Rotoliptic Technologies Incorporated

Loop Energy Inc.

Dpoint Technologies Inc.

Power Disc Development Corporation Ltd.

Electromotion Energy Corporation

Greg John Montie

Bryan Allen Callaway

Curtis Warren Mullen

Matthew Paul Paone

Raoul Jacob Kingma

Sean Michael MacKinnon

David Earl Leger

James Franklin Dean

Robert Hill

Peter Thomas Christopher Suke

Rogan David Milatz

Braden Adam Murphy

Robert John Charles Pearson

Sheilah Melissa Galati

James Andrew Leskosek

Adrian James Corless

Darren Alan Esau

Jess Donald Lloyd Orton

Jai Zachary

Rodney Bruce Redlich

Rotary positive displacement machines based on trochoidal geometry and including a helical rotor that undergoes planetary motion relative to a helical stator can be designed and configured so that the axial load or rotor pressure force is positive, negative, or neutral. In some embodiments, a change in axial load, caused by a change in differential pressure across the machine, can be used to trigger a change in a mechanical configuration of the machine.

Axial load in helical trochoidal rotary machines

Rotary positive displacement machines can include a rotor having a teardrop-shaped profile that undergoes planetary motion relative to a stator having an elliptical or near-elliptical profile. In some embodiments, these rotary positive displacement machines can be used for a variety of applications including as positive displacement pumps. In some embodiments the rotor and stator are helical. In some embodiments the rotor comprises a dynamic seal. Aspects of the machine geometry can be selected to provide operational and/or durability benefits.

Pumps, compressors, and expanders with a teardrop-shaped rotor

An electrolyzer or unitized regenerative fuel cell has a flow field with at least one channel, wherein the cross-sectional area of the channel varies along at least a portion of the channel length. In some embodiments the channel width decreases along at least a portion of the length of the channel according to a natural exponential function. The use of this type of improved flow field channel can improve performance and efficiency of operation of the electrolyzer device.

Reactant flow channels for electrolyzer applications

Improved solids handling in rotary positive displacement machines, where the machines are based on trochoidal geometry, can be achieved through the use of solids-handling features on the surface of the rotor and/or stator and/or by the use of modified seals mounted on the rotor or stator. In at least some embodiments the rotary machines comprise a helical rotor that undergoes planetary motion relative to a helical stator.

Helical trochoidal rotary machines with improved solids handling

Sealing in rotary positive displacement machines based on trochoidal geometry that comprise a helical rotor that undergoes planetary motion within a helical stator is described. Seals can be mounted on the rotor, the stator, or both. The rotor can have a hypotrochoidal cross-section, with the corresponding stator cavity profile being the outer envelope of the rotor as it undergoes planetary motion, or the stator cavity can have an epitrochoidal cross-section with the corresponding rotor profile being the inner envelope of the trochoid as it undergoes planetary motion. In some embodiments, the geometry is offset in a manner that provides advantages with respect to sealing in the rotary machine. In multi-stage embodiments, the rotor-stator geometry remains substantially constant or varies along the axis of the rotary machine.

Sealing in helical trochoidal rotary machines

Fuel cell assemblies comprising at least one thermally compensated coolant channel are provided. The thermally compensated coolant channel has a cross-sectional area that decreases in the coolant flow direction along at least a portion of the channel length. In some embodiments, such thermally compensated coolant channels can be used to provide substantially uniform heat flux, and substantially isothermal conditions, in fuel cells operating with substantially uniform current density.

Fuel cell flow field design for thermal management

Rotary positive displacement machines based on trochoidal geometry that includes a helical rotor that undergoes planetary motion relative to a helical stator are described. The rotor can have a hypotrochoidal-based cross-sectional shape, with the corresponding stator cavity cross-sectional shape being the outer envelope of the rotor cross-sectional shape as it undergoes planetary motion, or the stator cavity can have an epitrochoidal-based cross-sectional shape with the corresponding rotor cross-sectional shape being the inner envelope of the stator cross-sectional shape as it undergoes planetary motion. Such machines can be configured so that the stator axis is spaced from the rotor axis, the rotor is configured to spin about its axis and the stator is configured to spin about its axis, and/or the rotor and the stator are held at a fixed eccentricity so that the rotor undergoes planetary motion relative to the stator, but does not orbit.

Fixed-eccentricity helical trochoidal rotary machines

Rotary positive displacement machines based on trochoidal geometry, that comprise a helical rotor that undergoes planetary motion within a helical stator are described. The rotor can have a hypotrochoidal cross-section, with the corresponding stator cavity profile being the outer envelope of the rotor as it undergoes planetary motion, or the stator cavity can have an epitrochoidal cross-section with the corresponding rotor profile being the inner envelope of the trochoid as it undergoes planetary motion. In some embodiments, the geometry is offset in a manner that provides structural and/or operational advantages in the rotary machine.

Helical trochoidal rotary machines with offset

A rotary machine, for directing a quantity of fluid from an inlet to an outlet, comprises one or more elliptical or near-elliptical rotors having planetary rotation within a housing. The interior cavity of the housing comprises an inverse apex region that is in contact with the rotor during its rotation. In various embodiments the rotor and housing can be symmetric or asymmetric in cross-section. Features are described that can improve the operation of the machine for various end-use applications. Such features include cut-outs that are fluidly connected to the inlet or outlet ports of the machine, mechanisms for reducing variation in output flow rate from the rotary machine, linings for the interior cavity of the housing, pressure relief mechanisms, dynamic apex seals and other sealing mechanisms.

Rotary machine

A fuel cell anode flow field includes at least one flow channel with a cross-sectional area that varies along at least a portion of its length. In some embodiments, the channel width decreases along at least a portion of the channel length according to a natural exponential function. This type of anode flow field can improve performance, reduce fuel consumption and/or reduce detrimental effects such as carbon corrosion and catalyst degradation, thereby improving fuel cell longevity and durability. When operating the fuel cell on either a substantially pure or a dilute fuel stream, this type of anode flow field can provide more uniform current density. These flow channels can be incorporated into reactant flow field plates, fuel cells and fuel cell stacks.

Fuel cell flow channels and flow fields

Rotary positive displacement machines with trochoidal geometry that comprise a helical rotor that undergoes planetary motion within a helical stator are described. The rotor can have a hypotrochoidal cross-section, with the corresponding stator cavity profile being the outer envelope of the rotor as it undergoes planetary motion, or the stator cavity can have an epitrochoidal cross-section with the corresponding rotor profile being the inner envelope of the trochoid as it undergoes planetary motion. In some multi-stage embodiments, the rotor-stator geometry remains substantially constant along the axis of the rotary machine. In other multi-stage embodiments, the rotor-stator geometry varies along the axis of the rotary machine.

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Surrey, Canada

Greg John Montie