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:
Aug. 21, 2007
Filed:
Nov. 26, 2003
Timothy A. Bekkedahl, Loveland, CO (US);
Lawrence J. Bregoli, Southwick, MA (US);
Ned E. Cipollini, Enfield, CT (US);
Timothy W. Patterson, East Hartford, CT (US);
Marianne Pemberton, Manchester, CT (US);
Jonathan Puhalski, Winsted, CT (US);
Carl A. Reiser, Stonington, CT (US);
Richard D. Sawyer, Groveton, NH (US);
Margaret M. Steinbugler, East Windsor, CT (US);
Jung S. Yi, Mansfield Center, CT (US);
Timothy A. Bekkedahl, Loveland, CO (US);
Lawrence J. Bregoli, Southwick, MA (US);
Ned E. Cipollini, Enfield, CT (US);
Timothy W. Patterson, East Hartford, CT (US);
Marianne Pemberton, Manchester, CT (US);
Jonathan Puhalski, Winsted, CT (US);
Carl A. Reiser, Stonington, CT (US);
Richard D. Sawyer, Groveton, NH (US);
Margaret M. Steinbugler, East Windsor, CT (US);
Jung S. Yi, Mansfield Center, CT (US);
UTC Power Corporation, South Windsor, CT (US);
Abstract
A fuel cell power plant includes a fuel cell having a membrane electrode assembly (MEA), disposed between an anode support plate and a cathode support plate, the anode and/or cathode support plates include a hydrophilic substrate layer having a predetermined pore size. The pressure of the reactant gas streams is greater than the pressure of the coolant stream, such that a greater percentage of the pores within the hydrophilic substrate layer contain reactant gas rather than water. Any water that forms on the cathode side of the MEA will migrate through the cathode support plate and away from the MEA. Controlling the pressure also ensures that the coolant water will continually migrate from the coolant stream toward the anode side of the MEA, thereby preventing the membrane from becoming dry. Proper pore size and a pressure differential between coolant and reactants improves the electrical efficiency of the fuel cell.