摘要:
A fuel cell power plant (10) having a fuel concentration sensor cell (54) is disclosed for detecting a concentration of fuel in a fuel cell (12) of the plant (10). A portion of a fuel exhaust stream is directed to flow through the sensor cell (54) adjacent to a membrane electrode assembly (60) of the sensor cell (54). A power circuit (62) may or may not deliver an electrical current to the cell (12), while changes in voltage across the cell (12) that are proportional to changes in hydrogen concentrations within the fuel exhaust stream are detected by a detector (68) which communicates the changes to a controller (108) for controlling a rate of fuel supply to the fuel cell (12). A porous sensor water transport plate (74) cools, humidifies delivers and removes liquid from the sensor cell (12).
摘要:
The invention is a hydrogen passivation shut down system for a fuel cell power plant (10). An anode flow path (24) is in fluid communication with an anode catalyst (14) for directing hydrogen fuel to flow adjacent to the anode catalyst (14), and a cathode flow path (38) is in fluid communication with a cathode catalyst (16) for directing an oxidant to flow adjacent to the cathode catalyst (16) of a fuel cell (12). Hydrogen fuel is permitted to transfer between the anode flow path (24) and the cathode flow path (38). A hydrogen reservoir (66) is secured in fluid communication with the anode flow path (24) for receiving and storing hydrogen during fuel cell (12) operation, and for releasing the hydrogen into fuel cell (12) whenever the fuel cell (12) is shut down.
摘要:
The invention is a hydrogen passivation shut down system for a fuel cell power plant (10). An anode flow path (24) is in fluid communication with an anode catalyst (14) for directing hydrogen fuel to flow adjacent to the anode catalyst (14), and a cathode flow path (38) is in fluid communication with a cathode catalyst (16) for directing an oxidant to flow adjacent to the cathode catalyst (16) of a fuel cell (12). Hydrogen fuel is permitted to transfer between the anode flow path (24) and the cathode flow path (38). A hydrogen reservoir (66) is secured in fluid communication with the anode flow path (24) for receiving and storing hydrogen during fuel cell (12) operation, and for releasing the hydrogen into fuel cell (12) whenever the fuel cell (12) is shut down.
摘要:
The invention is a start up system and method for a fuel cell power plant (10) using a purging of the cathode flow field (38) with a hydrogen rich reducing fluid fuel to minimize corrosion of the cathode electrode (16). The method for starting up the shut down fuel cell power plant (10) includes the steps of: a. purging the cathode flow field (38) with the reducing fluid fuel; b. then, directing the reducing fluid fuel to flow through an anode flow field (28); c. next, terminating flow of the fuel through the cathode flow field (38) and directing an oxygen containing oxidant to flow through the cathode flow field (38); and, d. finally, connecting a primary load (70) to the fuel cell (12) so that electrical current flows from the fuel cell (12) to the primary load (70).
摘要:
The invention is a hydrogen passivation shut down system for a fuel cell power plant (10). An anode flow path (24) is in fluid communication with an anode catalyst (14) for directing hydrogen fuel to flow adjacent to the anode catalyst (14), and a cathode flow path (38) is in fluid communication with a cathode catalyst (16) for directing an oxidant to flow adjacent to the cathode catalyst (16) of a fuel cell (12). Hydrogen fuel is permitted to transfer between the anode flow path (24) and the cathode flow path (38). A hydrogen reservoir (66) is secured in fluid communication with the anode flow path (24) for receiving and storing hydrogen during fuel cell (12) operation, and for releasing the hydrogen into the fuel cell (12) whenever the fuel cell (12) is shut down.
摘要:
A membrane electrode assembly includes an anode; a cathode; a membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode; and an extended catalyzed layer between the membrane and at least one electrode of the anode and the cathode. The extended catalyzed layer includes catalyst particles embedded in membrane material and preferably includes a first plurality of particles which are electrically connected to the at least one electrode. The extended catalyzed layer may further preferably have a second plurality of particles which are electrically disconnected from the at least one electrode.
摘要:
A decontamination procedure for a fuel cell power plant (10) includes operating the plant to produce electrical power for an operating period, and then terminating operation of the plant (10) for a decontamination period, and then, whenever optimal electrical production of a plant fuel cell (12) is reduced by at least 5% by contaminants adsorbed by fuel cell electrodes (24, 42), decontaminating the fuel cell (12) of the plant (10) during the decontamination period by oxidizing contaminants adsorbed by electrodes (24, 42) of the fuel cell. Oxidizing the contaminants may be accomplished by various steps including exposing the electrodes (24, 42) to flowing oxygen; to heated flowing oxygen; to a sequence of start-stop cycles; and, to varying controlled potentials.
摘要:
A membrane electrode assembly includes an anode including a hydrogen oxidation catalyst; a cathode; a membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode; and a peroxide decomposition catalyst positioned in at least one position selected from the group consisting of the anode, the cathode, a layer between the anode and the membrane and a layer between the cathode and the membrane wherein the peroxide decomposition catalyst has selectivity when exposed to hydrogen peroxide toward reactions which form benign products from the hydrogen peroxide. The peroxide decomposition catalyst can also be positioned within the membrane. Also disclosed is a power-generating fuel cell system including such a membrane electrode assembly, and a process for operating such a fuel cell system.
摘要:
A membrane electrode assembly includes an anode including a hydrogen oxidation catalyst; a cathode; a membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode; and a peroxide decomposition catalyst positioned in at least one position selected from the group consisting of a layer between the anode and the membrane and a layer between the cathode and the membrane wherein the peroxide decomposition catalyst has selectivity when exposed to hydrogen peroxide toward reactions which form benign products from the hydrogen peroxide. The peroxide decomposition catalyst can also be positioned within the membrane. Also disclosed is a power-generating fuel cell system including such a membrane electrode assembly, and a process for operating such a fuel cell system. The assembly components contain ionomer material which can be perfluorinated or non-perfluorinated, high temperature, hydrocarbon, and the like.
摘要:
A membrane electrode assembly includes an anode including a hydrogen oxidation catalyst; a cathode; a membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode; and a peroxide decomposition catalyst positioned in at least one position selected from the group consisting of a layer between the anode and the membrane and a layer between the cathode and the membrane wherein the peroxide decomposition catalyst has selectivity when exposed to hydrogen peroxide toward reactions which form benign products from the hydrogen peroxide. The peroxide decomposition catalyst can also be positioned within the membrane. Also disclosed is a power-generating fuel cell system including such a membrane electrode assembly, and a process for operating such a fuel cell system. The assembly components contain ionomer material which can be perfluorinated or non-perfluorinated, high temperature, hydrocarbon, and the like.