Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Novomer, Inc.

John B Ruhl

Craig S Gittleman

Kyle Sherry

Yan Zhang

Alexander Tseitlin

Christian König

Konstantin A Pokrovski

William Henry Pettit

Sadesh H Sookraj

Han Lee

Annette Brenner

Yousef M Jarrah

Ronald L James

Mark A Meltser

Kiran Mallavarapu

Robert E Lapointe

Detlef Günther

Disclosed are methods for treating an ethylene oxide stream suitable for use in carbonylation reactions. Such treatment uses an inorganic solid to remove water from the ethylene oxide stream. Discloses are also systems to carry out the methods herein.

Methods and systems for treatment of ethylene oxide

Provided herein are absorbent polymers produced from beta-propiolactone, and methods and systems of producing such polymers. The beta-propiolactone may be derived from ethylene oxide and carbon monoxide. The absorbent polymer may be bio-based and/or biodegradable. The absorbent polymers may be used for diapers, adult incontinence products, and feminine hygiene products, as well as for agricultural applications.

Absorbent polymers, and methods and systems of producing thereof and uses thereof

The present invention is directed to reactor apparatus and processes for thermolysis of polypropiolactone to produce highly pure acrylic acid. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the processes comprise introducing a feed stream comprising polypropiolactone to a thermolysis process vessel through an inlet; maintaining a concentration of active salt by adding and removing portions of active salt by at least one inlet and at least one outlet; heating the thermolysis process vessel; and recovering a product including acrylic acid from an outlet. In certain preferred embodiments, the active salt may be present as a catalyst used for polymerization of the polypropiolactone in the feed stream. In some embodiments, one or more active salts may be added to the feed stream and/or the thermolysis process vessel.

Thermolysis of polypropiolactone to produce acrylic acid

A system and method for improving air humidification for fuel cell applications includes a fuel cell stack having a cathode inlet and a cathode outlet. The cathode inlet receives an oxidant. A humidifier humidifies the oxidant prior to delivery of the oxidant to the cathode inlet. An injection nozzle is provided, and a volume of water substantially vaporized by the injection nozzle reduces a temperature of the oxidant and increases a water transfer rate of the humidifier. The injection nozzle can be positioned either directly upstream of the humidifier in the oxidant inlet line or in a stack cathode outlet line which is directed into the humidifier.

Air humidification for fuel cell applications

A fluid delivery device for an electrochemical conversion assembly. In one embodiment, the electrochemical conversion assembly is a fuel cell system. The device includes one or more fluid-manipulating components combined into a housing to minimize weight, size and complexity. In one form, the device may include a compressor, heat exchanger and a water vapor transfer unit, at least the latter two of which are located within a chamber defined by the housing. A controller can be used to monitor and selectively vary the extent to which at least one of these components modifies properties a fluid (such as air) that can be used as a reactant in the electrochemical conversion assembly. In a particular form, the heat exchanger and water vapor transfer unit can cooperate to promote the hydration of the reactant.

Integrated air supply with humidification control for fuel cell power systems

A fuel processor system is provided including an autothermal reactor (ATR), a pressure swing adsorber (PSA) located downstream of the ATR, and a methanation reactor located downstream of the PSA. A method of operating of proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack involves cooling the methanator output and feeding it into the stack as an anode fuel.

Carbon monoxide clean-up in a PEM fuel cell system

A stand-alone fuel processor () for producing hydrogen from a hydrocarbon fuel for a fuel cell engine in a vehicle. The fuel processor () includes a primary reactor () that dissociates hydrogen and other by-products from the hydrocarbon fuel as a reformate gas. The reformate gas is applied to a WGS reactor () to convert carbon monoxide and water to hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The WGS reactor () may include an adsorbent for adsorbing carbon monoxide. The reformate gas from the WGS reactor () is then sent to a rapid-cycle PSA device () for adsorbing the undesirable by-products in the gas and generates a stream of pure hydrogen. A liquid water separator () separates water from the reformate gas before it is applied to the PSA device (). The PSA device () uses a portion of the separated hydrogen as a desorbing gas to purify the adsorbent in the PSA device (). The by-products of the reformate gas can be used as a fuel in a combustor () that generates heat for the primary reactor ().

Fuel processor module for hydrogen production for a fuel cell engine using pressure swing adsorption

A PSA unit for purifying hydrogen in a fuel processor system. The PSA unit employs rotary valves that cycle the pressurization of vessels, including an adsorbent, between a high pressure state and a low pressure state. The purified hydrogen is released from the vessels through a purified gas output port when the vessels are in the high pressure state and the impurities are released through an exhaust port when the vessels are in the low pressure state. The PSA unit also employs a mass flow control device and a pressure sensor in the purified gas output port. A controller receives a pressure signal from the pressure sensor, and controls the flow through the mass flow control device and the speed of the rotary valves so that the proper pressure is maintained at the hydrogen output port.

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Rochester, NY, United States of America

John B Ruhl