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:
Jun. 04, 2002
Filed:
Jun. 22, 2000
Applicant:
Inventors:
John Donahue, Sufield, CT (US);
Thomas F. Fuller, Glastonbury, CT (US);
Deliang Yang, Vernon, CT (US);
Jung S. Yi, Mansfield, CT (US);
Assignee:
UTC Fuel Cells, LLC, South Windsor, CT (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H01M 8/04 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
H01M 8/04 ;
Abstract
PEM fuel cell performance losses caused by phenomena occurring during normal cell operation are recovered by periodically reducing the cathode potential to about 0.6 volts or less, and preferably to 0.1 volt or less. Once the cathode potential is reduced to the desired low level, it is maintained at or below that level for a period of time. The lower the potential to which the cathode is brought, the more quickly regeneration will occur. After regeneration, the cell, when returned to normal operation, will operate at a higher performance level.