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:
Jan. 17, 2006
Filed:
Feb. 06, 2003
Carl A. Reiser, Stonington, CT (US);
Frederick F. Sribnik, Windsor, CT (US);
Carl A. Reiser, Stonington, CT (US);
Frederick F. Sribnik, Windsor, CT (US);
UTC Fuel Cells, LLC, South Windsor, CT (US);
Abstract
A PEM fuel cell system () has a multifunction oxidant manifold () disposed contiguously beneath a fuel cell stack (), serving as coolant accumulator (). An electric heater () is powered by the fuel cell electrical output () during frozen startup. Auxiliary pump () and conduits () forces water () above oxidant pressure in upper coolant manifold (), into the oxidant flow fields to be warmed before flowing from the oxidant exhaust to the accumulator to melt additional ice. Alternatively, melted coolant is forced by oxidant pressure into coolant channels for heating. Conduit () conducts coolant from the coolant flow fields to the accumulator. A condensing heat exchanger () embedded in accumulator coolant receives oxidant exhaust. A condensing heat exchanger () has cold inlet air () and warm moist oxidant exhaust () on opposite sides, condensing liquid into the accumulator. Melting of coolant may be started by a heater () powered by a battery () or by circulating externally heated () glycol.