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:
Sep. 28, 2004
Filed:
Jan. 11, 2002
Richard J. Assarabowski, Vernon, CT (US);
William T. Unkert, Tolland, CT (US);
Leonard A. Bach, West Hartford, CT (US);
Albert P. Grasso, Vernon, CT (US);
Benoit Charles Olsommer, Glastonbury, CT (US);
UTC Fuel Cells, LLC, South Windsor, CT (US);
Abstract
A keep warm system for a fuel cell, power plant ( ), typically of the PEM type, prevents freeze-sensitive portions of the power plant, such as the cell stack assembly (CSA) ( ) and the water management system ( ), from freezing under extreme cold external temperatures, during extended storage (CSA shut-down) periods. Pre-stored and pressurized fuel, typically hydrogen ( ), normally used to fuel the anode ( ) of the CSA, is used as fuel for a catalytic oxidation reaction at a catalytic burner ( ) to produce heated gas that convectively passes in heat exchange relation with the freeze sensitive portions ( ) of the power plant ( ). The convective flow of the heated gases induces the air flow to the burner ( ), obviating the need for parasitic electrical loads. Thermal insulating means ( ) substantially enclose the freeze-sensitive CSA ( ) and/or the water management system ( ), and the convective flow of the heated gas from the catalytic burner ( ), to improve system thermal efficiency.