Ballard Power Systems Corporation

D-wave Systems Inc.

Daimler-benz Ag

Hydrogenics Corporation

Gordon J Lamont

David P Wilkinson

Henry H Voss

Sergey V Uchaykin

Murray C Thom

Richard David Neufeld

Jacob Craig Petroff

Alexander M Tcaciuc

Vesna Basura

David S Bruce

Stephen A Campbell

Michael T Davis

Juergen Stumper

Clemens Schwab

James T Dudley

J Craig Petroff

Nicholas J Fletcher

Alexandr M Tcaciuc

Chad Comeault

Roger William Harper

Systems and devices for providing differential input/output communication with a superconducting device are described. Each differential I/O communication is electrically filtered using a respective tubular filter structure incorporating superconducting lumped element devices and high frequency dissipation by metal powder epoxy. A plurality of such tubular filter structures is arranged in a cryogenic, multi-tiered assembly further including structural/thermalization supports and a device sample holder assembly for securing a device sample, for example a superconducting quantum processor. The ace between the cryogenic tubular assembly and room temperature electronics is achieved using hermetically sealed vacuum feed-through structures designed to receive flexible printed circuit board cable.

Input/output systems and devices for use with superconducting devices

Systems and devices for providing differential input/output communication with a superconducting device are described. Each differential I/O communication is electrically filtered using a respective tubular filter structure incorporating superconducting lumped element devices and high frequency dissipation by metal powder epoxy. A plurality of such tubular filter structures is arranged in a cryogenic, multi-tiered assembly further including structural/thermalization supports and a device sample holder assembly for securing a device sample, for example a superconducting quantum processor. The interface between the cryogenic tubular filter assembly and room temperature electronics is achieved using hermetically sealed vacuum feed-through structures designed to receive flexible printed circuit board cable.

Magnetic shields and magnetic shielding systems are described. The excessive spatial demands of known mu-metal/cryoperm and superconducting shielding systems are reduced by a new multi-piece shield construction approach. A complete magnetic shielding system for use with superconducting-based computing systems, such as superconducting quantum computing systems, is also described. This complete system may include mu-metal/cryoperm shields and superconducting shields using either compensatory magnetic fields, expulsion by temperature gradients, or a combination of the two.

Magnetic vacuum systems and devices for use with superconducting-based computing systems

A fuel cell fluid distribution layer, in one embodiment, comprises perforated graphite foil. The fluid distribution layer can have one or more reactant flow field channels formed in one or both major surfaces, one or more manifold openings, conductive filler on one or both major surfaces, conductive filler at least partially filling some or all perforations and/or an electrocatalyst one or both major surfaces.

Fuel cell fluid distribution layer having integral sealing capability

A pressure control system for controlling the pressure of a process fluid stream at a certain location having a pressure regulator disposed in the process fluid stream, through which the process fluid stream flows. A first pilot controller senses the pressure of the process fluid at the location and receives a control pressure from a control source. A second pilot controller receives the control pressure from the control source and provides added pressure. An inspirator receives the added pressure from the second pilot controller and generates a differential pressure. The differential pressure is used to control the pressure of the process fluid stream within the pressure regulator. The pressure regulator comprises a first chamber and a second chamber therein separated by a flexible element and a divider is disposed in the first chamber and operative to abut against the flexible element to divide the first chamber into separate spaces. Preferably, the pressure regulator is disposed such that the flexible element extends substantially in vertical direction and the divider extends substantially in horizontal direction.

Pressure control system for low pressure operation

An electrochemical fuel cell comprises a pair of separator plates and a pair of fluid distribution layers interposed between the separator plates. At least one of the fluid distribution layers comprises a sealing region and an electrically conductive, fluid permeable active region, and a preformed sheet material extending into each of the sealing region and the active region. An ion exchange membrane is interposed between at least a portion of the fluid distribution layers, and a quantity of electrocatalyst is interposed between at least a portion of each of the fluid distribution layers and at least a portion of the membrane, thereby defining the active region. Compression of the preformed sheet material by urging of the pair of plates towards each other renders the at least one fluid distribution layer substantially fluid impermeable in a direction parallel to the major planar surfaces, in the sealing region. The performed sheet material included in the at least one fluid distribution layer thus has intrinsic sealing capability. This approach reduces or eliminates the need for separate gaskets or sealing components and integrates several functions, such as sealing, fluid distribution, and current collection, in a single layer.

Electrochemical cell with fluid distribution layer having integral

A method and apparatus detects and locates perforations in membranes used in electrochemical cells. The membrane has first and second oppositely facing major planar surfaces. The first surface is exposed to a first reactant fluid, preferably a gaseous mixture comprising hydrogen, while the second surface is exposed to a second reactant fluid, preferably ambient air comprising oxygen. The first and second reactant fluids are substantially fluidly isolated from each other by the membrane when no perforations are present in the membrane. The first reactant fluid contacts the second reactant fluid when at least one perforation is present in the membrane. The first and second reactant fluids exothermically react upon contact, preferably in the presence of a catalyst, to generate heat, which is then detected using an infrared thermal detector or thermal imaging device or a layer of thermally sensitive film positioned in proximity with the membrane.

Method and apparatus for detecting and locating perforations in

An embossed fluid flow field plate for electrochemical cells comprises two sheets of compressible, electrically conductive material. Each sheet has two oppositely facing major surfaces. At least one of the major surfaces has an embossed surface which has a fluid inlet formed therein. The embossed surface has at least one open-faced channel embossed therein extending from the fluid inlet for conducting pressurized fluid introduced at the fluid inlet. A metal sheet is interposed between each of the compressible sheets. The compressible, electrically conductive sheet preferably comprises graphite foil. A method of fabricating an embossed separator plate for use in conjunction with an electrochemical fuel cell comprises (1) providing two sheets of compressible, electrically conductive sheet material, (2) interposing a metal sheet between each of the compressible sheets, and (3) embossing an open-faced channel in at least one of the surfaces of the sheets facing away from the metal sheet.

Method of fabricating an embossed fluid flow field plate

An embossed fluid flow field plate for electrochemical cells comprises two sheets of compressible, electrically conductive material. Each sheet has two oppositely facing major surfaces. At least one of the major surfaces has an embossed surface which has a fluid inlet formed therein. The embossed surface has at least one open-faced channel embossed therein extending from the fluid inlet for conducting pressurized fluid introduced at the fluid inlet. A metal sheet is interposed between each of the compressible sheets. The compressible, electrically conductive sheet preferably comprises graphite foil.

Embossed fluid flow field plate for electrochemical fuel cells

A method and apparatus selectively oxidizes, within the fuel cell assembly, the carbon monoxide present in a fuel stream fed to the assembly. A quantity of catalyst is contained within at least a portion of a fuel stream passageway within the stack. The carbon monoxide is selectively oxidized by the catalyst to carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide produced by the reverse water-shift reaction is also oxidized.

Electrochemical fuel cell assembly with integral selective oxidizer

An electrochemical fuel cell assembly includes a membrane electrode assembly which comprises an anode, a cathode having a surface thereof exposed to ambient air, and an ion exchange membrane interposed between the anode and the cathode. A seal forms a gas-impermeable barrier around the anode to which a gaseous fuel stream is supplied. The assembly further includes a thermally conductive plate having a plurality of thermally conductive members or fins extending from a major surface of the plate. The thermally conductive members contact portions of the exposed cathode surface. Adjacent thermally conductive members cooperate with the plate and the exposed cathode surface to form air conducting channels. Heat generated exothermically in the membrane electrode assembly is dissipated to the atmosphere through the thermally conductive members.

Electrochemical fuel cell employing ambient air as the oxidant and

A method and apparatus oxidizes the carbon monoxide present in an incoming reactant fuel stream and/or carbon monoxide produced by the reverse water-shift reaction to carbon dioxide in a reactant stream introduced to an electrochemical fuel cell. The reactant stream comprises hydrogen, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. A first oxygen-containing gas stream is introduced into the reactant stream through a first port disposed between the reactant stream inlet and the reactant stream outlet. A further oxygen-containing gas stream is introduced into the reactant stream through at least one secondary port located between the first port and the reactant stream outlet.

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Vancouver, Canada

Gordon J Lamont