Energy Research Corporation

US Government As Represented by the Secretary of the Army

Bernard S Baker

Martin G Klein

Dilip J Dharia

Hansraj C Maru

Chang V Chi

Ralph N Camp

Hossein G Ghezel-Ayagh

A fuel cell apparatus in which the anode gas chambers of the fuel cells of the apparatus are provided with a reforming catalyst and a catalyst chamber running in the direction of the anode chambers is also provided with reforming catalyst and is in heat conducting relationship with the fuel cell apparatus, the gas exit port of the catalyst chamber being aligned with and coupled to the gas entry ports of the anode chambers.

Fuel cell apparatus for internal reforming

A fuel cell system of the internally reforming type wherein the gas exhausted from the anode section of the fuel cell of the system is applied to a gas separation means which separates the fuel process gas from the exhausted gas to the exclusion of the other gas constituents in said exhausted gas.

Fuel cell system

A gas cooling assembly for a fuel cell wherein a first carbonized plate includes opposing first and second surfaces, one of which having a plurality of grooves for carrying a cooling gas and a second carbonized plate includes first and second opposing surfaces, one of which is flat and abuts the grooves in said one surface of the first plate and the other of which has a plurality of grooves for carrying process gas.

Fuel cell cooling assembly

A fuel cell system wherein a fuel conditioner supplied with fuel and with exhausted cathode gas is adapted to partially oxidize a portion of the fuel with the cathode exhaust gas and to utilize at least the water in the oxidation products and at least the water in the cathode exhaust gas to steam reform a portion of the fuel to produce fuel process gas.

Fuel cell system for mobile applications

A fuel cell system wherein the fuel and oxidant gases are supplied to the respective anode and cathode sections of the system fuel cell at different pressures, the pressure of the fuel gas being lower than that of the oxidant gas which is maintained high to promote fuel cell efficiency.

Fuel cell system with anode and cathodes operating at different pressures

An electrolyte-electrode assembly for high temperature fuel cells in which the electrolyte member is adapted to exhibit a more gradual transition in coefficient of thermal expansion in going from the anode electrode to the inner electrolyte region and in going from the cathode electrode to such inner electrolyte region.

Electrolyte-electrode assembly for fuel cells

A matrix member for carrying the acid electrolyte of a fuel cell comprised of a first layer containing a carbon material and a second layer containing a silicon carbide material. A further matrix member is disclosed wherein the mean pore size of the member is substantially equal to or less than that mean pore size of at least one of the fuel cell electrodes.

Matrix member for containing fuel cell acid electrolyte

Thermal control and fuel processing in fuel cell operation is effected through sensible heat of process gas and hydrocarbon reforming by supplying process gas in common to a flow passage in communication with the cell electrolyte and an additional gas flow passage which is isolated from the cell electrolyte and includes catalyst promoting endothermic reforming of hydrocarbon content of the process gas. Flow level in the electrolyte-communicative flow passage is selected based on desired output electrical energy and flow level in the additional gas flow passage is selected in accordance with desired cell operating temperature and desired extent of fuel processing.

Fuel cell thermal control and reforming of process gas hydrocarbons

A fuel cell includes a separator plate having first and second flow channels extending therethrough contiguously with an electrode and respectively in flow communication with the cell electrolyte and in flow isolation with respect to such electrolyte. In fuel cell system arrangement, the diverse type channels are suplied in common with process gas for thermal control purposes. The separator plate is readily formed by corrugation of integral sheet material.

Electrochemical cell and separator plate thereof

A hybrid fuel cell secondary battery system suitable for low power sensor plications is provided. The system comprises in combination, a fuel cell, a fully contained fuel and oxidant source for the fuel cell, a DC to DC power processor for boosting the voltage output from the fuel cell, and a nickel-cadmium battery in parallel with the output from the DC to DC processor to sustain peak power drains.

Fuel cell-secondary cell combination

Electrode structures for fuel cells are made by blending noble metal black, dry polytetrafluoroethylene and a soluble bulking agent in a liquid, filtering liquid from the blend and rolling the remnant to form a sheet of fibrillated polytetrafluoroethylene containing noble metal black and bulking agent. The bulking agent may be leached from the sheet and the sheet then pressed or the sheet may be first pressed and the bulking agent then leached from the sheet.

Method of making a fuel cell electrode

An electrode substrate is described which is suitable for supporting noble metal electrodes in fuel cells and similar electrochemical cells. It is composed of fine graphite particles enmeshed in a web of fibers of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) produced by forming a homogeneous mixture of graphite particles and PTFE powder in an organic liquid, removing the liquid, and milling the mixture in a series of steps to form a thin, porous, electrically conductive sheet of graphite-PTFE which is an excellent support for thin film metallic electrodes and which is resistant to corrosive electrolytes.

Growing community of inventors

Brookfield Center, CT, United States of America

Bernard S Baker