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. 13, 2003
Filed:
May. 15, 2002
Albert P. Grasso, Vernon, CT (US);
David A. Condit, Avon, CT (US);
UTC Fuel Cells, LLC, South Windsor, CT (US);
Abstract
The invention is a freeze tolerant fuel cell power plant that includes at least one fuel cell and a water transport plate secured within the fuel cell having a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet that direct a water coolant through the plate. A suction water displacement system includes a freeze tolerant accumulator secured to the coolant inlet and a vacuum separator secured to the coolant outlet having a suction generating eductor secured to the separator. Control valves and a coolant pump selectively direct either the water coolant, heated, or unheated water immiscible fluid to cycle from the accumulator, through the coolant inlet, water transport plate, coolant outlet, vacuum separator and back to the accumulator in order to permit operation and storage of the plant in sub-freezing ambient temperatures.