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:
Feb. 04, 2003
Filed:
Sep. 29, 2000
Kenneth McClellan Rush, Jr., Clifton Park, NY (US);
Plug Power Inc., Latham, NY (US);
Abstract
A method and system for forming a hydrogen-rich reactant stream for use in a fuel cell is disclosed. The method comprises combining a hydrocarbon fuel with water to form humidified fuel and then pressurizing the humidified fuel. The pressurized, humidified fuel is then introduced to a fuel processor to produce a hydrogen-rich reactant for a fuel cell. By humidifying fuel prior to pressurization, a lower temperature of the water may be used compared to the temperature of the water required for humidifying pressurized fuel, thereby providing a more efficient method of producing a hydrogen-rich reactant for a fuel cell. Systems for effecting this method are also disclosed.