Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Ingo Hermann

Michael Standke

Rainer Pechtold

Martin Stadie

Markus Lindner

Thorsten Rohwer

Jader Matos Da Silva

Michael Leykauf

Philip Klaus

Axel Junge

Hans-Gerd Dusterwald

Andre&prime; Mack-Gardner

Nadine Knoeting

A method and system for automatically calibrating a pressure sensor in a hydrogen storage system for a fuel cell vehicle. A low-range pressure sensor in the fuel cell system, which has much greater accuracy at low pressure readings, is used to calibrate a high-range pressure sensor in the hydrogen storage system. This calibration can only be done when a pressure regulator situated between the two sensors is in a fully open position. In such a condition, the high-range sensor can be calibrated to the value of the low-range sensor, thus improving the accuracy of the high-range sensor's readings. The calibration can be a simple setting of the high-range sensor to the value of the low-range sensor under static conditions, or the calibration can be done while gas is flowing from the hydrogen storage system to the fuel cell by accounting for the pressure drop between the two sensors.

Calibration of a pressure sensor in a hydrogen storage system

A process for manufacturing a compressed gas tank that includes a combination of an injection molding process and a rotomolding process. In a first step, a boss to be positioned in the opening of an outer structural layer of the tank is provided and a thin portion of the liner is injection molded to the boss so that a channel within the boss is filled with the liner material to increase the seal integrity between the boss and the liner. Once the liner material is hardened, the surface of the injection molding liner portion is cleaned. Next, a rotomolding process is performed to mold the remaining portion of the liner to the boss. During the rotomolding process, the injection molded portion of the liner melts to be part of the liner made during the rotomolding process.

Manufacturing process for hydrogen pressure tank

A tank for storing a compressed gas, such as hydrogen, that includes a connection assembly to increase seal integrity. The tank includes an inner gas tight liner and an outer support layer that provides the structural integrity. The connection assembly includes a boss positioned within an opening of the support layer. The inner liner includes a neck portion extending through an internal bore of the boss having an outer collar or flange at an outside surface of the boss. A tank valve is bolted to the boss at an outer perimeter of the collar where a portion of the tank valve extends through the neck portion of the liner and into the tank.

Hydrogen pressure tank including an inner liner with an outer annular flange

A fuel cell includes a cathode layer, an anode layer and a heat exchange plate. The heat exchange plate is in heat exchange relationship with one of the anode layer and cathode layer. The heat exchange plate includes a series of heating channels formed therein. The heating channels have a catalyst coating that promotes an exothermic reaction. The catalyst layer promotes oxidization of hydrogen (H) thereby releasing heat.

Apparatus and method for internal stack temperature control

A system for modulating a temperature of one or more fuel cells in a fuel cell stack includes a catalytic combustor in heat exchange relationship with the fuel cell stack. The catalytic combustor promotes an exothermic reaction. A hydrogen source selectively supplies hydrogen (H) to the catalytic combustor. The Hreacts with oxygen (O) in the exothermic reaction. In one feature, the catalytic combustor lies adjacent to the fuel cell stack and includes a series of catalyst coated flow channels. In another feature, the catalytic combustor includes a plate having a catalyst layer and that is offset from the fuel cell stack. Heat to radiates from the catalytic combustor to the fuel cell stack. In still another feature, a jacket encloses the fuel cell stack to form a gap between the jacket and the fuel cell stack through which hot exhaust from the catalytic combustor circulates.

Apparatus and method for stack temperature control

A fuel processing sub-system is provided and includes a cold-flame vaporizer in fluid communication with an auto-thermal reformer. The cold-flame vaporizer operates within a temperature range of approximately 310&#xb0; C. to 500&#xb0; C. for enabling a cold-flame reaction, whereby partial oxidization of a volume of fuel occurs for producing heat. The produced heat is used to vaporize the remaining volume of fuel and superheat a volume of saturated steam supplied to the cold-flame vaporizer. The vaporized fuel, water (steam) and a supply of air are efficiently mixed within the cold-flame vaporizer for supply to the auto-thermal reformer at a temperature below 500&#xb0; C. In order to ensure the cold-flame reaction, the cold-flame vaporizer is operated with an O/C ratio of 0.5 to 2.3, an S/C ratio of 1.5 to 3.0 and a pressure of 1.5 to 3.0 bar-g. In this manner, turndown ratios are achievable for applications having transient power demands.

Process for utilization of a cold-flame vaporizer in auto-thermal reforming of liquid fuel

A burner arrangement for the combustion of a fuel gas/oxygen mixture, characterized by a body permeable for the mixture whose surface regions defining the free cross section of flow are covered with an oxidation catalyst, by a feeder device arranged on an intake side of the body permeable for the mixture which distributes the mixture over at least essentially the entire active intake area of the intake side and by a layer coordinated with the feeder device and separating the catalytic combustion zone of the permeable body from the mixture inflow, but permeable for it, which serves as a flashback safety.

Catalytic burner for a fuel gas generating stack system

A catalytic combuster having a mixing section upstream of a combustion section. The mixing section includes a multi-port injector for injecting a first reactant gas into the mixing section in a plurality of directions perpendicular the direction or flow of a second reactant gas.

Catalytic combuster

Apparatus for storing a combustible gas including a pressure storage vessel, a pressure relief valve communicating with the storage vessel for venting the gas from the vessel when the pressure therein is too high, and a catalytic reactor communicating with the pressure relief valve to catalytically combust the gas exiting the valve and thereby reduce the amount of such gas that enters the environment.

Growing community of inventors

Mainz, Germany

Ingo Hermann