公开(公告)号：US20040028960A1

公开(公告)日：2004-02-12

申请号：US10213798

申请日：2002-08-07

申请人： Plug Power Inc.

发明人： James F. McElroy ,  Arne W. Ballantine ,  Richard L. Chartrand

IPC分类号： H01M008/00 ,  H01M008/06 ,  H01M008/04

CPC分类号： H01M8/0618 ,  C01B3/503 ,  C01B2203/0405 ,  C01B2203/0475 ,  H01M8/04089 ,  H01M8/04097 ,  H01M8/04111 ,  H01M8/04126 ,  H01M8/04201 ,  H01M8/0681 ,  H01M2008/1095 ,  H01M2250/20 ,  Y02P30/30 ,  Y02T90/32

摘要： The invention relates to fuel cell systems and associated methods of operation where an electrochemical cell such as a fuel cell is used as an electrochemical hydrogen separator to separate hydrogen from a process stream (e.g., reformate or synthesis gas), or as an electrochemical hydrogen expander to inject hydrogen into a process stream. In one aspect, the invention provides a method of operating a fuel cell system, including the following steps: flowing hydrogen from a hydrogen supply conduit through a fuel cell to provide an electric current to a load coupled to the fuel cell; actuating an electrochemical hydrogen separator in a first mode of operation of the system to transfer hydrogen from the hydrogen supply conduit to a hydrogen storage vessel; and actuating an electrochemical hydrogen expander in a second mode of operation of the system to transfer hydrogen from the hydrogen storage vessel to the fuel cell.

公开(公告)号：US20030022043A1

公开(公告)日：2003-01-30

申请号：US10121267

申请日：2002-04-12

申请人： Plug Power Inc.

发明人： James F. McElroy

IPC分类号： H01M008/04 ,  H01M016/00

CPC分类号： H01M16/006 ,  H01M8/04089 ,  H01M8/0447 ,  H01M8/04559 ,  H01M8/04753 ,  H01M8/04776

摘要： The invention provides a fuel cell system, including a fuel cell having an anode chamber and a cathode chamber, wherein the anode chamber is in fluid communication with a hydrogen reservoir, and wherein the cathode chamber has an inlet and an outlet. The cathode chamber comprises non-intersecting flow channels, and the non-intersecting flow channels provide fluid communication between the cathode inlet and outlet. The fuel cell has a first connection to an electrical load, wherein the first connection comprises a first diode adapted to prevent current flow to the fuel cell. A blower is in fluid communication with the cathode inlet. The blower has an electronic connection to a controller, and the blower is adapted to vary a flow of oxygen through the cathode chamber according to a control signal received from the controller. The system includes a battery having a second connection to the electrical load, the second connection being in parallel with the first connection of the fuel cell to the load, and the second connection comprising a second diode adapted to prevent current flow to the battery. The controller maintains the flow of oxygen such that an output power capacity of the fuel cell is limited by the amount of oxygen flowed through the fuel cell.

摘要翻译： 本发明提供了一种燃料电池系统，其包括具有阳极室和阴极室的燃料电池，其中所述阳极室与氢气储存器流体连通，并且其中所述阴极室具有入口和出口。 阴极室包括不相交的流动通道，并且不相交的流动通道提供阴极入口和出口之间的流体连通。 燃料电池具有到电负载的第一连接，其中第一连接包括适于防止电流流向燃料电池的第一二极管。 鼓风机与阴极入口流体连通。 鼓风机具有与控制器的电子连接，并且鼓风机适于根据从控制器接收的控制信号来改变通过阴极室的氧气流。 该系统包括具有与电负载的第二连接的电池，第二连接与燃料电池与负载的第一连接并联，并且第二连接包括适于阻止电流流向电池的第二二极管。 控制器维持氧流，使得燃料电池的输出功率容量受到通过燃料电池的氧气量的限制。

公开(公告)号：US20030104267A1

公开(公告)日：2003-06-05

申请号：US10232292

申请日：2002-08-30

申请人： Plug Power Inc.

发明人： Prathap Haridoss ,  Chockkalingam Karuppaiah ,  James F. McElroy ,  Jeffrey R. Boyer ,  Eric G. Budesheim

IPC分类号： H01M004/96 ,  H01M008/10 ,  H01M004/94

CPC分类号： H01M8/0234 ,  H01M4/8605 ,  H01M8/023 ,  H01M8/0236 ,  H01M8/0241 ,  H01M8/04291 ,  H01M8/1023 ,  H01M8/1039 ,  H01M2004/8684 ,  H01M2300/0082

摘要： The invention provides an anode gas diffusion layer for a fuel cell and methods for preparation and use thereof. In particular, a hydrophilic anode gas diffusion layer promotes water transfer through the fuel cell. As an example, in one aspect, the invention provides a fuel cell system, including a fuel cell with an anode gas diffusion layer. The anode gas diffusion layer has a contact angle with water less than 140null (e.g., in some cases less than 120null or less than 100null). In another aspect, the invention provides a gas diffusion layer for a hydrogen electrode of a PEM fuel cell that includes a carbon fiber media having a water contact angle of less than 140null.

摘要翻译： 本发明提供一种用于燃料电池的阳极气体扩散层及其制备和使用方法。 特别地，亲水性阳极气体扩散层促进通过燃料电池的水分传递。 作为一个实例，一方面，本发明提供一种燃料电池系统，其包括具有阳极气体扩散层的燃料电池。 阳极气体扩散层与水的接触角小于140°（例如，在一些情况下小于120°或小于100°）。 另一方面，本发明提供一种PEM燃料电池的氢电极的气体扩散层，其包括水接触角小于140°的碳纤维介质。

公开(公告)号：US20040028965A1

公开(公告)日：2004-02-12

申请号：US10214022

申请日：2002-08-07

申请人： Plug Power Inc.

发明人： James F. McElroy ,  Arne W. Ballantine ,  Richard L. Chartrand

IPC分类号： H01M008/06 ,  H01M008/04

CPC分类号： H01M8/0618 ,  F17C2270/0763 ,  H01M8/04089 ,  H01M8/04201 ,  H01M8/04402 ,  H01M8/04462 ,  H01M8/04619 ,  H01M8/04753 ,  H01M8/0681 ,  H01M2250/20 ,  H01M2250/405 ,  Y02B90/16 ,  Y02E60/321 ,  Y02T90/32

摘要： The invention relates to fuel cell systems and associated methods of operation where an electrochemical cell such as a fuel cell is used as an electrochemical hydrogen separator to separate hydrogen from a process stream (e.g., reformate or synthesis gas), or as an electrochemical hydrogen expander to inject hydrogen into a process stream. In one aspect, the invention provides a method of operating a fuel cell system, including the following steps: flowing hydrogen from a hydrogen supply conduit through a fuel cell to provide an electric current to a load coupled to the fuel cell; actuating an electrochemical hydrogen separator in a first mode of operation of the system to transfer hydrogen from the hydrogen supply conduit to a hydrogen storage vessel; and actuating an electrochemical hydrogen expander in a second mode of operation of the system to transfer hydrogen from the hydrogen storage vessel to the fuel cell.

摘要翻译： 本发明涉及燃料电池系统和相关联的操作方法，其中诸如燃料电池的电化学电池用作电化学氢气分离器以从工艺流（例如，重整产物或合成气）中分离出氢气，或者用作电化学氢气膨胀器 以将氢气注入工艺流。 一方面，本发明提供了一种操作燃料电池系统的方法，包括以下步骤：使氢气从氢气供应导管流过燃料电池，以向耦合到燃料电池的负载提供电流; 在所述系统的第一操作模式中致动电化学氢气分离器，以将氢气从氢气供应管道转移到氢存储容器; 以及在所述系统的第二操作模式中致动电化学氢气膨胀器，以将氢气从所述储氢容器转移到所述燃料电池。