Utc Fuel Cells, LLC

International Fuel Cells, LLC

Utc Power Corporation

United Technologies Corporation

Leslie L Van Dine

Richard D Breault

Albert P Grasso

Margaret M Steinbugler

Carl Anthony Reiser

Paul R Margiott

David A Condit

Glenn W Scheffler

Donald L Maricle

Deliang Yang

Thomas F Fuller

Thomas M Clark

John C Trocciola

John H Whiton

Richard D Sawyer

Michael E Gorman

Robin J Guthrie

Patrick L Hagans

Leonard J Bonville

Jeremy P Meyers

George Vartanian

Yu Wang

William P Collins

Emily A Dykeman

George S Hirko

Javier Resto

Joshua D Isom

Alfred Meyer

Alfred P Meyer

Bryan L Murach

Parthasarathy Seshadri

Brian F Dufner

James R Geschwindt

Edward J Bludnicki

Elizabeth A Allen

Michael S Demissie

Bryan Murach

An inlet fuel distributor (-) has a permeable baffle () between a fuel supply pipe () and a fuel inlet manifold () causing fuel to be uniformly distributed along the length of the fuel inlet manifold. A surface () may cause impinging fuel to turn and flow substantially omnidirectionally improving its uniformity. Recycle fuel may be provided () into the flow downstream of the fuel inlet distributor. During startup, fuel or inert gas within the inlet fuel distributor and the fuel inlet manifold may be vented through an exhaust valve () in response to a controller () so as to present a uniform fuel front to the inlets of the fuel flow fields ().

Permeable inlet fuel gas distributor for fuel cells

A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack having a first plurality of fuel cells each having an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte disposed therebetween, the first plurality of fuel cells being communicated with a source of hydrogen-containing fuel and oxidant so as to generate an electric current, an oxidant exhaust stream and a hydrogen-containing exhaust stream; the stack further having a second plurality of fuel cells each having an anode, a counter electrode and an electrolyte disposed therebetween, the second plurality of fuel cells being communicated with the electric current and the hydrogen-containing exhaust stream so as to produce a hydrogen rich stream, the first plurality of fuel cells being communicated with the second plurality of fuel cells to receive the hydrogen rich stream as at least a portion of the source of hydrogen-containing fuel.

Fuel cell stack including hydrogen pumping fuel cells

A PEM fuel cell power plant system () has a process air pump (), which may be a fan, a blower or a compressor, with an adiabatic efficiency of between 40% and 70%. The process air at the inletof the cathode reactant gas flow fieldis between 1.07 atmospheres and 1.85 atmospheres, and may be at an optimal pressure for maximum overall system efficiency={0.45+2.6&#x2212;1.8} atms&#xb1;0.2 atmswhere P is the air inlet pressure and E is the adiabatic efficiency of the process air pump.

Maximizing PEM fuel cell power plant system efficiency at optimum system pressure

A procedure for starting up a fuel cell system that is disconnected from its primary load and that has air in both its cathode and anode flow fields includes a) connecting an auxiliary resistive load across the cell to reduce the cell voltage; b) initiating a recirculation of the anode flow field exhaust through a recycle loop and providing a limited flow of hydrogen fuel into that recirculating exhaust; c) catalytically reacting the added fuel with oxygen present in the recirculating gases until substantially no oxygen remains within the recycle loop; disconnecting the auxiliary load; and then d) providing normal operating flow rates of fuel and air into respective anode and cathode flow fields and connecting the primary load across the cell. The catalytic reaction may take place on the anode or within a catalytic burner disposed within the recycle loop. The procedure allows start-up of the fuel cell system without the use of an inert gas purge while minimizing dissolution of the catalyst and corrosion of the catalyst support during the start-up process.

Procedure for starting up a fuel cell system having an anode exhaust recycle loop

A fuel cell power plant system includes the ability to operate an enthalpy recovery device even under cold conditions. A bypass arrangement allows for selectively bypassing one or more portions of the enthalpy recovery device under selected conditions. In one example, the enthalpy recovery device is completely bypassed under selected temperature conditions to allow the device to freeze and then later to be used under more favorable temperature conditions. In another example, the enthalpy recovery device is selectively bypassed during a system startup operation. One example includes a heater associated with the enthalpy recovery device. Another example includes preheating oxidant supplied to one portion of the enthalpy recovery device.

Low temperature fuel cell power plant operation

Water flow field inlet manifolds () are disposed at the fuel cell stack () base. Water flow field outlet manifolds () are located at the fuel cell stack top. Outlet and inlet manifolds are interconnected () so gas bubbles leaking through the porous water transport plate cause flow by natural convection, with no mechanical water pump. Variation in water level within a standpipe () controls () the temperature or flow of coolant. In another embodiment, the water is not circulated, but gas and excess water are vented from the water outlet manifolds. Water channels () may be vertical. A hydrophobic region () provides gas leakage to ensure bubble pumping of water. An external heat exchanger () maximizes water density differential for convective flow.

PEM fuel cell passive water management

The invention is a method of using a temporary dilute surfactant water solution to enhance mass transport in a fuel cell ( ) that generates electrical current from hydrogen containing reducing fluid and oxygen containing oxidant reactant streams. The method includes the steps of: a. directing the dilute surfactant water solution to flow through a cathode flow field ( ) of a fuel cell ( ); b. then removing the solution from the fuel cell ( ); and, c. then directing flow of the reactant streams through the flow fields ( ) ( ). The temporary dilute surfactant water solution has a surface tension of not less than 50 dynes/cm. Flowing the temporary dilute surfactant water solution through the fuel cell ( ) for a temporary, short duration improves mass transport of the cell ( ) even after the solution is removed from the cell ( ).

Method of using a temporary dilute surfactant water solution to enhance mass transport in a fuel cell

A fuel cell power plant with enhanced water recovery includes a fuel cell power plant adapted to receive a reducing fluid and an oxidant and to generate therefrom electricity and an at least partially saturated exhaust stream; a mass and energy transfer device defining a first flow passage for the wet exhaust stream and a second flow passage for an oxidant stream, the first flow passage being in mass transfer relationship with the second flow passage; and an apparatus for cooling at least one of the oxidant stream, the exhaust stream and the mass and energy transfer device, whereby water is transferred from the exhaust stream to the oxidant stream so as to produce an at least partially saturated oxidant stream. A method is also disclosed.

Actively-cooled water recovery in fuel cell power plants

A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell for reacting a hydrogen rich gas; a fuel processor system for converting a hydrocarbon fuel-steam mixture into said hydrogen rich gas; and a system for preparing the hydrocarbon fuel-steam mixture which includes (a) structure for superheating a hydrocarbon fuel so as to provide a superheated fuel, and (b) structure for mixing water with the superheated fuel so as to provide the hydrocarbon fuel-steam mixture.

System and method for preparing fuel for fuel processing system

An improved water management system for PEM fuel cells is provided. Catalyst layers are disposed on both sides of a proton exchange membrane. Porous plates are positioned adjacent the catalyst layers. Water transport plates are positioned adjacent the porous plates and the reactant gas are humidified at their inlets, in one embodiment by fins, while moisture is removed in the fuel flow path and at the oxidant outlet, in one embodiment by other fins.

Water management system for fuel cell

The invention reduces free water volume in a fuel cell power plant so support systems of the plant are freeze tolerant. The fuel cell power plant includes a coolant system having a sealed cooler plate that circulates an antifreeze coolant in heat exchange with a fuel cell and that collects fuel cell water; a water vapor removal system that removes water vapor from the antifreeze coolant to regulate the antifreeze concentration; and a start-up system having a start-up heat exchanger and a start-up valve that selectively direct heated antifreeze coolant into the cooler plate for a start-up procedure. The plant may also include a fuel processing system that utilizes the removed water vapor, and that is in heat exchange with the start-up heat exchanger. The antifreeze coolant is a low vapor pressure solution, such as an alkanetriol or polyethylene glycol.

Fuel cell power plant having a reduced free water volume

A procedure for shutting down an operating fuel cell system that recirculates a portion of the anode exhaust in a recycle loop, includes disconnecting the primary load from the external circuit, stopping the flow of air to the cathode, and applying an auxiliary resistive load across the cells to reduce and/or limit cell voltage and reduce the cathode potential while fuel is still flowing to the anode and the anode exhaust is recirculating. The fuel flow is then stopped, but the anode exhaust continues to be circulated in the recycle loop to bring the hydrogen therein into contact with a catalyst in the presence of oxygen to convert the hydrogen to water, such as in a catalytic burner. The recirculating is continued until substantially all the hydrogen is removed. The cell may then be completely shut down. No inert gas purge is required as part of the shut-down process.

Procedure for shutting down a fuel cell system having an anode exhaust recycle loop

A fuel cell power plant having a plurality of functionally integrated components including a fuel cell assembly provided with a fuel stream, an oxidant stream and a coolant stream. The fuel cell power plant functionally integrates a mass and heat recovery device for promoting a transfer of thermal energy and moisture between a first gaseous stream and a second gaseous stream, and a burner for processing the fuel exhausted from the fuel cell assembly during operation thereof. A housing chamber is utilized which accepts the oxidant stream exhausted from the fuel cell assembly after the exhausted oxidant stream has merged with a burner gaseous stream exhausted from the burner. The resultant merged airflow is subsequently directed to the housing chamber and to the mass and heat recovery device as the first gaseous stream.

Functional integration of multiple components for a fuel cell power plant

A direct antifreeze cooled fuel cell power plant is disclosed. The plant includes at least one fuel cell a thermal management system that directs flow of a cooling fluid for controlling heat within the plant, including a direct antifreeze solution passing through the water transport plate. The plant also integrates the direct antifreeze solution with a direct mass and heat transfer device, a water treatment system, and a steam injection system so that the direct antifreeze solution minimizes problems related to operation of the plant in sub-freezing conditions. A preferred antifreeze solution is an alkanetriol selected from the group consisting of glycerol, butanetriol, and pentanetriol. The direct antifreeze solutions minimize movement of the antifreeze as a vapor out of a water transport plate into contact with cathode or anode catalysts, and also minimize direct antifreeze solution loss from other power plant systems.

Direct antifreeze cooled fuel cell power plant

A coolant treatment system for a direct antifreeze cooled fuel cell power plant including a degassifier for providing interaction between an oxidant and an antifreeze solution which has circulated throughout the fuel cell power plant so that dissolved gases within the antifreeze solution are removed. The fuel cell power plant is configured to allow the antifreeze solution to be in direct fluid communication with the fuel cell assemblies comprising the fuel cell power plant.

Growing community of inventors

Manchester, CT, United States of America

Leslie L Van Dine