The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 30, 2000
Filed:
Oct. 22, 1998
Applicant:
Inventors:
Thomas F Fuller, Glastonbury, CT (US);
Douglas J Wheeler, Tolland, CT (US);
Assignee:
International Fuel Cells, LLC, South Windsor, CT (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H01M / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
429 13 ; 429 14 ; 429 17 ; 429 20 ; 429 24 ; 429 26 ; 429 32 ; 429 34 ; 429 38 ; 429 39 ;
Abstract
A proton exchange membrane fuel cell has methanol or ethanol fed into the coolant passages during shut down so as to prevent water trapped therein from freezing in sub-freezing environments. Upon start-up, a controlled amount of air is fed through the cathode reactant flow field so that alcohol diffusing to the cathode catalyst is oxidized, producing heat which will raise the temperature of the fuel cell above freezing, and to a normal operating temperature. A heat exchanger in the coolant water circulating loop may be bypassed during start-up.