Plug Power Inc.

Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Richard L Chartrand

Arne Watson Ballantine

James F McElroy

Norio Komura

Glenn A Eisman

Ikuya Yamashita

John W Parks

Wieslaw J Zielinski

Glen E Benson

A combination fuel cell and hydrogen or oxygen pump includes an electrochemical cell comprising an anode inlet for receiving fuel, an anode outlet for exhausting fuel, a cathode inlet for receiving oxidant, a cathode outlet for exhausting oxidant, and first and second electrical connectors. A controller is operable for applying an electrical load to the electrochemical cell for generating electricity, and for applying an electrical potential to the electrochemical cell for purifying hydrogen or purifying oxygen. Methods and infrastructure systems are also disclosed.

Combination fuel cell and ion pump, and methods and infrastructure systems employing same

The invention relates to fuel cell systems and associated methods of operation where an electrochemical cell such as a fuel cell is used as an electrochemical hydrogen separator to separate hydrogen from a process stream (e.g., reformate or synthesis gas), or as an electrochemical hydrogen expander to inject hydrogen into a process stream. In one aspect, the invention provides a method of operating a fuel cell system, including the following steps: flowing hydrogen from a hydrogen supply conduit through a fuel cell to provide an electric current to a load coupled to the fuel cell; actuating an electrochemical hydrogen separator in a first mode of operation of the system to transfer hydrogen from the hydrogen supply conduit to a hydrogen storage vessel; and actuating an electrochemical hydrogen expander in a second mode of operation of the system to transfer hydrogen from the hydrogen storage vessel to the fuel cell.

Method and apparatus for electrochemical compression and expansion of hydrogen in a fuel cell system

A method includes (1) operating a fuel processing reactor to convert a hydrocarbon into reformate; (2) flowing reformate through a first pressure regulator to reduce the pressure of the reformate; (3) supplying reformate from the first pressure regulator to a fuel cell to generate electrical power; (4) flowing a portion of the reformate from the fuel processor to a second pressure regulator to reduce the pressure of the reformate while generating the electrical power with the fuel cell; and (5) supplying reformate from the second pressure regulator to the hydrogen purification system while generating the electrical power with the fuel cell.

Method and apparatus for a combined fuel cell and hydrogen purification system

Growing community of inventors

Ballston Lake, NY, United States of America

Richard L Chartrand