Modine Manufacturing Company

Joseph R Stevenson

Mark G Voss

Alan Paul Meissner

Gregory G Hughes

Gregory A Mross

Liping Cao

Nicholas Siler

A hydrogen storage and release device () is provided for storing and releasing hydrogen from a metal hydride () contained in the device () based on heat transfer to or from a coolant flow provided through the device (). The device () includes a housing () and a metal hydride containing a tube bundle located within the housing (), with the exteriors () of the tubes () of the bundle () being reduced over a selected length to provide a free flow area for the coolant flow.

Hydrogen storage and release device

Energy consumption is minimized in the fuel cell system including a fuel cellhaving a fuel inlet, an oxidant inlet, a cathode gas outletand an anode tail gas outlet. At least one humidifier, is interposed between a source of air or fuel and includes an interior energy containing medium flow pathin heat exchange relation with a reactant flow pathtogether with a sourceof water connected to the reactant flow pathto be vaporized therein. The energy containing medium flow pathis connected to one of the outletsto receive a heated fluid therefrom to provide the heat of vaporization to the aqueous material.

Humidification of reactant streams in fuel cells

Degradation of membranes in fuel cellsdue to dehydration by relatively dry incoming reactant gases is avoided through the use of a humidifierin the incoming reactant streams,At least one of the humidifiersis formed in a stackhaving alternating flow passageswith the former receiving reactant gases and including finstherein and the latter receiving hot coolant from the fuel cellThe finsin the flow spacesare provided with a hydrophilic coating to foster filmwise evaporation of water introduced through a nozzleThe humidifier causes the reactant gas to attain a desired dewpoint before it is provided to the membranes of the fuel cell

Contact heater/humidifier for fuel cell systems

An integrated condenser/separator ( ) is provided for condensing and separating a condensate ( ) from a cathode exhaust gas flow ( ) in a fuel cell system ( ). The condenser/separator includes a housing ( ) and one or more baffle plates ( ) positioned in the housing ( ) to divide the interior of the housing ( ) into two or more gas flow chambers ( ) each containing a stack ( ) of heat exchange units ( ). A condensate drain ( ) is provided in each of the gas flow chambers ( ) to drain condensate therefrom. The condenser/separator ( ) can be configured into any reasonable and independent number of coolant and gas side passes as maybe required to meet the thermodynamic and pressure drop requirements of each particular application.

Integrated condenser/separator for fuel cell exhaust gases

Uncomfortable air temperatures in an air conditioned vehicle immediately following start up of the air conditioning system or when the air conditioning system compressor is being driven at low speeds are avoided in a cooling system including a blower (22) for blowing air into a compartment (10). An air/liquid heat exchanger (30) is located at the outlet (34) of the blower (22) for cooling air received from the blower (22). The system includes a compressor (50), an expansion device (58), a condenser (54) and a liquid/refrigerant evaporator (64) for expanding refrigerant and cooling a liquid coolant which is circulated through a thermal storage device (92) and the heat exchanger (30) by a pump (86). Upon system start up, or when the compressor (50) is being driven at low speed, the coolant is cooled by the thermal storage device (92) to provide a means of cooling air from the blower (22). At all other times, the coolant is cooled by expansion of refrigerant within the evaporator (64) to not only provide a coolant for use in the heat exchanger (30), but a coolant for recharging the thermal storage device (92) as well.

Growing community of inventors

Kenosha, WI, United States of America

Joseph R Stevenson