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:
Nov. 17, 2015
Filed:
May. 06, 2013
GM Global Technology Operations Llc, Detroit, MI (US);
Stuart D. Barter, Lima, NY (US);
Jon P. Owejan, Honeoye, NY (US);
Christopher J. Towner, Hamlin, NY (US);
GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A component for reducing the likelihood of ice-related blockage in a fuel cell and methods for starting a fuel cell system. In one embodiment, the component is a separate insert configured with a sharp leading edge such that water droplets present in a reactant fluid that pass through an orifice in the component are conveyed away from an unstable formation at the edge to a more stable formation in an adjacent part of the component. In one form, the component is sized to fit within a valve inlet that in turn is placed in a humid reactant flowpath. In this way, when the fuel cell is operated in cold conditions—such as those associated with temperatures at or below the freezing point of water—the water droplets do not freeze in the area around the orifice such that ice-related blockage of the flowpath does not occur.