| Entries |
| Document | Title | Date |
|---|
| 20100190075 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OBSERVING ANODE FLUID COMPOSITION DURING FUEL CELL START-UP - A fuel cell system including a fuel cell stack having a plurality of fuel cells, the fuel cell stack including an anode supply manifold and an anode exhaust manifold, a first valve in fluid communication with at least one of the anode supply manifold and the anode exhaust manifold, wherein the first valve includes an inlet for receiving a fluid flow and an outlet for exhausting a fluid, a sensor for measuring at least a fluid pressure at the inlet and the outlet of the first valve, wherein the sensor generates a sensor signal representing the pressure measurement, and a processor for receiving the sensor signal, analyzing the sensor signal, and determining a composition of a fluid in the fuel cell system based upon the analysis of the sensor signal. | 07-29-2010 |
| 20100304255 | System and method of operating an electrical energy storage device or an electrochemical energy generation device, during charge or discharge using microchannels and high thermal conductivity materials - A method is generally described which includes operating an electrical energy storage device or an electrochemical energy generation device includes placing an electrical load to draw current from the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device. The electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device includes a housing having an external surface and an internal surface. The method also includes generating electricity by at least one component within the housing. At least one component is configured to generate electrical energy in combination with other components, chemicals, or materials residing within the housing. Further, the method includes thermal control of the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device by transferring heat to a plurality of microchannels coupled to at least one of the internal surface of the housing or the at least one internal components. The at least one microchannel is at least partially formed of or coated with a high thermal conductivity material. The high thermal conductivity material has a high k-value. The high k-value is greater than approximately 410 W/(m*K). Further still, the method includes transferring the collected heat through a thermal sink coupled to the microchannels. The thermal sink is configured to transfer heat energy to or from the microchannel and to receive a fluid flowing through the microchannels. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20100304256 | Method of operating an electrical energy storage device using microchannels during charge and discharge - A method is generally described which includes operating an electrical energy storage device or an electrochemical energy generation device includes placing an electrical load to draw current from the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device. The electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device includes a housing having an external surface and an internal surface. The method also includes generating electricity by at least one component within the housing. At least one component is configured to generate electrical energy in combination with other components, chemicals, or materials residing within the housing. Further, the method includes thermal control the electrical energy storage device by transferring heat to a plurality of microchannels coupled to at least one of the internal surface of the housing or at least one components. Further still, the method includes rejecting the collected heat through a thermal sink coupled to the microchannels. The thermal sink is configured to transfer heat energy from the microchannels and to receive a fluid flowing through the microchannels. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20100304257 | System and method of operating an electrical energy storage device or an electrochemical energy generation device using microchannels and high thermal conductivity materials - A method is generally described which includes operating an electrical electrochemical energy generation device or an electrochemical energy generation device. The method includes providing a housing having an external surface and an internal surface. The method also includes coupling at least one component within the housing. At least one component is configured to generate electrical energy in combination with other components, chemicals, or materials residing within the housing. The method includes forming a plurality of microchannels coupled to at least one of the internal surface of the housing or the at least one internal components. At least one microchannel is at least partially formed of a high thermal conductivity material. The high thermal conductivity material has a high k-value, the high k-value is greater than approximately 410 W/(m*K). The method further includes providing a thermal sink coupled to the microchannels. The thermal sink is configured to transfer heat energy to or from the microchannels. Further, the method includes flowing a fluid through the microchannels. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20100304258 | System and method of altering temperature of an electrical energy storage device or an electrochemical energy generation device using high thermal conductivity materials - A method is generally described which includes thermal control of an electrical energy storage device or electrochemical energy generation device includes providing a housing having an external surface and an internal surface. The method also includes providing at least one component within the housing. At least one component is configured to generate electrical power in combination with other components, chemicals, or materials residing within the housing. Further, the method includes forming a plurality of thermal control structures of a high thermal conductivity material coupled to at least one of the internal surface of the housing or the at least one internal components. The high thermal conductivity material having a high k-value, the high k-value being greater than approximately 400 W/(m*K). Further still, the method includes flowing a fluid adjacent the high thermal conductivity material to transfer heat to or from the high thermal conductivity material. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20100304259 | Method of operating an electrical energy storage device or an electrochemical energy generation device using high thermal conductivity materials during charge and discharge - A method is generally described which includes altering the temperature of an electrical energy storage device or an electrochemical energy generation device, includes placing an electrical load to draw current from the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device. The electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device includes a housing having an external surface and an internal surface. The method also includes generating electricity by at least one component within the housing. At least one component being configured to generate electrical power in combination with other components, chemicals, or materials residing within the housing. Further, the method includes thermal control of the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device by transferring heat to a plurality of thermal control structures of a high thermal conductivity material coupled to at least one of the internal surface of the housing or the at least one internal components. The high thermal conductivity material having a high k-value, the high k-value being greater than approximately 400 W/(m*K). The method further includes flowing a fluid adjacent the high thermal conductivity material to remove heat from the high thermal conductivity material. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20110076583 | FUEL CELL WITH ANODE AND CATHODE PLATE TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCE - A method of operating a fuel cell is described. The method includes controlling the temperature of the anode plate and the temperature of the cathode plate to obtain a temperature difference of at least about 2° C. between the anode plate and the cathode plate. A fuel cell is also described. | 03-31-2011 |
| 20110081589 | SWIRL CHAMBER FOR A FUEL CELL COOLING MANIFOLD - A fuel cell manifold holding pressurized cooling fluid is attached to a plurality of cells. A swirl chamber communicating cooling fluid from the manifold to the cells slows the speed of the cooling fluid and lowers its pressure as it enters a fuel cell cooling path. | 04-07-2011 |
| 20110117463 | BATTERY TEMPERATURE CONTROL METHOD AND ASSEMBLY - An assembly ( | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110183224 | FUNCTIONALLY INTEGRATED HYDROGEN FUEL CELL - A proton exchange membrane fuel cell has a unit cell assembly including an anode side and a cathode side. The anode side has a cooling base plate, a conductor assembly, a hydrogen flow field, a water absorbing element, and a hydrogen duct assembly. The cathode side has an air flow field, a conductor assembly, an air flow distributor, and an insulating compression plate with wing extensions. A membrane electrode assembly is disposed between the anode side and the cathode side physically connecting the flow fields on both the anode and cathode sides. A sealed anode assembly creates a sealed hydrogen volume and includes the anode conductor assembly, the hydrogen duct assembly, and the membrane electrode assembly all disposed between the insulating compression plate and the cooling base plate. The fuel cell may comprise multiple unit cell assemblies arranged in planar, folded, stacked, or pancake configurations. | 07-28-2011 |
| 20110207010 | Relative Humidity Control For A Fuel Cell - A model uses various operating characteristics of a fuel cell to predict the relative humidity profile that is occurring within the fuel cell as a function of the reaction progress. The model is used to predict the relative humidity profile that will occur in response to changes to one or more of the operating characteristics of the fuel cell. A high frequency resistance of the fuel cell can also be used as a measure that is indicative of the humidity within the fuel cell. The model and/or the high frequency resistance can be used in a closed-loop feedback system to control the operation of the fuel cell to maintain the humidification of the MEA and fuel cells within a desired range to achieve a desired fuel cell performance. | 08-25-2011 |
| 20110244352 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM COMPRISING AN INSULATING DEVICE - The invention relates to a fuel cell system comprising an insulation means for thermally insulating a first portion from a second portion, the first portion during operation of the fuel cell system generally being at a higher temperature level than the second portion and the insulation means comprising at least one leadthrough portion interfacing the first portion and second portion through which at least one component of the fuel cell system is led during operation of the fuel cell system in thus coming into thermal contact with the first portion and the second portion. In accordance with the invention it is provided for that at least part of the component is made of a material featuring a lower thermal conductivity than that of adjacent parts resulting in an insulation part and that the insulation part is sited at least partly within the leadthrough portion. | 10-06-2011 |
| 20110281190 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REGULATING FUEL CELL AIR FLOW DURING LOW LOADS OR COLD TEMPERATURE OPERATION - Systems and methods for regulating fuel cell air flow, such as during low loads and/or cold temperature operation. These systems and methods may include providing a thermal management fluid, such as air, to the fuel cell stack, transferring thermal energy between the thermal management fluid and the fuel cell stack, and varying the flow rate of the thermal management fluid that comes into contact with the fuel cell stack to maintain the temperature of the fuel cell stack within an acceptable temperature range. Varying the flow rate of the thermal management fluid may include varying the overall supply rate of the thermal management fluid within the fuel cell system and/or providing an alternative flow path for the thermal management fluid such that a portion of the thermal management fluid supplied by the fuel cell system does not come into contact with the fuel cell stack. | 11-17-2011 |
| 20120088174 | COMPOSITE END CELL THERMAL BARRIER WITH AN ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTING LAYER - A barrier layer for a fuel cell assembly is disclosed, the barrier layer having a thermally insulating layer having a first surface and a second surface, and an electrically conducting layer formed on the first surface of the thermally insulating layer. The thermally insulating layer may include a plurality of apertures formed therethrough, and the electrically conducting layer may be formed on a second surface of the thermally insulating layer and on the walls of the thermally insulating layer forming the apertures. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20130011760 | FUEL CELL STACK STRUCTURE - Disclosed herein is a fuel cell stack structure, including: metallic bipolar plates having cooling surfaces facing each other, wherein film-removed portions are provided at portions of the cooling surfaces. The fuel cell stack structure is advantageous in that electrical conductivity can be achieved by the contact portion of two metallic bipolar plates without having to apply a conductive material onto the contact site of the cooling surfaces of the metallic bipolar plates, so that the manufacturing cost of the metallic bipolar plate can be reduced, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost a fuel cell stack. | 01-10-2013 |
| 20130045433 | SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL DEVICE - A fuel cell device including an elongate ceramic substrate having an exterior surface defining an interior ceramic support structure and having a length that is at least 5 times greater than the width and the thickness so as to exhibit thermal expansion along a dominant axis coextensive with the length. The substrate has an active zone and at least one non-active end region. The active zone has an anode and a cathode in opposing relation with an electrolyte therebetween and the non-active end region lacks the anode and cathode in opposing relation and extends away from the active zone to dissipate heat. The electrolyte, anode and cathode extend within the interior ceramic support structure, the anode and cathode each have an electrical pathway extending from within the interior ceramic support structure to the exterior surface in the non-active end region, and the electrolyte is a ceramic co-fired with the interior ceramic support structure. | 02-21-2013 |
| 20130101913 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A FUEL CELL AND FUEL CELL SYSTEM WITH IMPROVED THERMAL CONTROL - The present invention relates to a method for operating a fuel cell system, comprising the following method steps:
| 04-25-2013 |
| 20140234739 | PASSIVE TEMPERATURE SUPERVISION DEVICE FOR A COMPRESSED GAS FUEL TANK - Passive temperature supervision devices for detecting temperature changes in compressed gaseous fuel storage systems of fuel cell systems. More specifically, systems and methods for detecting temperature changes in compressed gaseous fuel storage systems such as compressed gaseous fuel tanks of motor vehicles, where increases and decreases in temperature can be detected without the need for electric supervision systems. | 08-21-2014 |
