Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

University of Rochester

Yan Zhang

Annette Brenner

Glenn William Skala

Steven G Goebel

William Henry Pettit

Steven D Burch

Paul Taichiang Yu

John C Fagley

Ruola Ning

Craig S Gittleman

Hubert Gasteiger

Michael D Cartwright

John B Ruhl

Mahmoud H Abd Elhamid

Jeffrey Allan Rock

Gayatri Vyas Dadheech

Thomas A Trabold

Steven J Spencer

Steven R Falta

Keith E Newman

Eric L Thompson

Derek R Lebzelter

Daniel T Folmsbee

John P Nolan

Tai-Chiang Yu

Steffen Ruf

A method and an apparatus to adapt the performance of a cathode humidification unit as a membrane in a fuel cell stack degrades over time. An algorithm compares a sensed humidity profile of the fuel cell stack and model humidity profile of a cathode humidification unit model to calculate a new degradation factor. The cathode humidification unit model uses the degradation factor in the performance of the cathode humidification unit.

Cathode humidification unit adapting degradation factor

A fuel cell system includes a water vapor transfer unit and a fluid flow distribution feature, the water vapor transfer unit including a first plate having a plurality of first flow channels for receiving a flow of a first fluid therein, and a second plate having a plurality of second flow channels for receiving a flow of a second fluid therein. The fluid flow distribution feature is configured to control at least one of a volume of flow of the first fluid through the first flow channels and a volume of flow of the second fluid through the second flow channels, wherein at least one of a flow distribution of the first fluid across the first plate and a flow distribution of the second fluid across the second plate is varied.

Fuel cell system having a fluid flow distribution feature

A method for determining the water transfer in a water vapor transfer unit of a fuel cell system that employs a model based approach. The method includes determining a capacity ratio of wet streams and dry streams flowing through the water vapor transfer unit, determining the number of mass transfer units of the water vapor transfer unit, estimating a mass transfer effectiveness value given the capacity ratio and the number of mass transfer units for the water vapor transfer unit, and determining the amount of water transferred in the water vapor transfer unit using the mass transfer effectiveness value, the mass flow rates on a dry basis of the dry stream and the wet stream, and the mass flow rates of water of the dry inlet stream and the wet inlet stream.

Using an effectiveness approach to model a fuel cell membrane humidification device

One embodiment of the invention comprises a fuel cell bipolar plate comprising a substrate comprising a first face, a reactant gas flow field defined in the first face, the reactant gas flow field comprising a plurality of lands and channels, and a plurality of microgrooves formed in the first face.

Bipolar plate with microgrooves for improved water transport

A 3D metal artifacts correction technique corrects the streaking artifacts generated by titanium implants or other similar objects. A cone-beam computed tomography system is utilized to provide 3D images. A priori information (such as the shape information and the CT value) of high density sub-objects is acquired and used for later artifacts correction. An optimization process with iterations is applied to minimize the error and result in accurate reconstruction images of the object.

Method and apparatus for 3D metal and high-density artifact correction for cone-beam and fan-beam CT imaging

A membrane humidifier for a fuel cell with a wet side plate having a plurality of flow channels formed therein and a dry side plate having a plurality of flow channels formed therein, the flow channels of the wet side plate adapted to facilitate a flow of a wet gas therethrough and the flow channels of said dry side plate adapted to facilitate a flow of a dry gas therethrough, wherein a pressure drop in the humidifier is minimized and a humidification of a proton exchange membrane in the fuel cell is optimized.

Membrane humidifier for a fuel cell

A water transfer device can include first and second flow paths separated by a water transfer membrane and a hydrophilic diffusion medium. The hydrophilic diffusion medium is disposed between the water transfer membrane and the first flow path. Water content of a first fluid stream flowing through the first flow path is transferred through the diffusion medium and water transfer membrane and into a second fluid stream flowing through the second flow path. The hydrophilic diffusion medium is operable to absorb liquid water in the first fluid stream and hold the absorbed liquid water in contact with the water transfer membrane. The hydrophilic diffusion medium is also operable to diffuse water vapor in the first fluid stream and transport the water vapor to the water transfer membrane. The water transfer membrane transfers the water in contact therewith to the second fluid stream flowing through second flow path.

Water transfer device employing a water buffer to increase water flux

A system for the slow purge of a fuel cell stack. A pump can be used to keep the coolant circulating, so that the stack, an associated radiator, and coolant plumbing therebetween are maintained at the same temperature. The heat from the stack, liquid coolant, and radiator can be used to provide the heat of vaporization of the liquid in the stack, and the liquid water can be removed from the stack as water vapor. Because the air flow rate is relatively low, there is sufficient time for the water to vaporize and for the air to come to the same temperature as the stack, which is also facilitated by high surface area for heat transfer. Purge air can be drawn into the stack through the radiator, via a purge air blower, which preheats the air to help avoid frigid air contacting the stack.

Slow purge for improved water removal, freeze durability, purge energy efficiency and voltage degradation due to shutdown/startup cycling

A membrane humidifier for a fuel cell is disclosed, wherein a pressure drop in the humidifier is minimized and a humidification of a proton exchange membrane in the fuel cell is optimized.

An auxiliary coolant system, for a fuel cell stack system, includes a reversible coolant pump, a control valve, and plumbing lines. The pump enables the reversal of the coolant flow direction in the fuel cell stack system. The auxiliary coolant system is in parallel with the primary coolant system, and communicates with the primary coolant system via valves. During start-up, when coolant flow is from right-to-left through the fuel cell stack system, one valve of the primary coolant system will be partly open and control the amount of cold coolant make-up from the primary coolant system to the fuel cell stack while the valve of the auxiliary coolant system will be controlling the temperature differential between the inlet and outlet of the stack.

Flow shifting coolant during freeze start-up to promote stack durability and fast start-up

A WVT unit for a fuel cell system that employs a spiral-wound design to reduce its size and increase its performance. The WVT unit includes a center tube having a plurality of openings through which the cathode exhaust gas flows. The WVT unit also includes a cylindrical portion wound around the center tube that includes a plurality of enclosures and a plurality of dry spacer layers separating the enclosures. Each enclosure includes a pair of membranes separated by a wet spacer layer. The dry cathode inlet air flows down the dry spacer layers between the enclosures and the cathode exhaust gas flows into the plurality of enclosures through the openings in the center tube along the wet spacer layers to allow the membranes to absorb humidification that is transferred to the cathode inlet air.

High performance, compact and low pressure drop spiral-wound fuel cell humidifier design

A fuel processing system is provided for reforming a hydrocarbon fuel. This fuel processing system utilizes a membrane separator to separate the hydrogen from the reformate stream. A CO-reduction and cleanup system works with the membrane separator to increase the production of hydrogen.

Fuel processing system having a membrane separator

A fuel processor for rapid start and operational control. The fuel processor includes a reformer, a shift reactor, and a preferential oxidation reactor for deriving hydrogen for use in creating electricity in a plurality of H&#x2014;Ofuel cells. A heating and cooling mechanism is coupled to at least the shift reactor for controlling the critical temperature operation of the shift reactor without the need for a separate cooling loop. This heating and cooling mechanism produces or removes thermal energy as a product of the temperature of the combustion of air and fuel. Anode effluent and cathode effluent or air are used to control the temperature output of the heating mechanism. A vaporizer is provided that heats the PrOx reactor to operating temperature.

Integrated fuel processor for rapid start and operational control

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.

Growing community of inventors

Victor, NY, United States of America

Yan Zhang