Utc Fuel Cells, LLC

International Fuel Cells, LLC

Utc Power Corporation

Clearedge Power Corporation

Bryan F Dufner

Albert P Grasso

John L Preston

Jay C Files

Richard D Breault

Carl Anthony Reiser

Kazuo Saito

Sitaram Ramaswamy

Ronald G Martin

Myron Krasij

William A Taylor

Wolfgang M Vogel

Nileshkumar Trambaklal Dave

John W Kowalski

Benjamin Charles Nuttall

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.

Fuel cell system condensing heat exchanger

A fuel cell stack assembly includes a plurality of substantially uniform fuel cell components arranged in a stack and including end components; and pressure/end plate current collectors positioned adjacent to the end components.

Fuel stack assembly

An arrangement is provided in a fuel cell power plant () for dispensing () a liquid medium, such as water (), into a process oxidant (air) stream () that flows through one gas channel () in an energy recovery device (ERD) (). An exhaust gas stream () containing heat and moisture from the fuel cell () flows through another channel () in the ERD. An enthalpy exchange barrier () separates the one and the other gas channels, but allows mass and/or heat transfer therebetween. The water is injected into the air stream () in a controlled () amount, and perhaps temperature (), in response to sensed parameters () of the power plant, including the process air stream, to adjust one or more conditions in the power plant. Controlling ERD dryness, providing a defrost capability for the ERD, and/or preventing excessive water accumulation in the system are several of the conditions controlled.

Method and apparatus for humidification control of an energy recovery device in a fuel cell power plant

Method and apparatus are provided for removing contaminants from a hydrogen processor feed stream, as in a fuel cell power plant (). Inlet oxidant (), typically air, required by a catalytic hydrogen processor () in a fuel processor () for a fuel cell stack assembly () in the power plant (), may contain contaminants such as SOand the like. A cleansing arrangement, which includes an accumulator/degasifier () acting as a scrubber, and possibly also a water transfer device (), receives the inlet oxidant and provides the desired cleansing of contaminants. Water in the water transfer device and in the accumulator/degasifier serves to dissolve the water-soluble contaminants and cleanse them from the oxidant stream. The cleansed oxidant stream (') is then delivered to the hydrogen processor and to the fuel cell assembly, with minimal inclusion of detrimental contaminants such as sulfur.

Method for removal of contaminants from a hydrogen processor feed stream, as in a fuel cell power plant

Method and apparatus for removal of contaminants from a hydrogen processor feed stream, as in a fuel cell power plant

A sealant system for a manifold of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell includes low temperature cured or heat cured silicone rubber bridges between the end plates to compensate for the uneven edges of various fuel cell component layers, and a layer of silicone rubber foam or sponge, or a molded silicone rubber gasket extending across the bridges and along the end plates, around the entire contact perimeter surfaces of the manifold, to seal the manifold to the fuel cell. The cured silicone rubber may extend along the end plates between the bridges. A rubber strip may be adhered to the silicone rubber bridges and end plates. The bridges may comprise a first layer of low shrinkage self-leveling RTV liquid rubber with viscosity in the range of 10,000-20,000 cps and a second layer of RTV liquid rubber.

Proton exchange membrane fuel cell external manifold seal

An improved electrochemical cell such as a fuel cell is disclosed including a porous support plate for enhancing transport of fluids throughout the cell and for enhancing capacitance and transient response capability of the cell. The electrochemical cell includes an electrolyte having opposed major surfaces with an anode and a cathode electrode supported in intimate contact with the opposed major surfaces. A porous support plate is secured adjacent each electrode, and each porous support plate includes a contact bi-layer in intimate contact with the electrode. Each contact bi-layer is comprised of a hydrophobic phase including a mixture of carbon black and a hydrophobic polymer defining a network of hydrophobic gas passages and each contact bi-layer also includes a hydrophilic phase including a mixture of carbon black and a proton exchange resin defining a network of hydrophilic liquid passages integrated throughout the contact bi-layer. Each porous support plate also includes a porous substrate layer adjacent and supporting the contact bi-layer. A method of manufacture of the porous support plate includes the steps of preparing a hydrophobic phase compound, preparing a hydrophilic phase compound, mixing and filtering the two compounds to form a contact bi-layer, transferring the contact bi-layer onto a porous substrate layer to form a porous support plate. An alternative method includes an additional step of activating the contact bi-layer in an acid bath at controlled electrical potentials to enhance capacitance of the cell.

Electrochemical cell with a porous support plate

Method for making alloyed catalysts

An apparatus 124 using an aqueous solution consisting essentially of water for forming a compound which retards the deposition of iron-based compounds is disclosed. The apparatus includes a chamber 138 for forming steam which is injected through a nozzle 148 into a chamber 136. The pH of the aqueous solution, which is acidic, is raised in the presence of oxygen to cause Fe++ to come out of solution as a precipitate and the oxygen level is lowered to limit the growth in size of the precipitate.

Apparatus and process for forming an aqueous solution

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West Hartford, CT, United States of America

Bryan F Dufner