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. 26, 2008
Filed:
Feb. 28, 2006
Glen E. Benson, Schenectady, NY (US);
Arne W. Ballantine, Round Lake, NY (US);
John W. Parks, Loudonville, NY (US);
Wieslaw J. Zielinski, Watervliet, NY (US);
Eric T. White, Guilderland Center, NY (US);
Robert A. Sinuc, Glenmont, NY (US);
Glen E. Benson, Schenectady, NY (US);
Arne W. Ballantine, Round Lake, NY (US);
John W. Parks, Loudonville, NY (US);
Wieslaw J. Zielinski, Watervliet, NY (US);
Eric T. White, Guilderland Center, NY (US);
Robert A. Sinuc, Glenmont, NY (US);
Plug Power Inc., Latham, NY (US);
Abstract
Fuel cell systems and associated methods of operation are provided whereby application of a fuel cell is coordinated with a fuel processor and a hydrogen separator. One such method includes the following steps: (1) operating a fuel processor to convert a hydrocarbon to reformate; (2) reacting the reformate in a fuel cell to generate electrical power; (3) supplying the electrical power to an electrical load, wherein the electrical load has a power requirement threshold; (4) determining whether the electrical power from the fuel cell is below the power requirement threshold; (5) increasing a flow of reformate from the fuel processor to the fuel cell when the electrical power from the fuel cell is below the power requirement threshold; (6) flowing a portion of the reformate from the fuel processor to a hydrogen separator; (7) storing hydrogen from the hydrogen separator in a hydrogen storage vessel; (8) monitoring an amount of hydrogen stored in the hydrogen storage vessel; and (9) adjusting a proportional valve upstream from the fuel cell toward a closed position when the amount of hydrogen in the hydrogen storage tank is below a predetermined threshold to increase a proportion of the reformate from the fuel processor that is flowed to the hydrogen separator.