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:
Dec. 28, 2004
Filed:
Dec. 30, 2002
Emily A. Dykeman, Cheyenne, WY (US);
Patrick L. Hagans, Columbia, CT (US);
Leslie L. Van Dine, Manchester, CT (US);
UTC Fuel Cells, LLC, South Windsor, CT (US);
Abstract
The invention is a method of using a temporary dilute surfactant water solution to enhance mass transport in a fuel cell ( ) that generates electrical current from hydrogen containing reducing fluid and oxygen containing oxidant reactant streams. The method includes the steps of: a. directing the dilute surfactant water solution to flow through a cathode flow field ( ) of a fuel cell ( ); b. then removing the solution from the fuel cell ( ); and, c. then directing flow of the reactant streams through the flow fields ( ) ( ). The temporary dilute surfactant water solution has a surface tension of not less than 50 dynes/cm. Flowing the temporary dilute surfactant water solution through the fuel cell ( ) for a temporary, short duration improves mass transport of the cell ( ) even after the solution is removed from the cell ( ).