Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100124676 | MANAGING GAS BUBBLES IN A LIQUID FLOW SYSTEM - A system and method for managing gas bubbles in a liquid flow system are described. In particular, according to the system and method, novel techniques reduce a volume of cavities in the liquid flow system and limit a cross-sectional area of the liquid flow system to a maximum cross-sectional area of tolerably sized bubbles. In this manner, by reducing the cavity volumes and limiting cross-sectional areas, the formation of intolerably sized bubbles and the aggregation of tolerably sized bubbles into intolerably sized bubbles are each substantially prevented. Also, bubbles may be removed from the system to reduce the quantity of bubbles that are to be managed. | 05-20-2010 |
20100124677 | DIRECT OXIDATION FUEL CELL SYSTEM WITH UNIFORM VAPOR DELIVERY OF FUEL - A fuel cell system which includes a fuel distribution structure that uniformly distributes vaporizing fuel to a fuel cell is provided. As the fuel travels in a flow field channel in the fuel distribution structure, it is substantially converted to a vapor by the heat of the fuel cell operation in such a manner that the resulting vapor pressure works to substantially uniformly distribute fuel evenly outwardly across substantially the entire active area of the anode aspect of one or more membrane electrode assemblies in the system, and whereby localized, uneven “hot spots” of fuel at the anode aspects are substantially prevented. A pair of enthalpy exchanger and heat spreader assemblies include a cathode current collector element that also has a heat spreader plate that collects and redirects heat in the fuel cell system, the assembly acting to manage the heat, temperature and condensation in the fuel cell system. | 05-20-2010 |
20100124683 | HEAT SPREADER ASSEMBLY FOR USE WITH A DIRECT OXIDATION FUEL CELL - A heat spreader assembly that provides electrical, thermal and structural functions to the fuel cell. The heat spreader assembly comprises two bulk composite material layers, and a heat spreader element. The heat spreader element includes a copper layer sandwiched between two stainless steel layers. The stainless steel layers are bonded to the bulk composite layers by a conductive thermal set adhesive. The lamination applied to the stainless steel layers enables heat and electricity to flow from the cathode while maintaining low resistance among other layers of the fuel cell. The copper layer diffuses heat across the layer and functions as cathode current collector for a fuel cell. The bulk composite material layers function as a cold side of an enthalpy exchanger system and a cathode flow field. Further the composite material includes flow channels formed throughout the material to evenly distribute incoming air over the enthalpy exchanger membrane and to the cathode of the MEA. | 05-20-2010 |
20140234740 | DIRECT OXIDATION FUEL CELL SYSTEM WITH UNIFORM VAPOR DELIVERY OF FUEL - In one embodiment, a membrane electrode assembly of a fuel cell has an anode aspect and a cathode aspect. A fuel distribution structure is disposed adjacent to the anode aspect. The fuel distribution structure has a fuel feed port configured to receive and inject liquid fuel to a flow field plate. The flow field plate has flow channels formed therein that split and spread from the fuel feed port to exit ports. The flow channels are configured to convey heat to fuel passing there through to substantially convert the liquid fuel to vaporous fuel within the flow channels. The exit ports are configured to deliver the resulting vaporous fuel to the anode aspect to substantially uniformly distribute fuel across the anode aspect. Further, an enthalpy exchanger and heat spreader assembly is in thermal contact with the fuel distribution structure and configured to provide to it heat from fuel cell operation. | 08-21-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100055556 | MONOBLOCK LITHIUM ION BATTERY - The present invention describes a monoblock for a plurality of lithium ion cells. The monoblock includes a case having a base and a cover dimensioned and configured to the base. The case includes a chamber that includes cell compartments for lithium cells. Each lithium cell is disposed in a leaf spring that applies compression pressure on the cell. The structural integrity of the battery and cells is maintained using internal and external anti-swelling features including a waffle pattern, backing plates, etc. A liquid and gas pressure management system is also incorporated with the case and realized by a vent plenum, check valves, bladders, bags, etc. | 03-04-2010 |
20100055557 | IMPROVED BATTERY - The present invention provides battery cell having low resistance internal connections and compact, low volume terminal connections in order to maximize power-producing volume. The battery of the present invention may be created using a novel fold geometry to fold electrode tabs into compact, low profile tabs having a low total volume. The battery cell provides a means for equalizing path lengths from each electrode active area to the point of connection to the terminal and also reducing path length, thereby further reducing resistance of the battery. The connection means of the present invention consumes less internal battery space than connection means of prior art electrode stacks. Accordingly, the electrode stack of the present invention disposes more or larger battery cells in the battery than the prior art and thus provides more power than the prior art battery. The present invention is designed to overcome prior art difficulties in preparing a battery. | 03-04-2010 |
20100233527 | BATTERY TERMINAL - A battery terminal including a fastener shaft and a non-parallel slot, which when compressed by the use of a fastener such as a rivet, creates an autogenous spring force in a direction outward from the slot. When an electrode assembly is attached to the battery terminal, the autogenous spring force acts to create a more secure and reliable connection between the battery terminal and the electrode assembly. | 09-16-2010 |
20110070478 | MONOBLOCK LITHIUM ION BATTERY - The present invention describes a monoblock for a plurality of lithium ion cells. The monoblock includes a case having a base and a cover dimensioned and configured to the base. The case includes a chamber that includes cell compartments for lithium cells. Each lithium cell is disposed in a leaf spring that applies compression pressure on the cell. The structural integrity of the battery and cells is maintained using internal and external anti-swelling features including a waffle pattern, backing plates, etc. A liquid and gas pressure management system is also incorporated with the case and realized by a vent plenum, check valves, bladders, bags, etc. | 03-24-2011 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090146571 | METAL HALIDE LAMP WITH HALOGEN-PROMOTED WALL CLEANING CYCLE - A lamp includes a discharge vessel. Tungsten electrodes extend into the discharge vessel. An ionizable fill is sealed within the vessel. The fill includes a buffer gas, optionally free mercury, a halide component which includes a rare earth halide selected from the group consisting of lanthanum halides, praseodymium halides, neodymium halides, samarium halides, cerium halides, and combinations thereof, a source of available halogen. The discharge vessel optionally includes a source of available oxygen. The source of available halogen and optional source of available oxygen are present in an amount such that the vapor phase solubility of tungsten species in the fill during lamp operation is lower adjacent at least a portion of one of the electrodes than at a wall of the discharge vessel, such that tungsten deposited on the wall during lamp operation is transported back to the electrode. | 06-11-2009 |
20090146576 | METAL HALIDE LAMP INCLUDING A SOURCE OF AVAILABLE OXYGEN - A lamp includes a discharge vessel. Tungsten electrodes extend into the discharge vessel. An ionizable fill is sealed within the vessel. The fill includes a buffer gas, optionally free mercury, a halide component which includes a rare earth halide selected from the group consisting of lanthanum halides, praseodymium halides, neodymium halides, samarium halides, cerium halides, and combinations thereof. A source of available oxygen is present in the discharge vessel. The rare earth halide is present in an amount such that, during lamp operation, in combination with the source of available oxygen, it maintains a difference in vapor phase solubility for tungsten species between a wall of the discharge vessel and at least a portion of at least one of the electrodes. | 06-11-2009 |