Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Annette Brenner

Yan Zhang

Timothy J Fuller

Glenn William Skala

Hubert Gasteiger

Sean M MacKinnon

Steven G Goebel

Craig S Gittleman

Lijun Zou

George R Woody

Frank D Coms

Han Liu

Susan Yan

Wenbin Gu

Jingxin Zhang

Brian A Litteer

Ruichun Jiang

James A Leistra

John B Ruhl

Robert E Evans

Volker Druenert

Shawn Clapham

Tai-Chiang Yu

Steffen Ruf

A fuel cell includes an ion conducting membrane having a first side and a second side. Characteristically, the ion conducting membrane has a sufficient amount of a stabilization agent and platinum to inhibit the loss of fluoride from the ion conducting membrane when compared to an ion conducting membrane having the same construction except for the presence of cerium ions.

Chemical durability using synergystic mitigation strategies

A glass fiber-based paper diffusion medium, as well as a membrane humidifier for a fuel cell and method for humidifying a fuel cell using the provided glass fiber-based paper diffusion medium. The diffusion medium is a flexible, resin-bonded glass fiber paper impregnated with 26-55% cured liquid phenolic resin and having a thickness of 100-110 &#x3bc;m and a Gurley permeability of at least 100 cfm.

Wet side paper for fuel cell humidifier

A method of making a water vapor transport membrane is described. The method can include providing two sheets, each sheet comprising a support layer with an ionomer layer thereon; applying a solvent to at least one sheet; and contacting the ionomer layers of the two sheets to form a composite membrane comprising a composite ionomer layer between the two support layers. A composite membrane is also described.

Method of preparing a water vapor transfer membrane

A water vapor transfer unit with separator plates and a method of making the same. In such an assembly, an ionomer coating that facilitates moisture transfer from a moisture-rich flowpath to a moisture-deficient flowpath and an underlying separator may both be prepared from continuous, roll-based methods. The ionomer may be applied to a separator assembly as the last processing step such that the handling of the fragile membrane is kept to a minimum.

Separator roll membrane coating for fuel cell humidifier

A fuel cell includes a first flow field plate defining at least one flow field channel. A cathode catalyst layer is disposed over at least a portion of the first flow field plate. A polymeric ion conducting membrane is disposed over cathode catalyst layer. An anode catalyst layer is disposed over the polymeric ion conducting membrane. Finally, a second flow field plate defining at least one flow field channel is disposed over the anode catalyst layer. The polymeric ion conducting membrane extends beyond the cathode catalyst layer and the anode catalyst layer such that the fuel cell has at least one peripheral region with the polymeric catalyst layer interposed between first flow field plate and the second flow field plate without the cathode catalyst layer and the anode catalyst layer.

Fuel cell with spatially non-homogeneous ionic membrane

An MEA for a fuel cell that employs multiple catalyst layers to reduce the hydrogen and/or oxygen partial pressure at the membrane so as to reduce the fluoride release rate from the membrane and reduce membrane degradation. An anode side multi-layer catalyst configuration is positioned at the anode side of the MEA membrane. The anode side multi-layer catalyst configuration includes an anode side under layer positioned against the membrane and including a catalyst, an anode side middle layer positioned against the anode side under layer and not including a catalyst and an anode side catalyst layer positioned against the anode side middle layer and opposite to the anode side under layer and including a catalyst, where the amount of catalyst in the anode side catalyst layer is greater than the amount of catalyst in the anode side under layer.

Mitigation of membrane degradation by multilayer electrode

A membrane humidifier for a fuel cell with a wet side plate having a plurality of flow channels formed therein and a dry side plate having a plurality of flow channels formed therein, the flow channels of the wet side plate adapted to facilitate a flow of a wet gas therethrough and the flow channels of said dry side plate adapted to facilitate a flow of a dry gas therethrough, wherein a pressure drop in the humidifier is minimized and a humidification of a proton exchange membrane in the fuel cell is optimized.

Membrane humidifier for a fuel cell

A membrane humidifier assembly includes a first flow field plate adapted to facilitate flow of a first gas thereto and a second flow field plate adapted to facilitate flow of a second gas thereto. A polymeric membrane is disposed between the first and second flow fields and adapted to permit transfer of water from the first flow field plate to the second flow field plate. The polymeric membrane includes a polymer having perfluorocyclobutyl groups.

Perfluorocyclobutane based water vapor transfer membranes

A water transfer device can include first and second flow paths separated by a water transfer membrane and a hydrophilic diffusion medium. The hydrophilic diffusion medium is disposed between the water transfer membrane and the first flow path. Water content of a first fluid stream flowing through the first flow path is transferred through the diffusion medium and water transfer membrane and into a second fluid stream flowing through the second flow path. The hydrophilic diffusion medium is operable to absorb liquid water in the first fluid stream and hold the absorbed liquid water in contact with the water transfer membrane. The hydrophilic diffusion medium is also operable to diffuse water vapor in the first fluid stream and transport the water vapor to the water transfer membrane. The water transfer membrane transfers the water in contact therewith to the second fluid stream flowing through second flow path.

Water transfer device employing a water buffer to increase water flux

A membrane humidifier assembly includes a first flow field plate adapted to facilitate flow of a first gas thereto and a second flow field plate adapted to facilitate flow of a second gas thereto. A polymeric membrane is disposed between the first and second flow fields and adapted to permit transfer of water from the first flow field plate to the second flow field plate. The polymeric membrane includes a polymer having perfluorocyclobutyl groups and a pendant side chain having a protogenic group.

Perfluorocyclobutane based water vapor transfer membranes with side chain perfluorosulfonic acid moieties

A membrane humidifier for a fuel cell is disclosed, wherein a pressure drop in the humidifier is minimized and a humidification of a proton exchange membrane in the fuel cell is optimized.

A WVT unit for a fuel cell system that employs a spiral-wound design to reduce its size and increase its performance. The WVT unit includes a center tube having a plurality of openings through which the cathode exhaust gas flows. The WVT unit also includes a cylindrical portion wound around the center tube that includes a plurality of enclosures and a plurality of dry spacer layers separating the enclosures. Each enclosure includes a pair of membranes separated by a wet spacer layer. The dry cathode inlet air flows down the dry spacer layers between the enclosures and the cathode exhaust gas flows into the plurality of enclosures through the openings in the center tube along the wet spacer layers to allow the membranes to absorb humidification that is transferred to the cathode inlet air.

High performance, compact and low pressure drop spiral-wound fuel cell humidifier design

A bipolar plate for a fuel cell including pores extending between cooling fluid flow channels and reactant gas flow channels defined by the plate. Pervaporation membranes cover the pores and selectively allow water in the cooling fluid flowing down the cooling fluid flow channels to pervaporate through the membrane and humidify the reactant gas flowing down the reactant gas flow channels. In one embodiment, the bipolar plate includes two stamped unipolar plates secured together.

Internal proton exchange membrane humidification and cooling with automotive coolant

A fuel processing system is provided for reforming a hydrocarbon fuel. This fuel processing system utilizes a membrane separator to separate the hydrogen from the reformate stream. A CO-reduction and cleanup system works with the membrane separator to increase the production of hydrogen.

Fuel processing system having a membrane separator

A fuel processor system is provided including an autothermal reactor (ATR), a pressure swing adsorber (PSA) located downstream of the ATR, and a methanation reactor located downstream of the PSA. A method of operating of proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack involves cooling the methanator output and feeding it into the stack as an anode fuel.

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Honeoye Falls, NY, United States of America

Annette Brenner