Load-following vaporizer apparatus and method
    1.
    发明授权
    Load-following vaporizer apparatus and method 失效
    负载跟随蒸发器装置和方法

    公开(公告)号:US5249624A

    公开(公告)日:1993-10-05

    申请号:US977621

    申请日:1992-11-17

    摘要: A load-following vaporizer converts an inlet liquid reactant stream to an outlet vapor reactant stream. The vaporizer comprises a containment shell, a nozzle and a fin block. The fin block has a base in thermal contact a heat source, preferably a thermal fluid stream. The base has a plurality of evaporative heat transfer structures that are spaced from and generally radiate from the nozzle outlet. Each of the evaporative heat transfer structures has two principal surfaces oriented such that the extension of each of the surfaces intersects the nozzle outlet. Upon contacting the evaporative heat transfer structures, the atomized liquid reactant dispersion is vaporized to produce a vaporized reactant stream. The vaporizer rapidly responds to changes in the inlet liquid reactant flow rate to produce a corresponding change in the output vapor flow rate by minimizes the liquid inventory within the heated environment. The load-following vaporizer is compact, lightweight and compatible with other components of an integrated fuel processing system.

    摘要翻译: 负载跟随蒸发器将入口液体反应物流转换为出口蒸汽反应物流。 蒸发器包括容纳壳,喷嘴和翅片块。 翅片块具有热接触的基部,优选热流体流。 底座具有多个与喷嘴出口间隔开并且通常从喷嘴出口辐射的蒸发传热结构。 每个蒸发传热结构具有两个主表面,其取向为使得每个表面的延伸部与喷嘴出口相交。 在蒸发传热结构接触之后,雾化的液体反应物分散体被蒸发以产生蒸发的反应物流。 蒸发器快速响应入口液体反应物流速的变化,以通过使加热环境内的液体库存最小化来产生输出蒸汽流速的相应变化。 负载跟随蒸发器紧凑,重量轻,与集成燃料处理系统的其他部件兼容。

    Method and apparatus for commencing operation of a fuel cell electric
power generation system below the freezing temperature of water
    2.
    发明授权
    Method and apparatus for commencing operation of a fuel cell electric power generation system below the freezing temperature of water 失效
    一种低于水冷冻温度的燃料电池发电系统的运行方法和装置

    公开(公告)号:US5798186A

    公开(公告)日:1998-08-25

    申请号:US659921

    申请日:1996-06-07

    IPC分类号: H01M8/10 H01M8/04

    摘要: A method and apparatus are provided for starting and operating an electric power generation system comprising an electrochemical fuel cell stack for supplying electric current to an external electrical circuit. The stack comprises at least one fuel cell comprising a membrane electrode assembly comprising an anode, a cathode, and a water permeable ion exchange membrane interposed between the anode and the cathode. A fuel stream and an oxidant stream are each flowable to the fuel cell. At least a portion of the membrane electrode assembly has a temperature below the freezing temperature of water. The supply of electric current to the external circuit from the fuel cell stack is commenced such that the temperature of the membrane electrode assembly exceeds the freezing temperature of water.

    摘要翻译: 提供一种用于启动和操作包括用于向外部电路提供电流的电化学燃料电池堆的发电系统的方法和装置。 该堆叠包括至少一个燃料电池,其包括膜电极组件,该膜电极组件包括阳极,阴极和置于阳极和阴极之间的透水离子交换膜。 燃料流和氧化剂流各自可流到燃料电池。 膜电极组件的至少一部分具有低于水的冷冻温度的温度。 开始从燃料电池堆向外部电路供应电流,使得膜电极组件的温度超过水的冷冻温度。

    Electrochemical fuel cell stack with concurrent flow of coolant and
oxidant streams and countercurrent flow of fuel and oxidant streams
    3.
    发明授权
    Electrochemical fuel cell stack with concurrent flow of coolant and oxidant streams and countercurrent flow of fuel and oxidant streams 失效
    具有同时冷却剂和氧化剂流的电化学燃料电池堆以及燃料和氧化剂流的逆流

    公开(公告)号:US5773160A

    公开(公告)日:1998-06-30

    申请号:US721214

    申请日:1996-09-26

    IPC分类号: H01M8/02 H01M8/04 H01M8/24

    摘要: A fuel cell assembly within an electrochemical fuel cell stack has an anode layer and a cathode layer. A cooling layer is disposed adjacent the fuel cell assembly. Each layer comprises channels for directing a fluid stream from an inlet to a an outlet. The coolant stream channels extend such that, in operation, the coolest region of the cooling layer coincides with the region of the cathode layer having the highest concentration of oxygen (and/or the lowest water content), and the warmest region of the cooling layer coincides with the region of the cathode layer having the lowest concentration of oxygen (and/or the highest water content). The fuel stream channels extend such that, in operation, the fuel stream is directed to a region of the anode layer which coincides with the region of the cathode layer in which the oxidant stream has the lowest concentration of oxygen (and/or the highest water content) and is subsequently directed to a region of the anode layer which coincides with the region of the cathode layer in which the oxidant stream has the highest concentration of oxygen (and/or the lowest water content).

    摘要翻译: 电化学燃料电池堆内的燃料电池组件具有阳极层和阴极层。 冷却层设置在燃料电池组件附近。 每个层包括用于将流体流从入口引导到出口的通道。 冷却剂流通道延伸,使得在操作中,冷却层的最冷区域与具有最高氧浓度(和/或最低含水量)的阴极层的区域重合,并且冷却层的最热区域 与具有最低浓度氧(和/或最高含水量)的阴极层的区域重合。 燃料流通道延伸,使得在操作中,燃料流被引导到阳极层的与氧化剂流具有最低浓度氧(和/或最高水)的阴极层的区域重合的区域 含量),并且随后被引导到阳极层的与氧化剂流具有最高氧浓度(和/或最低水含量)的阴极层的区域重合的区域。

    Electrochemical fuel cell stack with compression bands
    5.
    发明授权
    Electrochemical fuel cell stack with compression bands 失效
    具有压缩带的电化学燃料电池堆

    公开(公告)号:US5993987A

    公开(公告)日:1999-11-30

    申请号:US96769

    申请日:1998-06-12

    IPC分类号: H01M8/10 H01M8/24

    CPC分类号: H01M8/247 H01M2300/0082

    摘要: An electrochemical fuel cell stack includes a plurality of fuel cell assemblies interposed between a pair of end plate assemblies. The mechanism for securing the stack in its compressed, assembled state includes at least one compression band which circumscribes the end plate assemblies and interposed fuel cell assemblies of the stack. At least one of the end plate assemblies is sufficiently thin so as to deflect under the compressive force if the at least one end plate assembly is supported only at a peripheral edge portion thereof. Preferably, at least one of the end plate assemblies comprises a resilient member which cooperates with each compression band to urge the first end plate assembly toward the second end plate assembly, thereby applying compressive force to the fuel cell assemblies to promote sealing and electrical contact between the layers forming the fuel cell stack.

    摘要翻译: 电化学燃料电池堆包括插入在一对端板组件之间的多个燃料电池组件。 用于将堆叠固定在其压缩的组装状态的机构包括至少一个压缩带,该压缩带围绕端板组件和中间堆叠的燃料电池组件。 至少一个端板组件足够薄,以便如果至少一个端板组件仅在其周边边缘部分处被支撑,则在压缩力下偏转。 优选地,端板组件中的至少一个包括与每个压缩带配合以将第一端板组件推向第二端板组件的弹性构件,从而向燃料电池组件施加压力,以促进燃料电池组件之间的密封和电接触 形成燃料电池堆的层。

    Electrochemical fuel cell stack with compression bands
    6.
    发明授权
    Electrochemical fuel cell stack with compression bands 失效
    具有压缩带的电化学燃料电池堆

    公开(公告)号:US5789091A

    公开(公告)日:1998-08-04

    申请号:US752735

    申请日:1996-11-19

    IPC分类号: H01M8/10 H01M8/24

    CPC分类号: H01M8/247 H01M2300/0082

    摘要: An electrochemical fuel cell stack includes a plurality of fuel cell assemblies interposed between a pair of end plate assemblies. The mechanism for securing the stack in its compressed, assembled state includes at least one compression band which circumscribes the end plate assemblies and interposed fuel cell assemblies of the stack. Preferably, at least one of the end plate assemblies comprises a resilient member which cooperates with each compression band to urge the first end plate assembly toward the second end plate assembly, thereby applying compressive force to the fuel cell assemblies to promote sealing and electrical contact between the layers forming the fuel cell stack.

    摘要翻译: 电化学燃料电池堆包括插入在一对端板组件之间的多个燃料电池组件。 用于将堆叠固定在其压缩的组装状态的机构包括至少一个压缩带,该压缩带围绕端板组件和中间堆叠的燃料电池组件。 优选地,端板组件中的至少一个包括与每个压缩带配合以将第一端板组件推向第二端板组件的弹性构件,从而向燃料电池组件施加压力,以促进燃料电池组件之间的密封和电接触 形成燃料电池堆的层。

    Method and apparatus for operating a fuel cell
    7.
    发明授权
    Method and apparatus for operating a fuel cell 失效
    用于操作燃料电池的方法和装置

    公开(公告)号:US06461751B1

    公开(公告)日:2002-10-08

    申请号:US09455033

    申请日:1999-12-06

    IPC分类号: H01M804

    CPC分类号: H01M8/04089

    摘要: The present invention relates to improving the overall efficiency of a fuel cell system by reducing parasitic power consumption. A controller is programmed to decrease oxidant stoichiometry until oxidant starvation is detected or until oxidant stoichiometry is about one. When oxidant starvation is detected, the oxidant stoichiometry is increased until oxidant starvation is no longer detected. The fuel cell system employs a sensor for detecting an operational characteristic such as voltage output, or oxygen or hydrogen concentration in the cathode exhaust stream. The controller uses the operational characteristic to calculate oxidant stoichiometry or to determine when there is oxidant starvation at the cathode.

    摘要翻译: 本发明涉及通过降低寄生电力消耗来提高燃料电池系统的整体效率。 控制器被编程为减少氧化剂化学计量,直到氧化剂缺乏被检测到或直到氧化剂化学计量约为1。 当检测到氧化剂饥饿时,氧化剂化学计量增加,直到不再检测到氧化剂饥饿。 燃料电池系统使用用于检测阴极排气流中的电压输出或氧气或氢气浓度的操作特性的传感器。 控制器使用操作特性来计算氧化剂化学计量或确定何时在阴极处存在氧化剂缺乏。

    Electrochemical fuel cell employing ambient air as the oxidant and
coolant
    8.
    发明授权
    Electrochemical fuel cell employing ambient air as the oxidant and coolant 失效
    使用环境空气作为氧化剂和冷却剂的电化学燃料电池

    公开(公告)号:US5470671A

    公开(公告)日:1995-11-28

    申请号:US171732

    申请日:1993-12-22

    摘要: An electrochemical fuel cell assembly includes a membrane electrode assembly which comprises an anode, a cathode having a surface thereof exposed to ambient air, and an ion exchange membrane interposed between the anode and the cathode. A seal forms a gas-impermeable barrier around the anode to which a gaseous fuel stream is supplied. The assembly further includes a thermally conductive plate having a plurality of thermally conductive members or fins extending from a major surface of the plate. The thermally conductive members contact portions of the exposed cathode surface. Adjacent thermally conductive members cooperate with the plate and the exposed cathode surface to form air conducting channels. Heat generated exothermically in the membrane electrode assembly is dissipated to the atmosphere through the thermally conductive members.

    摘要翻译: 电化学燃料电池组件包括膜电极组件,其包括阳极,其表面暴露于环境空气的阴极以及置于阳极和阴极之间的离子交换膜。 密封件在供给气态燃料流的阳极周围形成气体不可渗透的屏障。 组件还包括导热板,其具有从板的主表面延伸的多个导热构件或翅片。 导热构件接触暴露的阴极表面的部分。 相邻的导热构件与板和暴露的阴极表面配合以形成导气通道。 在膜电极组件中放热产生的热量通过导热部件散发到大气中。