Carrier Corporation

Utc Fuel Cells, LLC

Other

United Technologies Corporation

Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation

H Harvey Michels

Sunita Satyapal

William A Faris

David A Condit

Warren R Clough

Wayde R Schmidt

Michael L Perry

Richard D Breault

Philip J Birbara

Tobias H Sienel

Timothy A Nalette

Thomas P Filburn

Lowell E Paige

Thomas J Garosshen

Patrick L Hagans

James D Freihaut

Jeremy A Schrooten

Cynthia A Rice

John J Hinchen

Jesse M Marzullo

John Attanasio

A freeze tolerant fuel cell power plant () includes at least one fuel cell (), a coolant loop () including a freeze tolerant accumulator () for storing and separating a water immiscible fluid and water coolant, a direct contact heat exchanger () for mixing the water immiscible fluid and the water coolant within a mixing region () of the heat exchanger (), a coolant pump () for circulating the coolant through the coolant loop (), a radiator loop () for circulating the water immiscible fluid through the heat exchanger (), and a radiator () for removing heat from the coolant. The plant () utilizes the water immiscible fluid during steady-state operation to cool the fuel cell and during shut down of the plant to displace water from the fuel cell () to the freeze tolerant accumulator ().

Freeze tolerant fuel cell power plant with a direct contact heat exchanger

A high molecular weight direct antifreeze cooled fuel cellincludes an electrolytesecured between an anode catalystand a cathode catalysta porous anode substratesecured in direct fluid communication with and supporting the anode catalysta porous wetproofed cathode substratesecured in direct fluid communication with and supporting the cathode catalysta porous water transport platesecured in direct fluid communication with the porous cathode substrateand, a high molecular weight direct antifreeze solution passing through the porous water transport plateto cool and remove product water from the fuel cellThe high molecular weight direct antifreeze solution preferably includes polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight ranging from 200 to 8,000 AMU. The direct antifreeze solution does not leave the water transport platein significant quantities to poison the catalysts.

High molecular weight direct antifreeze cooled fuel cell

A regenerable high capacity carbon dioxide (CO ) sorbent is operated to remove substantially all of the CO present in either a dry, or a humid environment. The sorbent is an amine compound which is composed predominantly of secondary amine groups, and includes one or more functional nitrile groups. Primary and tertiary amine groups form a minor percent of the sorbent. The reaction product of tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA) and acrylonitrile (AN), which reaction product will be referred to hereinafter as &ldquo;TEPAN&rdquo; is a preferred sorbent. The addition of one or more nitrile functional groups to TEPA by reason of the reaction between AN and TEPA converts most of the primary amines in TEPA to secondary amines in TEPAN. We have discovered that the presence of predominantly secondary amines in the sorbent enhances the regenerable cyclic CO absorption capacity of the sorbent by more than two and one-half times, as compared to a TEPA sorbent bed; and the use of TEPAN as the sorbent bed also significantly reduces amine volatility to low levels which are immeasurable. The sorbent bed of this invention is also easily regenerable.

Sorbent system and method for absorbing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere of a closed habitable environment

A method is provided for preventing microbial growth on the collector plates (42) of an electronic air cleaner (10) by directing germicidal light, advantageously ultraviolet light, upon the surface of the collector plates (42) and the particulate material deposited thereon. At least one germicidal lamp (50) is disposed to irradiate ultraviolet light upon the collector plates (42) to destroy microbes that might be growing on the particulate material collected on the plates (42).

Method for preventing microbial growth in an electronic air cleaner

A system for the in situ destruction of compressible refrigerant from a refrigerant containing apparatus includes a refrigerant recovery apparatus (30) for receiving refrigerant from the refrigerant containing apparatus (20) and a refrigerant disposal apparatus (100) for destroying refrigerant received from the recovery apparatus. The disposal apparatus (100) includes a storage tank (110) for collecting refrigerant received from the recovery apparatus (30) and a reactor device (130) for receiving refrigerant collected in said storage tank and destroying the refrigerant received from the storage tank. The reactor device includes a reaction chamber (135) housing a replaceable reactor core (140) containing a reagent functional to chemically react with the received refrigerant. A heater device (138) is provided in operative association with the reaction chamber for heating the reactor core (140) to a desired temperature at which the reagent will most effectively react with the refrigerant.

Refrigerant disposal

An electronic air cleaner (10) includes a housing (20), a mechanical prefilter (30), an electrostatic precipitator cell (40) and at least one germicidal lamp (50). The electrostatic precipitator cell (40) includes a plurality of collector plates (42) for collecting thereon particulate material from the air stream. The germicidal lamp or lamps (50) are disposed to irradiating the collector plates (42) and any particulate material collected thereon with germicidal light to destroy microbial growth that might occur on the particulate material deposited on the collector plates. Reflectors (60) may be provided in operative association with the germicidal lamp or lamps (50) to concentrate the germicidal light unto the collecting surface of the collector plates (42).

Electronic air cleaner with germicidal lamp

A method for testing a non-hydrocarbon refrigerant, such as CFC-12 or HFC-134a, in a closed system for hydrocarbons, HCFC-22 refrigerant and ammonia is provided wherein a sample of the non-hydrocarbon refrigerant is withdrawn from the closed system, the pressure of the sample is measured and a metered portion of the sample is passed through a test apparatus (20) including a testing tube (30), a testing tube holder (40) for supporting the testing tube (30) and outfitted with a vent (48) to the atmosphere, and a pressure gauge (70) for indicating the pressure of the sample withdrawn. A medium (38) for indicating the presence of hydrocarbons in the sample flow passing through the testing tube is deposited on a surface disposed in the testing tube. The presence of undesired HCFC-22 refrigerant in the CFC-12 or HFC-134a is indicated by a higher pressure reading on the pressure gauge (70). Finally, the presence of ammonia is sensed by its characteristic pungent odor as the refrigerant sample flow is vented to the atmosphere.

Method and apparatus for testing a non-hydrocarbon refrigerant

A method and apparatus for testing refrigerant of one type for contamination by refrigerant of another type as would be the case if an air conditioning or refrigeration system charged with a non-chlorofluorocarbon refrigerant received a replenishment charge of a chlorofluorocarbon refrigerant. A sample of the suspected refrigerant mix is exposed to a reagent that will decompose the contaminant refrigerant but not the refrigerant that is proper for the system. The sample is then tested for a product of the decomposition. If the product is present, then one can conclude that the contaminant refrigerant is present.

Method and apparatus for testing refrigerant

An energetic compound having the structural formula

Growing community of inventors

West Hartford, CT, United States of America

H Harvey Michels