and a controller for controlling a flow rate of gas from the pump and heat discharge by the cooler. The controller controls at least heat discharge by the cooler or a flow rate of gas supplied from the pump based on an output of the temperature detector and an output of the liquid level detector. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110151342 | ALKALINE MEMBRANE FUEL CELLS AND APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR SUPPLYING WATER THERETO - A device to produce electricity by a chemical reaction without the addition of liquid electrolyte comprises an anode electrode, a polymer membrane electrolyte fabricated to conduct hydroxyl (OH—) ions, the membrane being in physical contact with the anode electrode on a first side of the membrane, and a cathode electrode in physical contact with a second side of the membrane. The anode electrode and cathode electrode contain catalysts, and the catalysts are constructed substantially entirely from non-precious metal catalysts. Water may be transferred to the cathode side of the membrane from an external source of water. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110159383 | SOLID POLYMER ELECTROLYTE FUEL CELL - The present invention provides a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprising a fuel cell stack formed by laminating a plurality of fuel cell units each of which includes a fuel electrode, an oxidant electrode, and a solid polymer electrolyte membrane interposed between the fuel and oxidant electrodes. The fuel cell unit is operable to generate an electric power through an electrochemical reaction between a first gas supplied to the side of the fuel electrode and a second gas supplied to the side of the oxidant electrode. In this fuel cell, the first gas supplied to the side of the fuel electrode and the second gas supplied to the side of the oxidant electrode are adapted to flow generally in opposite directions in the fuel cell stack, so that a water created on the side of oxidant electrode is reciprocally moved between the fuel electrode and the oxidant electrode to increase a water holding region in the solid polymer electrolyte membrane. The fuel cell of the present invention can improve fuel cell characteristics without providing any humidifier. | 06-30-2011 |
| 20110165479 | Charge Air Humidification of Fuel Cells - A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack that receives a cathode feed gas and has an exhaust stream and a heat transfer stream flowing therefrom. A charge-air heat exchanger enables heat transfer between the heat transfer stream and the cathode feed gas. The charge-air heat exchanger also enables heat transfer between the heat transfer stream and the cathode feed gas to compensate for the adiabatic cooling effect. Furthermore, the charge-air heat exchanger vaporizes the liquid water to provide water vapor. The water vapor humidifies the cathode feed gas. | 07-07-2011 |
| 20110183220 | METHOD OF PURGING FOR FUEL CELL - Disclosed herein is a method of purging a fuel cell, by which water present in fuel cell stacks is discharged outside the fuel cell stacks together with gas by opening and closing a purge valve, including: conducting a short-period purge several times using the purge valve; and conducting a long-period purge once using the purge valve, wherein the short-period purge and the long-period purge are repeatedly conducted. The method of purging a fuel cell is advantageous in that the short-period purge is conducted several times using a purge valve and then the long-period purge is conducted once, and these short-period purges and the long-period purge are repeatedly conducted, so that the problems occurring when only a short-period purge or only a long-period purge is conducted can be solved, with the result that the efficiency and performance of the fuel cell are improved and the fuel cell can be stably operated. | 07-28-2011 |
| 20110189555 | Apparatus for Supplying a Fuel Cell in a Fuel Cell System with Fuel Gas - An apparatus for supplying a fuel cell in a fuel cell system with fuel gas is provided. The fuel cell system includes a mixing region, where unused fuel gas mixes with fresh fuel gas, a water precipitator, a device for the at least indirect heating of the supplied fresh fuel gas and at least one receptor for a sensor for sensing state variables and/or chemical magnitudes of the fuel gas flowing to the anode. The mixing region, water precipitator, device for the at least indirect heating and at least one sensor are combined in an integrated component part. | 08-04-2011 |
| 20110200896 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND OPERATING METHOD FOR A FUEL CELL - A fuel cell system operates under at least one of the conditions of no humidity or high temperature, and an operating method thereof, are characterized in that a fuel cell has a fuel gas flow path and an oxidant gas flow path arranged such that fuel gas and oxidant gas flow in opposite directions, a determining apparatus that determines the amount of water near the oxidant gas flow path inlet, and a fuel gas control apparatus which increases the amount of water near the oxidant gas flow path inlet by increasing the fuel gas flowrate and/or reducing the fuel gas pressure if it is determined in the determining apparatus that the amount of water near the oxidant gas flow path inlet is insufficient. | 08-18-2011 |
| 20110207005 | Fuel Cell System and Method for Operation of a Fuel Cell System - The invention relates to a fuel cell system having at least one fuel cell ( | 08-25-2011 |
| 20110212371 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell; a circulating system that circulates and supplies fuel off-gas discharged from the fuel cell to the fuel cell; a pump that pumps a fluid in the circulating system; a discharge valve through which the fluid in the circulating system is discharged to the outside; and a control device that controls the pump and the discharge valve. If operation of the fuel cell is started in a cold environment, the control device executes a control to start power generation in the fuel cell for a first period before activating the pump and executes a control to drive the pump while the discharge valve is closed for a second period. | 09-01-2011 |
| 20110212372 | Motion fuel cell - A fuel cell system (with reference to a single cell arrangement) comprising means to provide for the reciprocating, oscillating and or vibrational motion-movement of an assembly comprised of an electrolyte sandwiched between an anode-electrode and a cathode-electrode; said motion-movement serving to accelerate electrochemical activity within the fuel cell by providing for accelerated reactant exposure to respective electrodes; including instant water removal at the cathode-electrode surface; and boosted cooling to said anode-electrode; while offering accelerated (anti electroosmotic) moisturizing to the specific benefit of the anode side of a polymer electrolyte. | 09-01-2011 |
| 20110217604 | Recycler, water management system of fuel cell comprising the same, fuel cell comprising the water management system, and method of measuring water level - A recycler of a fuel cell includes two electrodes, a rotor interposed between the two electrodes, and an insulating container surrounding and receiving the two electrodes and the rotor. A water management system of the fuel cell includes the recycler, and the fuel cell includes the water management system. A method of measuring a water level in the recycler includes measuring a conductivity of water separated in the recycler is measured. | 09-08-2011 |
| 20110217605 | FUEL CELL, OXYGEN ELECTRODE USED IN FUEL CELL, AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE - Provided are a fuel cell capable of improving power generating characteristics, and an electronic device using the same. The fuel cell includes a fuel/electrolyte flow path between an oxygen electrode and a fuel electrode. An external member is bonded onto a surface of a current collector constituting the oxygen electrode with an adhesive film in between. A grooving process is performed on the adhesive film, and an air flow path is provided between the current collector and the external member. Air (oxygen) is supplied to the oxygen electrode through the air flow path. A water repellent region is provided on the surface of the current collector corresponding to the air flow path. By using the adhesive film, strong adhesiveness is obtained between the air flow path and the current collector, so water discharging capability is improved while the adhesiveness is maintained. | 09-08-2011 |
| 20110223497 | FUEL CELL - A fuel cell includes a cathode catalyst layer, an anode catalyst layer, a proton-conductive membrane provided between the cathode catalyst layer and the anode catalyst layer, and a fuel transmitting layer that supplies a vaporized component of a liquid fuel to the anode catalyst layer. Water generated in the cathode catalyst layer is supplied to the anode catalyst layer via the proton-conductive membrane. The liquid fuel is one of a methanol aqueous solution having a concentration of over 50% by molar and liquid methanol. | 09-15-2011 |
| 20110223498 | SUPPLY ASSEMBLY FOR COUPLING TO A FUEL CELL DEVICE AND FUEL CELL SYSTEM HAVING THE SUPPLY ASSEMBLY - A supply assembly and a fuel cell system having a supply assembly that demonstrates a cost-effective and/or resilient design in operation. A supply assembly for coupling to a fuel cell device is proposed, having a gas-to-gas humidifier that is designed and/or arranged in order to humidify the oxidation means A for the fuel cell device by means of the humidity from the exhaust gases B of the fuel cell device. The gas-to-gas humidifier has an exhaust gas region and an oxidation means region that are separated from one another by a separation layer. The separation layer enables a transmission of the humidity from the exhaust gas region into the oxidation means region for humidification of the oxidation means A, wherein the gas-to-gas humidifier has a monolithic honeycomb structure for forming the exhaust gas region and the oxidation means region. | 09-15-2011 |
| 20110244343 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM INCLUDING WATER INJECTION DEVICE - A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, an oxidant-gas supply passage, a compressor, a water injection device, a return passage, and a regulation valve. The fuel cell is to generate power utilizing an electrochemical reaction between oxidant gas and fuel gas. The oxidant gas flows toward the fuel cell through the oxidant-gas supply passage. The compressor is provided in the oxidant-gas supply passage. The compressor is capable of sucking and pressurizing the oxidant gas to discharge the oxidant gas toward the fuel cell. The water injection device is to inject water toward a suction port of the compressor. The return passage connects an upstream portion in the oxidant-gas supply passage upstream the compressor and a downstream portion in the oxidant-gas supply passage downstream the compressor to bypass the compressor. Opening of the regulation valve is adjustable. The regulation valve is provided in the return passage. | 10-06-2011 |
| 20110250514 | CORROSION RESISTANT MEMBRANE CONDENSER FOR RECOVERY OF FUEL CELL ELECTROLYTE - A system and method for recovering and separating water vapor and electrolyte vapor from an exhaust stream ( | 10-13-2011 |
| 20110269036 | ACID DILUTION DEVICE IN CONDENSER OF PHOSPHORIC ACID FUEL CELL - The condenser heat exchanger includes a housing that provides a gaseous stream flowpath and a bottom wall. A gaseous stream contains acid. The housing has a fluid inlet configured to introduce a liquid, such as water. A coolant tube is disposed within the housing in the gaseous stream flowpath and provides a coolant path. Acid condenses on and falls from the coolant tube into a collection area that is provided at the bottom wall near the coolant tube. The collection area is configured to maintain storage of a predetermined amount of fluid that includes the liquid, which dilutes the condensed acid. | 11-03-2011 |
| 20110274993 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell including a cell laminate; an estimating unit for estimating a residual water content distribution in the reactant gas flow channel in a cell plane of each of the single cells and a moisture content distribution in the electrolyte membrane in consideration of water transfer through the electrolyte membrane between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode; and an operation control unit for limiting an electric current drawn from the fuel cell when a residual water content in the reactant gas flow channel estimated by the estimating unit is equal to or above a predetermined threshold. | 11-10-2011 |
| 20110281186 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FUEL CELL START FROM FREEZING WITHOUT MELTING ICE - Fuel cell systems ( | 11-17-2011 |
| 20110294025 | SURFACE-TREATED HYDROCARBON-BASED POLYMER ELECTROLYTE MEMBRANES FOR DIRECT OXIDATION FUEL CELLS - A proton (H | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110311890 | OPEN TYPE FUEL CELL SYSTEM WITH UNREACTED MATERIAL REMOVING FUNCTION - Disclosed is an open type fuel cell system with an unreacted material removing function, including a main fuel cell reacting an oxidant and a reductant to generate electricity, a supply means supplying material containing an oxidant and a reductant for the main fuel cell, a recirculating means recirculating unreacted material discharged from a main fuel cell into the main fuel cell, a detector detecting voltages of a plurality of cells composing the main fuel cell, a regenerating means selectively communicating to one side of the main fuel cell to remove moisture and impurities inside the main fuel cell, a humidification means supplying moisture discharged from the main fuel cell into the main fuel cell, an exhausting means circulating and exhausting inside the regenerating means unreacted material remnant inside the regenerating means, and a controller controlling actions of the supply means, the recirculating means, the detector, the regenerating means, the humidification means, and the exhausting means. | 12-22-2011 |
| 20110311891 | Fuel Cell Based Power Generation Systems and Methods of Operating the Same - A power generation system has a fuel cell stack and at least one condensation point in the system at which water present after shutdown of the power generation system can condense or collect. Drying after shutdown is improved by maintaining a temperature gradient between the condensation point and at least one other component in the power generation system after shutdown. In one embodiment, the temperature gradient is maintained by housing the fuel cell stack in a thermally insulated container and arranging the condensation point outside of the insulating container. In another embodiment, drying after shutdown is accomplished with an adsorption unit having a water-adsorbing material arranged in a desired location within the power generation system. | 12-22-2011 |
| 20120003551 | FUEL CELL WITH PURGE MANIFOLD - A fuel cell includes an electrode assembly having an electrolyte between an anode and a cathode for generating an electric current and byproduct water. A porous plate is located adjacent to the electrode and includes reactant gas channels for delivering a reactant gas to the electrode assembly. A separator plate is located adjacent the porous plate such that the porous plate is between the electrode assembly and the separator plate. The separator plate includes a reactant gas inlet manifold and a reactant gas outlet manifold in fluid connection with the reactant gas channels, and a purge manifold in fluid connection with the porous plate such that limiting flow of the reactant gas from the reactant gas outlet manifold and opening the purge manifold under a pressure of the reactant gas in the reactant gas channels drives the byproduct water toward the purge manifold for removal from the fuel cell. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120009489 | FUEL BATTERY - An electrode structure | 01-12-2012 |
| 20120015263 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING HUMIDITY STATES OF INDIVIDUAL CELLS IN A FUEL CELL, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING HUMIDITY STATES OF INDIVIDUAL CELLS IN A FUEL CELL, AND A FUEL CELL SYSTEM - In order to cause a plurality of cells in a fuel cell to be recovered to a desired humidity state, it is configured to determine that the cells present a mixture of dry and overly humid states in the case where a predetermined condition is satisfied, and in the case where it is determined that the cells present the mixture, humidifying control is carried out to cause all the cells to attain the overly humid state, and thereafter, drying control is carried out to dry all the cells, to thereby cause the plurality of cells to be recovered to a predetermined humidity state. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120021308 | INTEGRATED APPARATUS OF GAS-LIQUID SEPARATOR AND DILUTER - An integrated apparatus includes: a gas-liquid separator that separates a gas and a liquid from a gas-liquid mixture fluid; a diluter disposed below the gas-liquid separator; and a communication pipe that communicates between the gas-liquid separator and the diluter, and that is disposed at a predetermined angle to a horizontal direction, and that introduces at least the liquid separated from the gas-liquid mixture fluid, into the diluter. The gas-liquid separator, the diluter, and the communication pipe are integrated. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120021309 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system capable of inhibiting dew condensation in an area affected by freezing by providing an area for actively promoting dew condensation is provided. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell and an off-gas passage for allowing an off-gas discharged from the fuel cell flow through, wherein a dew condensation promoting area for promoting dew condensation is placed around a freezing-affected area that will be adversely affected by freezing. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120021310 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM CONDENSING HEAT EXCHANGER - A fuel cell system is disclosed that includes a heat exchanger having first and second heat exchanger portions arranged in a fluid flow passage. The second heat exchanger portion is arranged downstream from the first heat exchanger portion. The first and second heat exchanger portions include a coolant flow passage and are configured to transfer heat between the fluid flow and coolant flow passages. The first heat exchanger portion includes a first corrosion-resistant material and the second heat exchanger portion includes a second corrosion-resistant material that is less corrosion-resistant than the first corrosion-resistant material. A collector, which includes a tray and/or a mist trap, is configured to collect acid in the first heat exchanger portion from a gas stream in the fluid flow passage. Collected acid can be sprayed into a gas stream upstream from a flow field of the fuel cell. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120028139 | FUEL CELL - An electrode structure | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120040257 | Fuel Container For Fuel Cell, Fuel Cell Using The Same, And Operation Method Of Fuel Cell - An object of the present invention is to downsize a fuel cell, and to stably supply fuel to a fuel electrode. According to the present invention, the above described object is attained by providing a vaporized fuel container | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120040258 | Fuel Cell System Comprising at Least One Fuel Cell - A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell with cathode and anode regions. The fuel cell system also includes an exchanging device through which an intake air flow flows to the cathode region and a used air flow is discharged from the cathode region. In the exchanging device, heat is transferred from the intake air flow to the used air flow, and water vapor is simultaneously transferred from the used air flow to the intake air flow. A compressor is arranged downstream of the exchanging device to receive used air. A catalytic material is arranged upstream of the turbine, to which material can be supplied a fuel-containing gas. The catalytic material is integrated into the exchanging device on the used air side and an exhaust gas from the anode region is supplied to the used air side of the exchanging device. | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120040259 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120040260 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND WATER DRAINING METHOD FOR FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system of the present invention includes: a fuel cell ( | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120077098 | FUEL CELLS WITH A NON-PARALLEL GAS FLOW CHANNEL CONFIGURATION AND METHODS THEREOF - A fuel cell apparatus including a fuel cell comprising a membrane electrode assembly between an anode and a cathode, a first set of channels between the anode and the assembly, and a second set of channels between the cathode and the assembly. The first set of channels is spaced from and extends across a width of the second set of channels in a non-parallel configuration and at least one of the first or second set of channels are oriented to provide gravitationally assisted water removal; at least one of the first set or second set of channels has a shorter length than the other one of the first set and second set of channels; or at least one of the first set or second set of channels has intrusion regions that extend portions of the assembly into at least one of the first set or second set of channels. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120094196 | HYBRID FUEL CELL - A power generator includes a chemical hydride multilayer fuel cell stack. A flow path extends through the fuel cell stack to provide oxygen containing air to the fuel cell stack and to cool the fuel cell stack. A hydrogen generator is coupled to the flow path to receive water vapor from ambient air introduced into the flow path and water vapor generated by the fuel cell stack and to provide hydrogen to the fuel cell stack. A controller separately controls airflow past the fuel cell stack and water vapor provided to the hydrogen generator. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120094197 | HUMIDIFIER FOR FUEL CELL AND FUEL CELL SYSTEM USING THE SAME AS AUXILIARY HUMIDIFIER - The present invention provides a humidifier, which is used as an auxiliary humidifier of a fuel cell together with an existing gas-to-gas humidifier to improve humidification performance in a low efficiency region of the gas-to-gas humidifier, thus increasing the output of the fuel cell and providing high efficiency operation. Particularly, the humidifier comprises: an inlet assembly provided in an air exhaust pipe, through which water-supersaturated exhaust gas is discharged from a fuel cell stack, to supply water condensed from the exhaust gas to the fuel cell stack; an outlet assembly provided in an air supply pipe, through which a reactant gas to be humidified and supplied to the fuel cell stack passes, to supply the water transferred through a pumping pipe to the air supply pipe such that the reactant gas is humidified; and a pumping pipe including a porous material disposed therein and electrodes for applying a voltage to both ends of the porous material and disposed between the inlet assembly and the outlet assembly such that the water is transferred through a capillary path in the porous material with a pumping force by electroosmosis when the electrodes apply a voltage. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120100445 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATING FUEL CELL SYSTEM - The invention is provided to reliably restore generated voltage that has declined due to clogging of water in a fuel cell stack. A method of operating a fuel cell system having a fuel cell stack that generates electricity through an electrochemical reaction between a fuel gas including hydrogen gas and an oxidation gas, wherein when a generated voltage of the fuel cell stack declines, the water-in-cell content of the fuel cell stack is adjusted so that a variation in cell pressure loss in the fuel cell stack decreases based on a characteristic curve of the water-in-cell content of the fuel cell stack and the cell pressure loss of the fuel cell stack. | 04-26-2012 |
| 20120107704 | TEMPERATURE-SENSITIVE BYPASS DEVICE FOR DISCHARGING CONDENSED WATER FROM FUEL CELL STACK - The present invention provides a temperature-sensitive bypass device for discharging condensed water from a fuel cell stack, in which a bypass line is provided between an end plate and a separator located at the outermost cell adjacent to an inlet of the fuel cell stack, and a temperature-sensitive valve for opening and closing the bypass line is provided on the inner side of the end plate such that the temperature-sensitive valve is opened when an excessive amount of condensed water is introduced into the inlet of the stack during cold start-up, thereby easily discharging the excessive amount of condensed water present in the inlet of the stack through the bypass line. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120115055 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a circulation path, a water reservoir, a water level detector, a water discharger and a controller. The fuel cell generates electric power using fuel gas supplied to an anode and oxidant gas supplied to a cathode. Off-gas discharged from the fuel cell is returned to the fuel cell again through the circulation path. The water reservoir is disposed in the circulation path and stores water separated from the off-gas. During monitoring after stop of the fuel cell system or at startup of the fuel cell system, the controller operates the water discharger to discharge the water stored in the water reservoir when the controller determines that a level of the water detected or estimated by the water level detector is equal to or higher than a predetermined reference water level. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120121997 | FUEL CELL STACK WITH WATER DRAINAGE STRUCTURE - The present invention provides a fuel cell stack with a water drainage structure, which can effectively drain condensed water and prevent water from flowing into unit cells by combining an end anode plate (EAP) and an end cathode plate (ECP), which are formed by modifying an anode plate (AP) and cathode plate (CP) respectively. In doing so, the modified anode plate (AP) and cathode plate (CP) are converted into a dummy cell which is positioned at the end portions of the fuel cell stack | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120129059 | FUEL-CELL-MOUNTED VEHICLE AND LIQUID EJECTION METHOD - A fuel-cell-mounted vehicle includes: a fuel cell that is mounted in the vehicle and supplies electric power to a power part of the vehicle; a storage part to store water generated from the fuel cell; and a liquid ejection apparatus to eject the water of the storage part. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120129060 | DEVICE FOR REMOVING GENERATED WATER - Generated water is quickly and surely removed from a fuel cell, and leakage of generated water is prevented. A diaphragm | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120129061 | DEVICE FOR REMOVING GENERATED WATER - Generated water generated from electrical equipment such as a fuel cell or the like is surely and quickly removed. A generated water removing device | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120135323 | LOW-TEMPERATURE FUEL CELL HAVING AN INTEGRATED WATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR PASSIVELY DISCHARGING PRODUCT WATER - A low-temperature fuel cell having an integrated water management system for passive discharge of product water includes at least one membrane-electrode assembly having at least one anode-side and one cathode-side electrode and at least one membrane disposed between the electrodes, current collector structures disposed on the anode-side and cathode-side and distribution structures for fuel and oxidant disposed on the anode-side and cathode-side. The cathode-side distribution structure hereby has a capillary structure for transporting away the product water and also gas supply channels. | 05-31-2012 |
| 20120135324 | DEVICE FOR REMOVING GENERATED WATER - Generated water is quickly and surely removed from a generated water discharge face of equipment which discharges generated water. There are provided equipment | 05-31-2012 |
| 20120141890 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system is provided. More specifically, the fuel cell system is made up of an aggregate of unit fuel cells, an air supply unit, a humidifier, a hydrogen supply unit, and a valve unit. The valve unit is configured to be connected to a stack and the humidifier. This valve unit prevents external air from being introduced to an air supply path and an air exhaust path through the humidifier when the stack is turned off. More specifically, the valve unit includes a valve body component constituting the air supply path as first and second valve passages and the air exhaust path as third and fourth valve passages and an opening and closing component for opening and closing the air supply path and the air exhaust path. | 06-07-2012 |
| 20120148926 | FUEL CELL DEHUMIDIFICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system and method for dehumidifying a fuel cell are provided. The system includes a fuel cell having an anode chamber and a cathode chamber. After the fuel cell is shutdown, water vapor may linger within the anode and cathode chambers. The system includes dehumidifier source containing a hygroscopic hydrolyzing chemical, such as sodium silica gel or sodium silicide. The dehumidifier source is operatively connected in selective fluid communication with the anode chamber. When the fuel cell is shutdown, air can be prevented from entering the anode chamber, and fluid communication between the dehumidifier source and the anode chamber is permitted such that the hygroscopic hydrolyzing chemical reacts with water vapor in the anode chamber to produce hydrogen. Hydrogen can be used to pressurize the anode and cathode chambers and to purge the anode chamber of contaminants and water vapor during fuel cell shutdown. The system can prolong the operational life of the fuel cell. | 06-14-2012 |
| 20120148927 | CONTROLLER FOR ESTIMATING RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND CONDENSED WATER, AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING CONDENSED WATER DRAIN USING THE SAME - The present invention provides a relative humidity and condensed water estimator for a fuel cell and a method for controlling condensed water drain using the same. Here, the relative humidity and condensed water estimator is utilized in control of the fuel cell system involving control of anode condensed water drain by outputting at least two of signals comprising air-side relative humidity, hydrogen-side relative humidity, air-side instantaneous or cumulative condensed water, hydrogen-side instantaneous or cumulative condensed water, instantaneous and cumulative condensed water of the humidifier, membrane water contents, catalyst layer oxygen partial pressure, catalyst layer hydrogen partial pressure, stack or cell voltage, air-side catalyst layer relative humidity, hydrogen-side catalyst layer relative humidity, oxygen supercharging ratio, hydrogen supercharging ratio, residual water in a stack, and residual water in a humidifier. | 06-14-2012 |
| 20120148928 | DIRECT OXIDATION FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A direct oxidation fuel cell system including: a fuel cell; a fuel supply portion for supplying a liquid fuel to a fuel inlet; an oxidant supply portion for supplying an oxidant to an oxidant inlet; an effluent tank for storing a fuel effluent; a fuel discharge path for leading the fuel effluent to the effluent tank; a gas-liquid separation mechanism for separating a part of product water from a fluid containing unconsumed oxidant and product water and discharging the remainder to outside; and a product water discharge path for leading the separated product water to the effluent tank. The gas-liquid separation mechanism has: a vent hole communicating with the oxidant outlet and outside; a porous filter for closing the vent hole; and a water-absorbent material for partially covering the surface of the porous filter on the oxidant outlet side. | 06-14-2012 |
| 20120156575 | FLOW ESTIMATION BASED ON ANODE PRESSURE RESPONSE IN FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A method for determining the flow of an anode gas out of an anode sub-system. The method includes providing pressure measurements at predetermined sample times over a predetermined sample period and using the pressure measurements to calculate a slope of a line defining a change of the pressure from the beginning of the time period to the end of the time period. The slope of the pressure line is then used in a flow equation to determine the amount of gas that flows out of the anode sub-system, which can be through a valve or by system leaks. | 06-21-2012 |
| 20120171585 | Method for Operation of a Fuel Cell System in a Vehicle - A method of operating a fuel cell system in a vehicle that is switchable to a temporary stop mode and restarted from the stop mode. When, in certain driving situations, it is required to switch to the stop mode, it is then checked whether the operating conditions of the fuel cell system allow a switch to the stop mode. If the switch is allowed it takes place. When a restart of the fuel cell system is required on the basis of the vehicle the settings of the stop mode are cancelled again. The switch to the stop mode involves, with further existing electric contacting of the fuel cell, the air mass flow conveyed by the air conveying device being switched off or reduced to a predefined value and the pressure of the combustion gas supplied being reduced to a predefined value. | 07-05-2012 |
| 20120171586 | Fuel Cell - Disclosed is a small-sized low-cost fuel cell having high fuel efficiency, wherein a solid oxide electrolyte membrane is interposed between a fuel electrode and an oxidant electrode. The fuel cell comprises a fuel production member which produces a fuel by a chemical reaction with water that is generated at the fuel electrode. A discharge surface of the fuel production member, from which the fuel is discharged, and a supply surface of the fuel electrode, to which the fuel is supplied, are arranged in parallel so as to face each other. The discharge surface discharges the fuel in the form of a plane. | 07-05-2012 |
| 20120178004 | FUEL CELL - A fuel cell includes a membrane-electrode assembly and a separator. The membrane-electrode assembly has an electrolyte and a pair of electrodes that are disposed on respective sides of the electrolyte. The membrane-electrode assembly and the separator are stacked in a stacking direction. A reaction surface of the membrane-electrode assembly is in a vertical direction along a direction of gravity and has a shape having a longer dimension in a horizontal direction. The fuel cell is provided with a reactant gas passage to allow a reactant gas to flow along a longitudinal direction of the reaction surface. The reactant gas is an oxidant gas or a fuel gas. A drain channel to allow product water from the reactant gas passage to be drained away is disposed between the membrane-electrode assembly and the separator and under the reaction surface in the direction of gravity. | 07-12-2012 |
| 20120189925 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATING FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system in which excess water vapor or nitrogen gas is prevented from remaining inside the fuel cell in intermittent operation. The fuel cell system is provided with a fuel cell having a cell stack formed by stacking a plurality of unit cells each having an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, an electrode membrane located between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode, and a reaction gas flow channel. The fuel cell system includes an estimation unit that estimates a water vapor amount and a nitrogen gas amount at a plurality of predetermined positions inside at least one of the electrolyte membrane and the reaction gas flow channel; and an operation control unit that compares, during an operation stop of intermittent operation, at least either of the water vapor amount or the nitrogen gas amount at each of the predetermined positions that has been estimated by the estimation unit with a threshold for each of the predetermined positions that has been set with consideration for a stacking direction of the unit cells and a flow channel direction of the reaction gas flow channel, and supplies a gas including hydrogen gas to the reaction gas flow channel and discharges water vapor and nitrogen gas from inside the fuel cell when at least either of the water vapor amount and the nitrogen gas amount exceeds the threshold at at least one of the positions. | 07-26-2012 |
| 20120189926 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes an evaporating portion, a reforming portion forming an anode fluid, a fuel cell generating an electric power, a tank, a water supply passage connecting the tank and the evaporating portion and allowing water in the tank to be supplied to the evaporating portion, a water supply source provided at the water supply passage to transmit the water in the tank to the evaporating portion, a stepping motor driving the water supply source, and a control portion driving the stepping motor to transmit the water in the tank to the evaporating portion. The control portion performs a harmful vibration restraining process to change a resonance frequency of the stepping motor by changing the number of steps per rotation of the stepping motor based on a volume of the water transmitted to the evaporating portion per time unit. | 07-26-2012 |
| 20120219871 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system including: a fuel cell stack configured to generate electrical energy by a reaction of a fuel and an oxidant; a fuel supply configured to supply the fuel to the fuel cell stack; and an oxidant supply configured to supply the oxidant to the fuel cell stack, wherein the fuel supply includes a mixer including an inflow port, the mixer alternately receiving the fuel and water through the inflow port and being configured to mix the fuel and the water to generate a diluted fuel and supply the diluted fuel to the fuel cell stack. | 08-30-2012 |
| 20120231357 | MEMBRANE HUMIDIFIER FOR FUEL CELL - A membrane humidifier is provided for a fuel cell. The membrane humidifier of the present invention includes a hollow housing, a joint member, a plurality of internal partition modules, and a plurality of hollow fiber membrane bundles. The hollow housing has a humid air inlet formed at one end thereof and a humid air outlet formed at the other end thereof. The joint member is formed integrally with an inner circumferential surface of the hollow housing. The plurality of internal partition modules are coupled to the joint member and arranged adjacent to each other in the hollow housing, and have a plurality of humid air guiding apertures passing therethrough. The plurality of hollow fiber membrane bundles are disposed in the plurality of internal partition modules, respectively. | 09-13-2012 |
| 20120231358 | DIRECT OXIDATION FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A direct oxidation fuel cell system includes a fuel cell and a cooling device. An anode-side separator of the fuel cell has a fuel flow channel in the face in contact with the anode. The direction of a flow of air supplied by the cooling device is set so that the upstream-side portion in the average flow direction of fuel in the fuel flow channel is selectively cooled. This allows the upstream-side portion of the polymer electrolyte membrane having large MCO to be cooled, thereby reducing the amount of MCO. Also, the downstream-side portion where the fuel concentration in the fuel flow channel is low has a relatively high temperature, thereby making it possible to improve the energy conversion efficiency. | 09-13-2012 |
| 20120301799 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENHANCING POWER DENSITY OF DIRECT LIQUID FUEL CELLS - A fuel cell includes a direct liquid fuel cell and a humidifier. The direct liquid fuel cell includes an air intake channel for providing oxidant to the fuel cell and an exhaust channel for exhausting depleted oxidant. The humidifier forms a fluid connection between the air intake channel and the exhaust channel. | 11-29-2012 |
| 20120308905 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD OF SAME - A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell; a cathode inflow water amount determining portion that determines a cathode inflow water amount after activation of the fuel cell; an obtaining portion that obtains a pore total volume of the cathode side catalyst layer; an operating condition determining portion that determines, based on the determined cathode inflow water amount and the obtained pore total volume, an operating condition of the fuel cell that includes a current value of current that flows through the fuel cell and an upper limit value of a period of time for which the current flows, for bringing the cathode inflow water amount within a range that is equal to or less than the pore total volume; and an adjusting portion that adjusts the current value and the period of time for which current of the current value flows, such that the determined operating condition is realized. | 12-06-2012 |
| 20120321973 | Alkaline Membrane Fuel Cells and Apparatus and Methods for Supplying Water Thereto - A device to produce electricity by a chemical reaction without the addition of liquid electrolyte comprises an anode electrode, a polymer membrane electrolyte fabricated to conduct hydroxyl (OH—) ions, the membrane being in physical contact with the anode electrode on a first side of the membrane, and a cathode electrode in physical contact with a second side of the membrane. The anode electrode and cathode electrode contain catalysts, and the catalysts are constructed substantially entirely from non-precious metal catalysts. Water may be transferred to the cathode side of the membrane from an external source of water. | 12-20-2012 |
| 20120328964 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATING THEREOF - A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell unit | 12-27-2012 |
| 20130004866 | Fuel Cell System Comprising at Least One Fuel Cell - A fuel cell system includes at least one fuel cell and a circulation system for anode exhaust gases of the fuel cell around an anode region. The fuel cell system also includes a drain line for feeding liquid and water from the region of the circulation system into a process air flow to a cathode region of the fuel cell. The drain line opens into a line element for the process air flow which runs from a lower position into an upper position arranged higher when used properly in the direction of gravity. The flow of the process air runs from the lower position to the upper position of the line element. | 01-03-2013 |
| 20130011755 | Racked Power Supply Ventilation - A ventilation system for a fuel cell power module is provided. The ventilation system includes a ventilation enclosure for evacuating fluids from the fuel cell power module, the ventilation enclosure having an air inlet for providing ingress of air to the enclosure. The ventilation system further concludes a ventilation shaft in fluid communication with the ventilation enclosure and an evacuation pump arranged to exhaust fluid from the ventilation enclosure to a desired location. | 01-10-2013 |
| 20130029235 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell module and a condenser apparatus. The condenser apparatus includes a first condenser using an oxygen-containing as a coolant, and a second condenser using hot water stored in a hot water tank as the coolant. Further, the fuel cell system includes a control device for controlling at least one of a flow rate of the exhaust gas supplied to the first condenser and a flow rate of the exhaust gas supplied to the second condenser based on at least any of a water level of the hot water in the hot water tank, a temperature of the hot water in the hot water tank, and a water level of the condensed water in the condenser apparatus. | 01-31-2013 |
| 20130034783 | Energy storage system - A closed loop energy storage system configured with a hydrogen tank, an oxygen tank, a fuel cell stack and an electrolyzer. A heat exchanger freeze-dries the hydrogen and oxygen prior to their storage in their respective tanks. The heat exchanger also uses excess fuel cell heat to preheat streams of hydrogen and oxygen coming from the tanks. Phase separators serve both to separate water from hydrogen and oxygen, and to store the water. A thermal management system encloses all the system components except the tanks. An airfoil-shaped shell covers the system, and the larger of the two tanks extends substantially across the shell at its point of greatest camber thickness. The tanks are composed of polymer liners integral with composite shells. | 02-07-2013 |
| 20130040213 | WATER CONTROL SHEET, GAS DIFFUSION SHEET, MEMBRANE-ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY AND POLYMER ELECTROLYTE FUEL CELL - A water control sheet having superior drainage and gas diffusion properties and superior handling characteristics, and a gas diffusion sheet, a membrane-electrode assembly and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, which utilize the water control sheet, are provided. The water control sheet is independent and located for use adjacent to a catalyst layer of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, and is formed of a nonwoven fabric containing conductive fibers containing conductive particles at least inside a hydrophobic organic resin. The gas diffusion sheet, the membrane-electrode assembly and the polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to the present invention have the above water control sheet. | 02-14-2013 |
| 20130052550 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - The present invention provides a fuel cell system including a reformer that reforms a raw fuel using a reforming catalyst to generate reformed gas, a fuel cell that generates electric power using the reformed gas generated by the reformer, a heat exchanger that exchanges heat between heat of combustion exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell and water introduced thereinto, a condenser that condenses steam contained in the combustion exhaust gas discharged from primary side downstream of the heat exchanger to recover water, a pump for supplying the water to secondary side upstream of the heat exchanger; a hot-water temperature measurement instrument that measures temperature of hot water at secondary side downstream of the heat exchanger, and a control unit that controls a supply amount by the pump. | 02-28-2013 |
| 20130052551 | FUEL CELL - A cell of a fuel cell includes an MEA, an anode-side gas diffusion layer, a cathode-side gas diffusion layer, an anode-side gas flow passage, a cathode-side gas flow passage, and separators. The anode-side gas flow passage and the cathode-side gas flow passage are opposed flow passages and are both set such that the contact area or the contact ratio of a metal porous body such as an expanded metal body which forms the gas flow channels with respect to the gas diffusion layer is decreased from the upstream toward the downstream of the gas flow passages. With the difference in the contact area or the contact ratio, the generated water is moved between the anode-side gas flow passage and the cathode-side gas flow passage. | 02-28-2013 |
| 20130059216 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system is disclosed. The fuel cell system may include a fuel cell stack configured for generating electrical energy by a reaction of an oxidant and a fuel, a recovery unit including a first gas liquid separator configured for separating a by-product discharged by the fuel cell stack into a first gas and a first liquid, a first heat exchanger configured for cooling the first gas supplied by the first gas liquid separator, and a second gas liquid separator configured for separating a by-product supplied by the first heat exchanger into a second gas and a second liquid, and a remover unit fluidly connected to the second gas liquid separator and configured for removing the second gas from the recovery unit. | 03-07-2013 |
| 20130089797 | ANODE PURGE AND DRAIN VALVE STRATEGY FOR FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A combined water drain and diluent gas purge valve routes fluid from the anode side of a fuel cell to the cathode inlet. When a purge of diluent gas is requested, the valve opens, draining any liquid present in the sump of a water separation device, for example. After the liquid has drained, the diluent gas is purged. An anode bleed model using fuel injector feedback can determine the amount of gas exiting the valve, and can request the valve to close once the required amount of diluent is purged. During operation, an amount of hydrogen may exit the valve. Hydrogen passing through the valve can be catalytically consumed once it reaches the cathode electrode, causing the cathode exhaust, and the fuel cell exhaust to have a reduced hydrogen content. | 04-11-2013 |
| 20130089798 | FUEL CELL - A fuel cell system | 04-11-2013 |
| 20130095397 | Ejector - A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell and an ejector. The ejector includes a nozzle portion having openings provided at its distal and proximal ends for injecting drive-stream gas; a diffuser portion provided on a distal end side of the nozzle portion for drawing in auxiliary gas by negative pressure which is generated in the drive-stream gas by injection from the nozzle portion so as to join the auxiliary-stream gas together with the drive-stream and discharge the drive-stream gas and the auxiliary gas; a needle slidably inserted into an interior of the nozzle portion in an axial direction of the nozzle portion for adjusting an opening area of the nozzle portion in accordance with an inserted position thereof; a drive unit for moving the needle axially; and an auxiliary stream gas introducing portion including at least two openings for introducing the auxiliary-stream gas into the diffuser portion therefrom. | 04-18-2013 |
| 20130115534 | WIND POWER AND HYDROGEN POWER COMPLEX GENERATING DEVICE - A wind power and hydrogen power complex generating device includes a fan assembly having a blade unit and a demultiplexer connected to the blade unit. A heating unit is connected to a first output end of the demultiplexer. A pump is connected to a second output end of the demultiplexer. The pump pressurizes liquid water. A heating assembly is connected to the pump and the heating unit. The heating assembly heats the liquid water into a critical state. An electrolyzing unit includes an input end, a hydrogen output end, and an oxygen output end. The input end is connected to the heating assembly. The electrolyzing unit electrolyzes the liquid water in the critical state into gaseous hydrogen and gaseous oxygen. A fuel cell unit includes an anode passage connected to the hydrogen output end and a cathode passage connected to the oxygen output end. | 05-09-2013 |
| 20130130135 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND HUMIDIFICATION DEVICE OF THE SAME - A fuel cell system is disclosed. More specifically, the fuel cell system may include a stack that includes an electrical generation assembly of a fuel cell, an air supply unit that supplies air to a cathode of the fuel cell, a humidifier that humidifies exhaust air that is exhausted from the cathode and supply air that is supplied from the air supply unit, a hydrogen supply unit that supplies the anode of the fuel cell with hydrogen, and a water trap that traps condensate that is generated by the anode and exhausts it. In particular, the supply air is supplied to an upstream side of the humidifier and the condensate that is trapped in the water trap is supplied to an upstream side of the humidifier. | 05-23-2013 |
| 20130137004 | Device for Humidifying Anode Gas - A device for moistening an anode chamber of a fuel cell and/or a gas flow to the anode chamber of the fuel cell includes a water separator in an exhaust gas flow from the anode chamber and a moistening device for supplying at least a part of the water to the anode chamber and/or to the gas flow flowing to the anode chamber. The water separator and the moistening device are connected via a line element. The water separator is pressurized so that the pressure in the region of the water separator can be increased at least temporarily over the pressure in the region of the moistening device. The pressurization takes place by means of a gas, whereby a valve is arranged in the gas flow flowing to the anode chamber. | 05-30-2013 |
| 20130137005 | HUMIDIFIER FOR FUEL CELL - Disclosed is a humidifier for a fuel cell having an enhanced humidifying performance and thus being able to prevent an instantaneous decrease of the output of a car which might occur at the time of high-speed driving. The humidifier comprises a membrane housing with first and second ends; a bundle of hollow fiber membranes provided in an inner space of the membrane housing, wherein both ends of the hollow fiber membrane are respectively potted into the first and second ends of the membrane housing; a humidity retainer provided in the inner space of the membrane housing; a first cover mounted on the first end of the membrane housing, the first cover including an inlet for introducing unreacted gas of high-humidity discharged from a stack; and a second cover mounted on the second end of the membrane housing, the second cover including an outlet for discharging the unreacted gas used for humidification. | 05-30-2013 |
| 20130149617 | MOVING BODY - A moving body, such as a vehicle, having one or more fuel cells mounted thereon. The fuel cells, which power the moving body, generate electricity and release water as a by-product. Accordingly, the moving body includes a water discharge module that releases water produced by the fuel cells to the atmosphere using a water outlet. The water outlet may be located in a front section of the moving body. The moving body may further include a water tank that temporarily stores water before releasing the water to the atmosphere. | 06-13-2013 |
| 20130149618 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system ( | 06-13-2013 |
| 20130157153 | APPARATUS AND METHOD OF IN SITU CATALYST DEGRADATION DETECTION DURING FUEL CELL OPERATION - Disclosed herein are catalyst degradation detection assemblies and methods of catalyst degradation detection that can be performed in-situ. One embodiment of an in-situ fuel cell catalyst degradation detection assembly comprises a humidified hydrogen supply configured to supply humidified hydrogen to an anode of a fuel cell, a humidified nitrogen supply configured to supply humidified nitrogen to a cathode of the fuel cell, a collection cell containing a liquid, the collection cell configured to receive either cathode exhaust from the fuel cell through a cathode exhaust line or anode exhaust from the fuel cell through an anode exhaust line and means for detecting a gas. | 06-20-2013 |
| 20130202976 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND OPERATING METHOD THEREOF - A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell stack (S) formed by stacking multiple unit cells (C) horizontally and having, in the stacked body, manifolds through which to supply and discharge reaction gases to and from each of the unit cells (C); and drainage paths ( | 08-08-2013 |
| 20130224613 | Method and System for Cooling Charge Air for a Fuel Cell, and Three-Fluid Charge Air Cooler - A method and system for cooling a pressurized charge air in the fuel cell system of a vehicle, using first and second charge air coolers. The system further includes a gas-to-gas humidifier and a fuel cell stack. According to the method and system, cathode exhaust gas passes through the gas-to-gas humidifier and is also used as the coolant gas in the first charge-air cooler. Therefore, the fuel cell cathode exhaust is heated and reduced in water content, reducing the tendency of water in the exhaust to condense and pool underneath the vehicle. Also provided is a three-fluid heat exchanger which integrates the first and second charge air coolers. | 08-29-2013 |
| 20130244124 | MOVING BODY - A fuel cell vehicle is provided that allows for filling as much fuel gas as possible. The vehicle includes a high-pressure tank, a communication system, a communicative filling ECU that selectively executes communicative filling that transmits a data signal from the communication system to the dispenser and allows hydrogen to be filled by way of the dispenser into the tank at a flowrate dependent on the pressure and the temperature; and non-communicative filling that does not transmit a data signal from the communication system and allows hydrogen to be filled at a predetermined flowrate. The ECU determines, while executing communicative filling, whether this communicative filling can be continued to be executed, and interrupts communicative filling and continues hydrogen filling by switching the filling method to non-communicative filling in response to having determined that continuation of communicative filling is not possible. | 09-19-2013 |
| 20130252118 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM FOR GENERATING ENERGY AND WATER - Fuel cell systems aboard means of transport can be used for generating energy and for producing water. In order to reduce the overall weight of the system, the fuel cell is controlled or regulated in dependence on a current fill level or a limit level of the water tank, as well as a predicted future water consumption. In this way, it may be possible to minimize the water quantity to be stored in the water tank. | 09-26-2013 |
| 20130280628 | EXTENDED VALVE ORIFICE FOR FUEL CELL - An improved fuel cell system comprising a component designed to minimize or otherwise prevent the collection of water (and thus formation of ice at low temperatures) at valves or other anode exhaust flowpath control points. Thus, such system is configured to be operable under at least freeze start conditions. Also provided, in various embodiments, are methods of controlling ice blockage in a fuel cell system by, among other things, providing such a component. | 10-24-2013 |
| 20130295473 | MOVING BODY - A moving body, such as a vehicle, having one or more fuel cells mounted thereon. The fuel cells, which power the moving body, generate electricity and release water as a by-product. Accordingly, the moving body includes a water discharge module that releases water produced by the fuel cells to the atmosphere using a water outlet. The water outlet may be located in a front section of the moving body. The moving body may further include a water tank that temporarily stores water before releasing the water to the atmosphere. | 11-07-2013 |
| 20130295474 | MOVING BODY - A moving body, such as a vehicle, having one or more fuel cells mounted thereon. The fuel cells, which power the moving body, generate electricity and release water as a by-product. Accordingly, the moving body includes a water discharge module that releases water produced by the fuel cells to the atmosphere using a water outlet. The water outlet may be located in a front section of the moving body. The moving body may further include a water tank that temporarily stores water before releasing the water to the atmosphere. | 11-07-2013 |
| 20130295475 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING FUEL CELL MODULE - A fuel cell module has a hydrogen recirculation pump and a controller. The controller receives a signal indicating the response of the pump to changes in the density or humidity of gasses in the hydrogen recirculation loop. The controller is programmed to consider the signal in controlling one or more balance of plant elements that effect the removal of water from the stack. In a process for operating the fuel cell module, the signal is considered when controlling one or more balance of plant elements that effect the removal of water from the stack. For example, an increase in current drawn from a constant speed or voltage recirculation pump indicates an increase in humidity and suggests that water should be removed from the stack, for example by increasing a coolant temperature set point. | 11-07-2013 |
| 20130295476 | GAS-LIQUID SEPARATOR AND FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A gas-liquid separator includes a main body including a bottom face portion and a tubular side wall, one end of the side wall being connected to the bottom face portion, the other end of the side wall including a first opening, a lid disposed so as to cover the first opening and including a gas inlet port and a gas outlet port, and a tubular separating wall disposed inside the side wall, one end of the separating wall being connected to the lid, the other end of the separating wall including a second opening. A gap is provided between the bottom face portion and an end portion on the side of the second opening of the separating wall, and the side wall includes a water outlet port provided at a location higher with respect to a vertical direction than the end portion on the side of the second opening. | 11-07-2013 |
| 20130302707 | ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL - An electrochemical cell having two or more diffusion bonded layers, which demonstrates a high degree of ruggedness, reliability, efficiency and attitude insensitiveness, is provided. The novel cell structure simplifies construction and operation of these cells. Also provided is a method for passive water removal from these cells. The inventive cell, as well as stacks made using these cells, is suitable for use in applications such as commercial space power systems, long endurance aircraft, undersea power systems, remote backup power systems, and regenerative fuel cells. | 11-14-2013 |
| 20130330643 | FUEL-CELL STACK COMPRISING AN ANODE CHAMBER COMPRISING IN THE ANODE CHAMBER AN AREA FOR CONDENSING AND REMOVING WATER AND METHOD FOR CONDENSING AND REMOVING WATER FORMED IN SAID CHAMBER - The fuel cell includes an anode chamber having a hydrogen inlet emerging into it. A wall separating the inside of the anode chamber from the outside thereof includes a main region having a first thermal conduction resistance between the outside and the inside of the anode chamber, and a region for promoting the condensation of water having a second thermal conduction resistance between the outside and the inside of the anode chamber strictly smaller than the first thermal conduction resistance so as to delimit a water condensation surface within the anode chamber. A channel for removing the condensed water connects the condensation area to the outside of the anode chamber. | 12-12-2013 |
| 20130344406 | RECIRCULATING LOOP FOR A FUEL CELL - Recycling loop for a gas circuit of a fuel cell stack, forming a connecting line beginning at the outlet of one of the two anode or cathode circuits and terminating in one of the two supply circuits, either in the fuel gas supply channel, or in the oxidant gas supply channel, providing the recycling of the gas contained in the anode or cathode circuits of the fuel cell stack, and comprising a pump that provides the recycling of the gas contained in the anode or cathode circuits of the fuel cell stack, a multi-way valve dividing said recycling loop into a first section and a second section, said multi-way valve having a first stable usage position providing the continuity between the first and second sections of said recycling loop and having a second stable usage position simultaneously providing the interruption of said continuity between the first and second sections of said recycling loop and a bringing of said recycling loop into contact with the atmosphere carried out by manoeuvring said multi-way valve. | 12-26-2013 |
| 20140004434 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A FUEL CELL SYSTEM | 01-02-2014 |
| 20140011105 | REVERSE FLOW RELIEF VALVE FOR A FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A method of shutting down operation of a fuel cell system is disclosed, comprising a fuel cell stack, the method comprising the sequential steps of: i) ceasing a supply of fuel to the fuel cell stack; ii) closing a shut-off valve on an exhaust line in fluid communication with a cathode system of the fuel cell system, the cathode system comprising a cathode fluid flow path passing through the fuel cell stack; iii) pressurizing the cathode system with an air compressor in fluid communication with a cathode air net port in the fuel cell stack; and iv) ejecting water from the cathode flow path. | 01-09-2014 |
| 20140017582 | FUEL BATTERY - A fuel battery includes an oxidant gas flow passage having a downstream section, in which a gas diffusion porous body is arranged. The fuel battery includes a fuel gas flow passage having a downstream section, in which a gas diffusion porous body is arranged. A cooling medium flow passage is formed between a first separator of each unit cell of the fuel battery and a second separator of a unit cell adjacent to the unit cell. The flowing direction of a cooling medium in the cooling medium flow passage is the same as that of oxidant gas in the oxidant gas flow passage. An upstream section of the cooling medium flow passage is located closer to a surface of a membrane-electrode assembly that faces the oxidant gas flow passage adjacent to the cooling medium flow passage as compared with a downstream section of the cooling medium flow passage. | 01-16-2014 |
| 20140080016 | DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR VARIABLE FLOW RATE FUEL EJECTION - Devices, systems, and methods for variable flow rate fuel ejection are disclosed. A variable flow rate ejector comprises primary and secondary inlets, primary and secondary nozzles, and a needle. The primary nozzle is connected to receive a first fluid from the first inlet chamber and transmit the first fluid through a primary nozzle opening. The needle is disposed within the primary nozzle opening and is axially movable to vary an area of primary nozzle opening. The primary nozzle opening and the needle are sized to make the flow of the first fluid have a supersonic speed. The secondary inlet opens into a second inlet chamber positioned outside the primary nozzle to opening. A portion of the second fluid is entrained in the flow of the first fluid from the primary nozzle. The secondary nozzle opening is sized to make the flow of the first and second fluids have a subsonic speed. | 03-20-2014 |
| 20140080017 | RACKED POWER SUPPLY VENTILATION - A ventilation system for a fuel cell power module is provided. The ventilation system includes a ventilation enclosure for evacuating fluids from the fuel cell power module, the ventilation enclosure having an air inlet for providing ingress of air to the enclosure. The ventilation system further concludes a ventilation shaft in fluid communication with the ventilation enclosure and an evacuation pump arranged to exhaust fluid from the ventilation enclosure to a desired location. | 03-20-2014 |
| 20140106244 | PLATE-STYLE WATER VAPOR TRANSFER UNIT WITH INTEGRAL HEADERS - A water vapor transfer unit having fluid flow conduits which distribute wet or dry fluid throughout the water vapor transfer unit, which are created by forming apertures in each wet and dry plate so that when the plates are stacked, fluid flow inlet and outlet headers are integrated into the flow stack. These integrated headers negate the need for traditional wet and dry fluid inlet and outlet manifolds external to the water vapor transfer unit stack. Because the plates are stacked and sealed so that the fluid flows cannot co-mingle, the fluids are introduced directly into the stack, flow across the flow fields, and exit the stack without leakage or flow contamination. The integrated header design allows for sealing the stack on no more than a single plane defined by the stack or on no more than two parallel opposing planes and allows for accommodation of stack expansion and contraction. | 04-17-2014 |
| 20140106245 | METHODS FOR THE OPERATION OF A HUMIDIFICATION DEVICE FOR A FUEL CELL - In a method for operating a humidifier for a fuel cell wherein the humidifier comprises a moisture exchanger with at least one water-permeable or water vapor-permeable membrane and a moisture reservoir, the moisture exchanger is flushed with flushing air and the flushing air is subsequently passed through the moisture reservoir. | 04-17-2014 |
| 20140113207 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM FOR GENERATING ENERGY AND WATER - Fuel cell systems aboard means of transport can be used for generating energy and for producing water. In order to reduce the overall weight of the system, the fuel cell is controlled or regulated in dependence on a current fill level or a limit level of the water tank, as well as a predicted future water consumption. In this way, it may be possible to minimize the water quantity to be stored in the water tank. | 04-24-2014 |
| 20140120436 | FUEL CELL HUMIDIFICATION MANAGEMENT METHOD AND SYSTEM - A method of managing humidification for a fuel cell power system comprising, supplying air to a cathode inlet stream of a fuel cell. Detecting a fuel cell parameter associated with the humidity of the cathode inlet stream. Selectively operating the fuel cell in either an active humidification mode or a deactive humidification mode based on the fuel cell parameter, wherein the active humidification mode includes adding water to the cathode inlet stream and the deactive humidification mode includes adding no water to the cathode inlet stream. | 05-01-2014 |
| 20140162152 | CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A SEALED COOLANT FLOW FIELD FUEL CELL POWER PLANT HAVING A WATER RESERVOIR - The system ( | 06-12-2014 |
| 20140193725 | Fuel Cell System Having Water Vapor Condensation Protection - A fuel cell system having protection from water vapor condensation is disclosed. The system includes a fuel cell having an input port configured to receive an input gas and a liquid water transient accumulation chamber coupled to the input port. The chamber is configured to accumulate condensed water vapor from the input gas. The chamber includes a water-capture element configured to retain liquid water therein. The system further includes a first thermal pathway coupled to the chamber and also coupled to the fuel cell, so that the chamber is heated by heat from the fuel cell, when the fuel cell is operating in a steady state, in a manner that causes the liquid water accumulated in the chamber to be evaporated by the heat. | 07-10-2014 |
| 20140193726 | FULL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF HUMIDIFYING AND COOLING THE SAME - A method of humidifying and cooling a fuel cell system is provided. The method of humidifying and cooling a fuel cell system includes: exhausting, by a fuel supply unit, a hydrogen gas to a reservoir in which condensed water of an anode is stored. Additionally, a hydrogen gas and condensed water are pumped and the hydrogen gas and the condensed water are exhausted to the humidifier. Additionally, compressed air of an air compressor is delivered to the humidifier heat is exchanged with compressed air in the humidifier. The hydrogen gas and compressed air in which a heat is exchanged in a humidified state is delivered to an anode and a cathode, respectively. | 07-10-2014 |
| 20140193727 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell module for generating electrical energy by electrochemical reactions of a fuel gas and an oxygen-containing gas, and a condenser for condensing water vapor in an exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell module by heat exchange between the exhaust gas and a coolant to collect the condensed water and supplying the collected condensed water to the fuel cell module. The condenser includes an air cooling condensing mechanism using the oxygen-containing gas as the coolant, and a water cooling condensing mechanism using the hot water stored in the hot water storage unit as the coolant. The air cooling condensing mechanism includes a thermoelectric converter for performing thermoelectric conversion by a temperature difference between the exhaust gas and the oxygen-containing gas. | 07-10-2014 |
| 20140242480 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell module for generating electrical energy by electrochemical reactions of a fuel gas and an oxygen-containing gas, and a condenser for condensing water vapor in an exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell module by heat exchange between the exhaust gas and a coolant to collect the condensed water and supplying the collected condensed water to the fuel cell module. The condenser includes an air cooling condenser using the oxygen-containing gas as the coolant and a water cooling condenser using hot water stored in a hot water tank as the coolant. A thermoelectric conversion mechanism for performing thermoelectric conversion by a temperature difference between the exhaust gas and the oxygen-containing gas is provided between the air cooling condenser and the water cooling condenser. | 08-28-2014 |
| 20140242481 | Separating Device for a Fuel Cell System, Fuel Cell System with the Separating Device and Method for Operating the Separating Device - A device for separating a fluid having a water and gas portion in a fuel cell system includes a fluid inlet an a fluid outlet with an outlet valve. The separating device includes a first reservoir region for collecting the water portion of the fluid. The first reservoir region includes a first outlet to feed the water portion in the direction of the fluid outlet. The separating device also includes a second reservoir region having a second outlet that feeds the water portion in the direction of the fluid outlet so that the first reservoir region | 08-28-2014 |
| 20140272631 | CENTRIFUGAL WATER SEPARATOR FOR A FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A separator for a fuel cell includes first and second ends connected by a side wall to define a separation chamber. The first end has a protrusion extending into the chamber to form a channel with the wall. An inlet conduit is tangentially connected to the wall. An outlet conduit connected to the wall between the inlet conduit and the first end. A liquid drain is connected to the second end. A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack and a separator. The separator has first and second portions forming a chamber and a divider. The first portion has a continuous inner wall, an end wall forming a central convex projection, an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit. The second portion has a continuous inner wall, an end wall, and a liquid drain. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140272632 | Integration of Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells in Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis - In various aspects, systems and methods are provided for integration of molten carbonate fuel cells with a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis process. The molten carbonate fuel cells can be integrated with a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis process in various manners, including providing synthesis gas for use in producing hydrocarbonaceous carbons. Additionally, integration of molten carbonate fuel cells with a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis process can facilitate further processing of vent streams or secondary product streams generated during the synthesis process. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140287332 | FUEL CELL MODULE - A fuel cell module includes a first area where an exhaust gas combustor and a start-up combustor are provided, an annular second area disposed around the first area where a heat exchanger is provided, an annular third area disposed around the second area where a reformer is provided, and an annular fourth area disposed around the third area where an evaporator is provided, and a condensed water collecting mechanism for collecting condensed water produced by condensation of water vapor in a combustion gas by allowing the condensed water to flow through the fourth area, then, the third area, then, the second area, and then, the first area. | 09-25-2014 |
| 20140315109 | Humidification device, in particular for a fuel cell - A humidifier has a moisture exchanger with at least one water-permeable membrane as well as a humidifier device with a moisture reservoir which is positioned in the flow path of the moisture exchanger. | 10-23-2014 |
| 20140315110 | Method for Operating a Fuel Cell - A method for operating a fuel cell system involves operating the fuel cell with recirculation of anode exhaust gas below a predefined maximum load limit of the fuel cell and operating the fuel cell without recirculation of the anode exhaust gas between the load limit and the full load of the fuel cell. | 10-23-2014 |
| 20140377675 | CENTRIFUGAL WATER SEPARATOR FOR A FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack in fluid communication with a separator. The separator has a first portion and a second portion forming a chamber. The first portion has a continuous inner wall and an end wall, with an inlet conduit connected to the inner wall and a liquid drain connected to the end wall. The second portion has an end wall and an outlet conduit extending into the chamber to form a channel with the inner wall of the first portion. A fuel cell separator includes a first end and a second end connected by a side wall to define a separation chamber. An inlet conduit is tangentially connected to the wall. An outlet conduit is connected to the first end and extending into the chamber to form a channel with the wall. A liquid drain is connected to the second end. | 12-25-2014 |
| 20150030946 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FUEL CELL START FROM FREEZING WITHOUT MELTING ICE - Fuel cell systems and related methods involving accumulators with multiple regions of differing water fill rates are provided. At least one accumulator region with a relatively more-rapid fill rate than another accumulator region is drained of water at shutdown under freezing conditions to allow at least that region to be free of water and ice. That region is then available to receive water from and supply water to, a fuel cell nominally upon start-up. The region having the relatively more-rapid fill rate may typically be of relatively lesser volume, and may be positioned either relatively below or relatively above the other region(s). | 01-29-2015 |
| 20150056527 | HYDROGEN PURGING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A hydrogen purging device for a fuel cell system includes a humidifier that humidifies dry air supplied from an air blower, using moist air discharged from a cathode of a stack and supplies the humidified air to the cathode. A water trap and a hydrogen recirculation blower are sequentially connected to an outlet of an anode, wherein a hydrogen outlet of the water trap and an inlet of the humidifier are connected by a cathode-hydrogen purging line for purging hydrogen to the cathode so that the hydrogen discharged from the anode of the fuel stack is purged to the cathode during idling or during normal driving. | 02-26-2015 |
| 20150064581 | Hybrid Ionomer Electrochemical Devices - A membrane electrode assembly for use in a fuel cell includes an anode electrode, a proton exchange membrane, an anion exchange membrane and a cathode electrode. The anode electrode includes a first catalyst. The first catalyst separates a reducing agent into a plurality of positively charged ions and negative charges. The proton exchange membrane is configured to favor transport of positively charged ions therethrough and is also configured to inhibit transport of negatively charged particles therethrough. The anion exchange membrane is configured to favor transport of negatively charged ions therethrough and is also configured to inhibit transport of positively charged ions therethrough. The cathode electrode includes a second catalyst and is disposed adjacent to a second side of the anion exchange membrane. The second catalyst reacts electrons with the at least one oxidizing agent so as to generate+reduced species. | 03-05-2015 |
| 20150093663 | FUEL CELL AND SEPARATOR - A separator of a fuel cell may have a planer shape, may be provided on one surface of a membrane electrode assembly, and may include a first protrusion formed over a region between a first position which is provided a first distance apart from a first hole being pierced in the separator and a second position which is provided a second distance apart from a second hole being pierced in the separator on a first surface opposed to the membrane electrode assembly, the first protrusion abutting the membrane electrode assembly. The separator further may include a second protrusion formed over a region at least between the first position and the second hole on the first surface, the second protrusion abutting the electrode membrane assembly between the first position and the second position. | 04-02-2015 |
| 20150099202 | POWER GENERATION SYSTEM - A power generation system includes: a power generation unit configured to discharge a flue gas; a housing configured to accommodate the power generation unit; a ventilator configured to ventilate the housing; a first gas channel through which a gas discharged from the ventilator flows; a second gas channel through which the flue gas from the power generation unit flows; a merging portion where the first gas channel and the second gas channel merge; a third gas channel through which the gases merged at the merging portion flow; a water trap unit connected to the first gas channel and including a water sealing structure; and a water discharge channel through which water in the water trap unit is discharged to an outside of the housing. | 04-09-2015 |
| 20150118587 | FUEL CELL STACK INCLUDING DUMMY CELL - A fuel cell stack including a dummy cell for effectively discharging condensate water of the stack is provided. At least one cathode/anode dummy cell is stacked between a reaction of a stack power generator and end plates at both ends of the stack to discharge water out of stack. An automation process of the whole stack according to a simplified stack configuration can be achieved. | 04-30-2015 |
| 20150125766 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING FUEL CELL MODULE - A fuel cell module has a hydrogen recirculation pump and a controller. The controller receives a signal indicating the response of the pump to changes in the density or humidity of gassess in the hydrogen recirculation loop. The controller is programmed to consider the signal in controlling one or more balance of plant elements that effect the removal of water from the stack. In a process for operating the fuel cell module, the signal is considered when controlling one or more balance of plant elements that effect the removal of water from the stack. For example, an increase in current drawn from a constant speed or voltage recirculation pump indicates an increase in humidity and suggests that water should be removed from the stack, for example by increasing a coolant temperature set point. | 05-07-2015 |
| 20150125767 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD FOR THE SAME - A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack having a membrane electrode assembly and an internal reactant gas passage, a unit that detects or estimates an actual retained water quantity (R.W.Q.), and a power generation control unit having a normal-time mode, a normal-time drying mode and a stop-time drying mode. In the normal-time drying mode, the fuel cell stack is caused to generate electric power while being dried more than in the normal-time mode until the actual R.W.Q. is decreased to a target R.W.Q. In the stop-time drying mode, when the actual R.W.Q. is equal to or more than a flooding threshold at a time of detection of a system stop instruction, the fuel cell stack is caused to generate electric power while being dried more than in the normal-time drying mode until the actual R.W.Q. is decreased to a target R.W.Q. | 05-07-2015 |
| 20150147664 | METHOD OF OPERATING A FUEL CELL IN CONFINED SPACE - A method of operating a fuel cell in a vehicle includes the steps of initially charging a waste tank with a gas that is readily absorbable in water. A supply of fuel is passed across one electrode in a fuel cell, and a supply of oxygen containing gas across another electrode generating water from operation of the fuel cell. The water is delivered into the tank. A vehicle is also disclosed. | 05-28-2015 |
| 20150303496 | POWER GENERATION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COOLING FUEL CELL EXHAUST IN POWER GENERATION SYSTEM - In order to protect the temperature of an exhaust stream in an exhaust line, even if the temperature of the exhaust stream discharged from a fuel cell exceeds a temperature during rated operation, a power generation system has: an SOFC; an exhaust air line or an exhaust fuel line, wherein the exhaust air line and exhaust fuel line carry exhaust air and exhaust fuel gas discharged from the SOFC, respectively; a temperature detector for detecting the temperature of the exhaust air or the exhaust fuel gas discharged from the SOFC or the temperature of the exhaust air line or the exhaust fuel line; an exhaust cooling device for cooling the exhaust air in the exhaust air line or the exhaust fuel gas in the exhaust fuel line; and a control device for activating the exhaust cooling device when the temperature detected by the temperature detector exceeds a predetermined temperature. | 10-22-2015 |
| 20150311547 | FUEL CELL CATHODE BALANCE OF PLANT FREEZE STRATEGY - A system and method for a cathode subsystem in a fuel cell system. The system includes a fuel cell stack, a cathode inlet line that provides cathode air to a fuel cell stack and a cathode exhaust line that exhausts a cathode exhaust gas out of the fuel cell stack. Also included is a backpressure valve in the cathode exhaust line that is located downstream of a drip rail of the cathode exhaust line, where the drip rail includes a protrusion that prevents condensed water from building up near the backpressure valve. The drip rail further includes a sump that collects drips of condensed water from the protrusion of the drip rail. The system also includes a drain below a water vapor transfer unit that includes an orifice that is in a portion of the drain that is within the cathode exhaust line. | 10-29-2015 |
| 20150340715 | FUEL CELL POWER GENERATING SYSTEM - A fuel cell power generating system has a fuel cell module which can generate electricity when oxygen and hydrogen are supplied to the fuel cell module and have a reaction therein. A cooling subsystem provides coolant to flow through the fuel cell module to take heat away therefrom. Heat in the coolant is used to heat at least one of fluid for heating and humidifying air before the air enters the fuel cell module and fluid for heating and humidifying the hydrogen before the hydrogen enters the fuel cell module. | 11-26-2015 |
| 20150340716 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD FOR SAME - A fuel cell system, including: a fuel cell having at least one combination of an electrolyte membrane and a cathode-side catalyst layer and an anode-side catalyst layer that have a plurality of pores; a control unit that operates the fuel cell such that an output current determined in accordance with an external load is output from the fuel cell; and an output current acquisition unit that acquires an output current of the fuel cell; wherein, when the control unit determines that an anode in-flowing water amount, which flows to the anode-side catalyst layer when the fuel cell continues power generation at a first output current acquired at a prescribed timing, exceeds a prescribed anode-side allowable water amount, the control unit performs current limitation control to operate the fuel cell at a second output current that is higher than the first output current, regardless of a requirement of the external load. | 11-26-2015 |
| 20160028096 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INCREASING THE EFFICIENCY FOR A SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL SYSTEM - System and method for increasing efficiency of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system by recapturing water via a condensate extraction system that extracts water from a hot cathode exhaust flow of the SOFC stack. Further, the SOFC system can include a radiant heater which has a fuel inlet, an air intake, and an exhaust outlet independent and separate from the power generating components in the SOFC system. The radiant heater can bring the SOFC stack up to operating temperature quickly and/or maintain near operational mode temperatures of the SOFC stack during a hibernation mode. | 01-28-2016 |
| 20160036073 | HUMIDIFIER FOR FUEL CELL AND FUEL CELL SYSTEM COMPRISING THE SAME - A humidifier for a fuel cell is provided. The humidifier is configured to humidify discharged gas from a cathode of the fuel cell and dry air supplied via an air compressor using membrane, and supply humidified air to the cathode. The humidifier includes: a membrane module having bundles of hollow fiber membranes disposed therein and manifolds each of which is connected to both sides of the membrane module, configured to inject the discharge gas and the dry air into an interior of the membrane module, and discharge the discharged gas from which moisture is removed and the humidified air from the interior of the membrane module. At least one bypass line is inserted into interiors of the manifolds and is connected to the interior of the membrane module, and is selectively connected to a supplying path of the dry air supplied from the air compressor. | 02-04-2016 |
| 20160036074 | HUMIDIFICATION DEVICE FOR FUEL CELL AND FUEL CELL SYSTEM COMPRISING THE SAME - Disclosed herein is a humidification device for a fuel cell. The humidification device for a fuel cell, which performs membrane humidification of exhaust gas exhausted from a cathode of a fuel cell and dried air supplied through an air compressor and supplies the humidified air to the cathode, includes: a main membrane module including several bundles of first hollow-fiber membranes disposed in the main membrane module and a sub-membrane module connected to the main membrane module and including several bundles of second hollow fiber membranes disposed in the sub-membrane module. | 02-04-2016 |
| 20160056486 | FUEL CELL MODULE - A fuel cell module includes a first area where an exhaust gas combustor and a start-up combustor are provided, a second area where a reformer and a heat exchanger are provided, a third area where an evaporator is provided, and a condensed water recovery mechanism for recovering condensed water produced by condensation of water vapor contained in the combustion gas by allowing the condensed water to flow from the third area to the second area and then flow from the second area to the first area. | 02-25-2016 |
| 20160064751 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM, A FIRE FIGHTING SYSTEM, AND AN AIRCRAFT - A fuel cell system for an aircraft includes a fuel cell, wherein at the cathode side a cathode inlet and a cathode outlet is provided, and wherein at the anode side an anode inlet and an anode outlet is provided, and a cathode recirculation channel for passing the cathode product fluid from the cathode outlet to the cathode inlet. In the fuel cell system, the water content of the cathode product fluid in the cathode recirculation channel can be reduced or at least stabilized in a possibly effective way, because the cathode recirculation channel includes a water extraction device for extracting water from the cathode product fluid. | 03-03-2016 |
| 20160072141 | A WATER SEPARATOR - A liquid separator ( | 03-10-2016 |
| 20160087289 | GAS AND CONDENSED WATER DISCHARGE SYSTEM FOR FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - Disclosed are a system and a method for discharging a gas and condensed water for a fuel cell system. The gas and condensed water discharge system comprises: a fuel cell stack that includes cathodes and anodes and produces an electric current by an electrochemical reaction of oxygen and hydrogen; a water trap that temporarily stores gases and water discharged from anodes of the stack and condensed water; an integrated drain valve that is mounted at the water trap so as to generate the gas flow path for gases and the condensed water passing through a discharge portion of the integrated drain valve and discharged out of the water trap; and a controller that discharges the gases and the condensed water by opening and closing the integrated drain valve. | 03-24-2016 |
| 20160111736 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system is provided, which includes a fuel cell configured to generate power by a reaction of fuel as and air, an air compressor configured to compress air and supplying the compressed air to the fuel cell, a controller configured to control operations of the fuel cell and the air compressor, and an exhaust system member configured to discharge off-gas and produced water from the fuel cell. When a first condition including a flow rate of air by the air compressor being greater than a first flow rate is satisfied, the controller increases a rotational speed of the air compressor to supply air at or more than a second flow rate that is greater than the first flow rate to the fuel cell, and to discharge water inside the fuel cell. | 04-21-2016 |
| 20160118677 | WATER SEPARATOR INCLUDING A RISER PIPE AND A SEALING ELEMENT AS WELL AS A FUEL CELL INCLUDING A WATER SEPARATOR, AND A MOTOR VEHICLE INCLUDING A FUEL CELL - The invention relates to a water separator for separating product water from a fuel cell, a fuel cell including a water separator and a motor vehicle including a fuel cell. To design the water separator to be as compact as possible and to be able to operate it in a frost-proof manner, it is provided according to the invention that the water separator has a sealing element and a riser pipe extending through the sealing element. | 04-28-2016 |
| 20160126567 | END PLATE OF FUEL CELL - An end plate arranged on one end of a fuel cell unit includes a plate body, which is formed from a metal material, and a gas-liquid separator, which includes a housing into which emission from the fuel cell unit is drawn in. The gas-liquid separator separates water from the emission and drains the separated water out of the housing. The housing is formed from a resin material and is in contact with the plate body. | 05-05-2016 |
| 20160126568 | GAS-LIQUID SEPARATOR FOR FUEL CELL - A gas-liquid separator includes a housing that draws in emission from a fuel cell unit. The gas-liquid separator separates water from the emission and drains the separated water out of the housing. The housing includes a case including an emission inlet, a cap including a drain port that drains the separated water out of the housing, and a filter fitted into the emission inlet from an inner side of the housing. The filter captures foreign matter entering the housing. | 05-05-2016 |
| 20160126571 | FUEL BATTERY CELL - Provided is a fuel battery cell capable of suppressing absorption of water discharged from a manifold by a porous body disposed between a membrane electrode assembly and a separator, and so improving drainage performance. This fuel battery cell | 05-05-2016 |
| 20160133963 | RESIDUAL WATER SCAVENGING PROCESSING METHOD IN FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A method includes predicting, while fuel cell system is operated, whether or not the outside temperature becomes equal to or less than a first predetermined temperature; performing, when it is predicted that the outside temperature becomes equal to or less than the first predetermined temperature, residual water scavenging processing on only an oxidizer gas supply/discharge mechanism and thereafter stopping the operation of the fuel cell system; predicting, after the stop of the operation of the fuel cell system, whether or not the temperature of a predetermined component included in the fuel cell system becomes equal to or less than a second predetermined temperature; and performing the residual water scavenging processing on the fuel gas supply/discharge mechanism when it is predicted that the temperature of the predetermined component becomes equal to or less than the second predetermined temperature. | 05-12-2016 |
| 20160133972 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell; a fuel supply source; a supply passage; a circulation passage; a gas-liquid separator; a discharge passage; a discharge valve; a differential pressure detecting portion; and a control unit, wherein the control unit estimates a flow rate of a fuel gas. | 05-12-2016 |
| 20160141655 | METHOD OF DISCHARGING WATER FROM FUEL CELL AND FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A method of discharging water from a mobile object, which includes a fuel cell, a gas-liquid separator, and a circulation pump, comprises: an inclined state detection step of detecting an inclined state of the mobile object with respect to a horizontal plane; a scavenging start step of starting to supply scavenging gas at a predetermined first supply flow rate to a gas flow path in the fuel cell, by driving the circulation pump; and a supply flow rate increase step of increasing, when the mobile object is in a predetermined inclined state in which an outlet of the gas flow path is directed upward against a direction of gravity, a rotational speed of the circulation pump so that the supply flow rate of the scavenging gas is increased to a second supply flow rate higher than the first supply flow rate after a predetermined period from starting to supply the scavenging gas. | 05-19-2016 |
| 20160141656 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - There are provided a an anode-side water discharge controller that controls a circulation flow rate of the anode gas pump so as to discharge anode-side liquid water residing in the anode-side flow path, and a cathode-side water discharge controller that controls a supply flow rate of the cathode gas pump so as to discharge cathode-side liquid water residing in the cathode-side flow path. The anode-side water discharge controller and the cathode-side water discharge controller execute water discharge by running a pre-selected one of the anode gas pump and the cathode gas pump, and then running the other of the anode gas pump and the cathode gas pump. | 05-19-2016 |
| 20160141657 | Fuel Cell System - A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell for causing electrochemical reactions of anode gas and cathode gas, a fuel cell system case accommodating the fuel cell, and a frame disposed below the fuel cell system case and fixing the fuel cell system case. A rib is provided on an upper surface of the frame. A water reservoir portion is provided in the bottom of the fuel cell system case so that the water reservoir portion is a concave in an inner side of the fuel cell system case and is a convex in the outside of the fuel cell system case. The water reservoir portion is located at a position at which at least a part of the convex vertically overlaps with the rib. | 05-19-2016 |
| 20160141658 | Gas-Liquid Separator and Fuel Cell System - A gas-liquid separator includes a gas-liquid separator forming portion that is provided in an end plate, and a cover member. The gas-liquid separator forming portion includes a first inner wall portion that serves as a flow path for an off-gas and forms a part of an accumulating portion, the first inner wall portion having a shape recessed in a thickness direction of the end plate. The cover member includes a second inner wall portion that has a shape recessed in a thickness direction of the cover member, the second inner wall portion being disposed to face the first inner wall portion in a stack direction and forming the accumulating portion together with the first inner wall portion. | 05-19-2016 |
| 20160141659 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes a control unit that estimates a discharge amount of the fuel gas partially discharged from the fuel cell partially discharged during an opening period of the discharge valve based on a lost amount of the fuel gas during the opening period and a consumed amount of the fuel gas by electric generation of the fuel cell during the opening period, wherein a pressure increase period during which the pressure increases and a pressure decrease period during which the pressure decreases exist due to intermittent injection of the fuel gas, and the control unit estimates the lost amount of the fuel gas based on a decrease rate of the pressure during the pressure decrease period within the opening period, and based on an assumed decrease rate of the pressure during the pressure increase period within the opening period. | 05-19-2016 |
| 20160141671 | WATER DRAINAGE DEVICE FOR FUEL CELL, FUEL CELL SYSTEM, MOVING BODY AND CONTROL METHOD OF FUEL CELL SYSTEM - An object is to provide a technique that suppresses excessive water drainage from a fuel cell. A water drainage device for fuel cell that drains water from inside of a fuel cell, includes: a purge gas supply system; an operation unit; a water drainage controller; and a water content acquirer. The operation unit receives a water drainage command from a user to give an instruction of purging out water from inside of the fuel cell by the purge gas supply system. When the water content obtained by the water content acquirer is equal to or lower than a predetermined value, the water drainage controller performs either one of: (i) a process of invalidating the water drainage command received by the operation unit; and (ii) a process of changing a processing condition of the purge process to decrease an amount of water drained by the purge process, compared with an amount of water drainage when the obtained water content is higher than the predetermined value. | 05-19-2016 |
| 20160141682 | POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM AND VOLTAGE CONTROL METHOD OF FUEL CELL - An object is to maintain the voltage of a fuel cell at a desired voltage level and suppress a voltage variation, even in the case of a low load request. A power supply system including a fuel cell causes at least part of a required electric power to be supplied from the fuel cell in an ordinary load state. In a low load state, the power supply system supplies an amount of oxygen that is required to make the voltage of the fuel cell equal to a predetermined target voltage and that is less than an amount of oxygen supplied to the fuel cell in the ordinary load state, to the fuel cell. In a first low load state, the power supply system sets the target voltage to a first target voltage and supplies oxygen to the fuel cell. After a subsequent shift to a state that the required electric power becomes higher than a predetermined reference value to cause the fuel cell to generate electric power at an output voltage that is higher than the first target voltage, in a further shift to a second low load state, the power supply system sets the target voltage to a second target voltage that is higher than the first target voltage and supplies oxygen to the fuel cell. | 05-19-2016 |
| 20160141687 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM, FUEL CELL-MOUNTED VEHICLE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING FUEL SYSTEM - When a first timing at which a fuel gas is injected to a fuel gas supply flow path by an injector and a second timing at which water residing on a circulation flow path is discharged by controlling rotating speed of a circulation pump coincide with each other, a controller performs either: (i) a first process of operating the circulation pump at a preset RPM without injecting the fuel gas to the fuel gas supply flow path by the injector; or (ii) a second process of injecting the fuel gas to the fuel gas supply flow path by the injector and operating the circulation pump at an RPM lower than the preset RPM. | 05-19-2016 |
| 20160141693 | GAS LIQUID SEPARATOR AND FUEL CELL SYSTEM - The gas liquid separator comprises a gas liquid separator-forming portion formed in an end plate of a fuel cell to have an opening at an end face of the end plate and that constitutes part of the gas liquid separator; and a cover member located to cover the opening and is combined with the gas liquid separator-forming portion to constitute the gas liquid separator. The gas liquid separator-forming portion includes a first inner wall portion provided to serve as a flow path of the off-gas and form part of a reservoir and that is configured to include an off-gas outlet, to be connected with the opening and to be formed concave in a thickness direction of the end plate; and a surrounding portion protruded from the first inner wall portion along a first direction from the gas liquid separator-forming portion toward the cover member to surround the off-gas outlet. | 05-19-2016 |
| 20160149234 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system is provided that can operate continuously and appropriately when a water self-sustaining operation of the fuel cell system is difficult due to environmental conditions and operating conditions, etc. When a first water level corresponding to a water shortage in a condensed water tank is detected using a water level detector, a controller implements a water-saving mode where the output of a fuel cell is decreased regardless of the external power load and the amount of reforming water used is reduced. When it is determined using a cooling determination device during the water-saving mode that the exhaust gas cooling capability in a condenser brought about by a cooling medium is at least a prescribed value, the controller implements a water recovery mode where the output of the fuel cell is increased regardless of the external power load and the amount of condensed water recovered is increased. | 05-26-2016 |
| 20160380282 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - An object is to perform a purge at an appropriate timing. There is provided a fuel cell system mounted on a vehicle. The fuel cell system comprises a gas supplier that is configured to supply a purge gas into a fuel cell; and a controller that is configured to control the gas supplier and perform a purge with the purge as at a stop time of the vehicle. The controller obtains an ambient temperature in a driving state of the vehicle a plurality of times. In a case where an ambient temperature obtained last time among the ambient temperatures obtained in the driving state is lower than a predetermined reference value, the controller performs the purge with enhancing a purging capacity, compared with a case where the ambient temperature obtained last time is higher than the predetermined reference value. | 12-29-2016 |
| 20160380294 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - At an ordinary stop time of a fuel cell system, a controller of the fuel cell system completes an ordinary stop process that includes at least one of a water drainage process that discharges water from at least one of the fuel gas flow path and the oxidizing gas flow path and a cathode sealing process that seals the oxidizing gas flow path, and subsequently stops the fuel cell system. When the fuel cell system satisfies a predetermined emergency stop condition, the controller does not perform at least part of the ordinary stop process but performs an emergency stop process that sets the fuel cell system to be restarted after elapse of a first time period since a stop of the fuel cell system and subsequently stops the fuel cell system. The controller restarts the fuel cell system after elapse of the first time period since stop of the fuel cell system and performs a restart process that performs the ordinary stop process. | 12-29-2016 |
| 20180026279 | TOROIDAL SCAVENGED RESERVOIR FOR FUEL CELL PURGE LINE SYSTEM | 01-25-2018 |
| 20180026281 | KNOCK-OUT VALVE WITH AN EXTENSION TUBE FOR FUEL CELL PURGING | 01-25-2018 |
