Catalytic combustors keeping contained medium warm in response to hydrostatic valve

Abstract

The medium (), such as water, of a container (), such as a fuel cell accumulator, is kept above freezing by a hydrogen/oxygen catalytic combustor () fed hydrogen from a source comprising a mechanical thermostatic valve () in thermal communication () with the container () and connected to a hydrogen supply (). The combustor may comprise an ejector () having hydrogen through its primary inlet () drawing air through a secondary inlet (). The combustor may comprise a diffusion combustor having a catalyst () spaced from a heating surface () and a diffusion control plate () low partial pressure of oxygen at the catalyst causing diffusion through the barrier. Water vapor from combustion condenses on a surface () and is led by hydrophilic woven carbon paper () to wicking material (), which has smaller pores than the carbon paper, which leads the water downwardly, through a disk () and plugs () to atmospheric air. The noble metal catalyst mixture includes TEFLON® to permit water generated by combustion to flow by gravity out of the catalyst.