公开(公告)号：US06986959B2

公开(公告)日：2006-01-17

申请号：US10624190

申请日：2003-07-22

申请人： Thomas M. Clark ,  Paul R. Margiott ,  Albert P. Grasso ,  Richard D. Breault ,  Leslie L. Van Dine ,  Margaret M. Steinbugler ,  Edward J. Bludnicki

发明人： Thomas M. Clark ,  Paul R. Margiott ,  Albert P. Grasso ,  Richard D. Breault ,  Leslie L. Van Dine ,  Margaret M. Steinbugler ,  Edward J. Bludnicki

IPC分类号： H01M8/04 ,  H01M8/00

CPC分类号： H01M8/04225 ,  H01M8/04014 ,  H01M8/04022 ,  H01M8/04029 ,  H01M8/04037 ,  H01M8/04119 ,  H01M8/04141 ,  H01M8/04223 ,  H01M8/04302 ,  H01M8/0606 ,  H01M2250/20 ,  Y02T90/32

摘要： A fuel cell power plant system includes the ability to operate an enthalpy recovery device even under cold conditions. A bypass arrangement allows for selectively bypassing one or more portions of the enthalpy recovery device under selected conditions. In one example, the enthalpy recovery device is completely bypassed under selected temperature conditions to allow the device to freeze and then later to be used under more favorable temperature conditions. In another example, the enthalpy recovery device is selectively bypassed during a system startup operation. One example includes a heater associated with the enthalpy recovery device. Another example includes preheating oxidant supplied to one portion of the enthalpy recovery device.

摘要翻译： 燃料电池发电厂系统包括即使在寒冷条件下操作焓恢复装置的能力。 旁路装置允许在选定的条件下选择性地旁路焓回收装置的一个或多个部分。 在一个实例中，焓回收装置在选定的温度条件下完全旁路，以使装置冷冻，然后稍后在更有利的温度条件下使用。 在另一示例中，在系统启动操作期间有选择地绕过焓恢复装置。 一个示例包括与焓恢复装置相关联的加热器。 另一个实例包括将提供给焓回收装置的一部分的氧化剂预热。

公开(公告)号：US06432566B1

公开(公告)日：2002-08-13

申请号：US09426357

申请日：1999-10-25

申请人： David A. Condit ,  Richard D. Breault ,  Leslie L. Van Dine ,  Margaret M. Steinbugler

发明人： David A. Condit ,  Richard D. Breault ,  Leslie L. Van Dine ,  Margaret M. Steinbugler

IPC分类号： H01M804

CPC分类号： H01M8/04253 ,  H01M8/04029 ,  H01M8/04044 ,  H01M8/04059 ,  H01M8/04097 ,  H01M8/04119 ,  H01M8/04134

摘要： A direct antifreeze cooled fuel cell power plant is disclosed. The plant includes at least one fuel cell a thermal management system that directs flow of a cooling fluid for controlling heat within the plant, including a direct antifreeze solution passing through the water transport plate. The plant also integrates the direct antifreeze solution with a direct mass and heat transfer device, a water treatment system, and a steam injection system so that the direct antifreeze solution minimizes problems related to operation of the plant in sub-freezing conditions. A preferred antifreeze solution is an alkanetriol selected from the group consisting of glycerol, butanetriol, and pentanetriol. The direct antifreeze solutions minimize movement of the antifreeze as a vapor out of a water transport plate into contact with cathode or anode catalysts, and also minimize direct antifreeze solution loss from other power plant systems.

摘要翻译： 公开了直接防冻冷却的燃料电池发电厂。 该设备包括至少一个燃料电池，该热管理系统引导用于控制设备内的热量的冷却流体的流动，包括通过水输送板的直接防冻溶液。 该工厂还将直接防冻溶液与直接质量传热装置，水处理系统和蒸汽注入系统相结合，使得直接防冻溶液最大限度地减少了在低温条件下工厂运行的问题。 优选的防冻溶液是选自甘油，丁三醇和戊三醇的烷三醇。 直接防冻溶液使防冻剂的运动最小化为从水输送板中蒸出的与阴极或阳极催化剂接触的蒸气，并且还使来自其它发电厂系统的直接防冻溶液损失最小化。

公开(公告)号：US06416891B1

公开(公告)日：2002-07-09

申请号：US09443267

申请日：1999-11-22

申请人： David A. Condit ,  Richard D. Breault ,  Leslie L. Van Dine ,  Margaret M. Steinbugler

发明人： David A. Condit ,  Richard D. Breault ,  Leslie L. Van Dine ,  Margaret M. Steinbugler

IPC分类号： H01M802

CPC分类号： H01M8/04029 ,  H01M8/0612

摘要： An operating system for a direct antifreeze cooled fuel cell power plant is disclosed for producing electrical energy from reducing and process oxidant fluid reactant streams. The system includes at least one fuel cell for producing electrical energy from the reducing and oxidant fluid streams; fuel processing components for processing a hydrocarbon fuel into the reducing fluid; a thermal management system that directs flow of a cooling fluid for controlling heat within the plant including a porous water transport plate adjacent and in fluid communication with a cathode catalyst of the fuel cell; a direct antifreeze solution passing through the water transport plate; and, a split oxidant passage that directs the process oxidant stream into and through the fuel cell.

摘要翻译： 公开了一种用于直接防冻冷却的燃料电池发电厂的操作系统，用于从减少和处理氧化剂流体反应物流中产生电能。 该系统包括用于从还原和氧化剂流体流产生电能的至少一个燃料电池; 用于将烃燃料加工成还原流体的燃料处理部件; 引导冷却流体流动以控制设备内的热量的热管理系统，包括邻近并与燃料电池的阴极催化剂流体连通的多孔水输送板; 通过水输送板的直接防冻溶液; 以及将过程氧化剂流引导并通过燃料电池的分离氧化剂通道。

公开(公告)号：US06361891B1

公开(公告)日：2002-03-26

申请号：US09467810

申请日：1999-12-20

申请人： Richard D. Breault ,  David A. Condit ,  Leslie L. Van Dine ,  Margaret M. Steinbugler

发明人： Richard D. Breault ,  David A. Condit ,  Leslie L. Van Dine ,  Margaret M. Steinbugler

IPC分类号： H01M804

CPC分类号： H01M8/04119 ,  H01M8/04029

摘要： A direct antifreeze cooled fuel cell power plant system is disclosed for producing electrical energy from reducing and process oxidant fluid reactant streams. The system includes at least one fuel cell for producing electrical energy from the reducing and oxidant fluid streams; a thermal management system that directs flow of a cooling fluid for controlling temperature within the plant including a porous water transport plate adjacent and in direct fluid communication with a cathode catalyst of the fuel cell; a direct antifreeze solution passing through the water transport plate; and, fuel processing components secured in fluid communication with the thermal management system for processing a hydrocarbon fuel into the reducing fluid and for controlling a concentration of a direct antifreeze in the direct antifreeze solution. The fuel processing components may include a boiler that receives a portion of the direct antifreeze solution from the thermal management system; a steam separator that directs separated steam from the boiler to a reformer for reforming the hydrocarbon fuel to the reducing fluid, and that directs separated liquid direct antifreeze solution back to the thermal management system. A preferred direct antifreeze solution is an alkanetriol selected from the group consisting of glycerol, butanetriol, and pentanetriol.

摘要翻译： 公开了用于从减少和处理氧化剂流体反应物流产生电能的直接防冻冷却的燃料电池发电厂系统。 该系统包括用于从还原和氧化剂流体流产生电能的至少一个燃料电池; 引导用于控制设备内的温度的冷却流体的流动的热管理系统，包括与燃料电池的阴极催化剂相邻并与燃料电池的阴极催化剂直接流体连通的多孔水输送板; 通过水输送板的直接防冻溶液; 以及燃料处理部件与热管理系统保持流体连通，用于将烃燃料加工成还原流体并控制直接防冻溶液中直接防冻剂的浓度。 燃料处理部件可以包括从热管理系统接收直接防冻溶液的一部分的锅炉; 蒸汽分离器，其将分离的蒸汽从锅炉引导到重整器，用于将烃燃料重整为还原流体，并将分离的液体直接防冻溶液引导回热管理系统。 优选的直接防冻溶液是选自甘油，丁三醇和戊三醇的烷三醇。

公开(公告)号：US06514635B2

公开(公告)日：2003-02-04

申请号：US09770042

申请日：2001-01-25

申请人： Leslie L. Van Dine ,  Margaret M. Steinbugler ,  Carl A. Reiser ,  Glenn W. Scheffler

发明人： Leslie L. Van Dine ,  Margaret M. Steinbugler ,  Carl A. Reiser ,  Glenn W. Scheffler

IPC分类号： H01M800

CPC分类号： H01M8/04447 ,  H01M8/0258 ,  H01M8/0267 ,  H01M8/04097 ,  H01M8/04223 ,  H01M8/04303 ,  H01M8/04455 ,  H01M8/04753 ,  H01M8/04798 ,  H01M8/0662 ,  H01M8/241 ,  H01M8/2457

摘要： A procedure for shutting down an operating fuel cell system that recirculates a portion of the anode exhaust in a recycle loop, includes disconnecting the primary load from the external circuit, stopping the flow of air to the cathode, and applying an auxiliary resistive load across the cells to reduce and/or limit cell voltage and reduce the cathode potential while fuel is still flowing to the anode and the anode exhaust is recirculating. The fuel flow is then stopped, but the anode exhaust continues to be circulated in the recycle loop to bring the hydrogen therein into contact with a catalyst in the presence of oxygen to convert the hydrogen to water, such as in a catalytic burner. The recirculating is continued until substantially all the hydrogen is removed. The cell may then be completely shut down. No inert gas purge is required as part of the shut-down process.

公开(公告)号：US20100040914A1

公开(公告)日：2010-02-18

申请号：US12448666

申请日：2006-12-29

申请人： Sitaram Ramaswamy ,  Margaret M. Steinbugler ,  Leslie L. Van Dine

发明人： Sitaram Ramaswamy ,  Margaret M. Steinbugler ,  Leslie L. Van Dine

IPC分类号： H01M8/04

CPC分类号： H01M8/249 ,  H01M8/04029 ,  H01M8/04089 ,  H01M8/04462 ,  H01M8/04559 ,  H01M8/04589 ,  H01M8/04753 ,  H01M8/04761 ,  H01M16/003 ,  H01M2008/1095

摘要： Fuel exhaust (109) of a primary fuel cell stack (11) flows into an auxiliary fuel cell stack (12) which powers a DC storage (82) feeding a bi-directional DC/AC converter (86) that is switchable (89) to auxiliary equipment (90, 91) (such as pumps) to a main power bus (54) feeding a main load (55). Fresh fuel (97) is provided (98, 105) to the primary stack for 90% fuel utilization, with over 99% overall power plant fuel utilization. The auxiliary equipment (90, 91) may be powered by the bus (54).

摘要翻译： 主燃料电池堆（11）的燃料排气（109）流入辅助燃料电池堆（12），该辅助燃料电池堆（12）为可切换（89）的双向DC / AC转换器（86）供电的DC存储器（82） 辅助设备（90,91）（例如泵）连接到馈送主负载（55）的主电力总线（54）。 新燃料（97）（98,105）被提供给初级堆叠以达到90％的燃料利用率，总发电厂燃料利用率超过99％。 辅助设备（90,91）可由总线（54）供电。

公开(公告)号：US06777119B2

公开(公告)日：2004-08-17

申请号：US10095691

申请日：2002-03-12

申请人： Michael S. Demissie ,  Leslie L. Van Dine ,  Margaret M. Steinbugler

发明人： Michael S. Demissie ,  Leslie L. Van Dine ,  Margaret M. Steinbugler

IPC分类号： H01M818

CPC分类号： H01M8/04007 ,  H01M8/04141 ,  H01M8/04149 ,  H01M8/04156 ,  H01M8/0432 ,  H01M8/04335 ,  H01M8/04708 ,  H01M8/04835 ,  H01M8/0612

摘要： A fuel cell power plant with enhanced water recovery includes a fuel cell power plant adapted to receive a reducing fluid and an oxidant and to generate therefrom electricity and an at least partially saturated exhaust stream; a mass and energy transfer device defining a first flow passage for the wet exhaust stream and a second flow passage for an oxidant stream, the first flow passage being in mass transfer relationship with the second flow passage; and an apparatus for cooling at least one of the oxidant stream, the exhaust stream and the mass and energy transfer device, whereby water is transferred from the exhaust stream to the oxidant stream so as to produce an at least partially saturated oxidant stream. A method is also disclosed.

摘要翻译： 具有增强的水回收的燃料电池发电厂包括燃料电池发电厂，其适于接收还原流体和氧化剂，并从其产生电和至少部分饱和的废气流; 质量和能量传递装置，其限定用于湿排气流的第一流动通道和用于氧化剂流的第二流动通道，第一流动通道与第二流动通道传质关系; 以及用于冷却氧化剂流，排气流和质量和能量转移装置中的至少一种的装置，由此水从排气流转移到氧化剂流，以便产生至少部分饱和的氧化剂流。 还公开了一种方法。

公开(公告)号：US07250229B2

公开(公告)日：2007-07-31

申请号：US11231285

申请日：2005-09-20

申请人： Deliang Yang ,  Margaret M. Steinbugler ,  Richard D. Sawyer ,  Leslie L. Van Dine ,  Carl A. Reiser

发明人： Deliang Yang ,  Margaret M. Steinbugler ,  Richard D. Sawyer ,  Leslie L. Van Dine ,  Carl A. Reiser

IPC分类号： H01M8/06

CPC分类号： H01M8/04302 ,  H01M8/0258 ,  H01M8/04007 ,  H01M8/04022 ,  H01M8/04097 ,  H01M8/04223 ,  H01M8/04231 ,  H01M8/04238 ,  H01M8/241 ,  H01M8/2457 ,  H01M16/003

摘要： A procedure for starting up a fuel cell system that is disconnected from its primary load and that has air in both its cathode and anode flow fields includes a) connecting an auxiliary resistive load across the cell to reduce the cell voltage; b) initiating a recirculation of the anode flow field exhaust through a recycle loop and providing a limited flow of hydrogen fuel into that recirculating exhaust; c) catalytically reacting the added fuel with oxygen present in the recirculating gases until substantially no oxygen remains within the recycle loop; disconnecting the auxiliary load; and then d) providing normal operating flow rates of fuel and air into respective anode and cathode flow fields and connecting the primary load across the cell. The catalytic reaction may take place on the anode or within a catalytic burner disposed within the recycle loop. The procedure allows start-up of the fuel cell system without the use of an inert gas purge while minimizing dissolution of the catalyst and corrosion of the catalyst support during the start-up process.

摘要翻译： 用于启动与其主负载断开且在其阴极和阳极流场中具有空气的燃料电池系统的过程包括：a）在电池之间连接辅助电阻负载以降低电池电压; b）启动阳极流场排气通过循环回路的再循环，并向该再循环排气提供有限的氢气燃料流; c）使添加的燃料与存在于再循环气体中的氧直接催化反应，直到基本上没有氧气残留在循环回路内; 断开辅助负载; 然后d）将燃料和空气的正常操作流量提供到相应的阳极和阴极流场中，并将主负载连接在电池上。 催化反应可以在阳极上或在设置在循环回路内的催化燃烧器中进行。 该程序允许在不使用惰性气体吹扫的情况下启动燃料电池系统，同时最小化催化剂的溶解和在启动过程中催化剂载体的腐蚀。

公开(公告)号：US06461753B1

公开(公告)日：2002-10-08

申请号：US09542209

申请日：2000-04-04

申请人： Richard D. Breault ,  Margaret M. Steinbugler ,  David A. Condit

发明人： Richard D. Breault ,  Margaret M. Steinbugler ,  David A. Condit

IPC分类号： H01M804

CPC分类号： H01M8/04029 ,  H01M8/04074

摘要： A fuel cell with a direct antifreeze impermeable cooler plate is disclosed for producing electrical energy from reducing fluid and process oxidant reactant streams. The fuel cell includes an electrolyte secured between an anode catalyst and a cathode catalyst; an anode flow field secured adjacent the anode catalyst for directing the reducing fluid to pass adjacent the anode catalyst; a cathode flow field secured adjacent the cathode catalyst for directing the process oxidant stream to pass adjacent the cathode catalyst; a direct antifreeze impermeable cooler plate secured in heat exchange relationship with the cathode flow field; and a direct antifreeze solution passing through the cooler plate for controlling temperature within the fuel cell. The direct antifreeze solution is an organic antifreeze solution that is not volatile at cell operating temperatures. A preferred direct antifreeze solution is an alkanetriol selected from the group consisting of glycerol, butanetriol, and pentanetriol having favorable low volatility and high surface tension characteristics. The direct antifreeze impermeable cooler plate may be constructed of any material that is impermeable to liquid and compatible with a fuel cell operating environment such as plated metals, or in a preferred embodiment, the cooler plate may be a fine pore commercial graphite material.

摘要翻译： 公开了一种具有直接防冻防渗冷却器板的燃料电池，用于从还原流体和处理氧化剂反应物流产生电能。 燃料电池包括固定在阳极催化剂和阴极催化剂之间的电解质; 邻近阳极催化剂固定的阳极流场，用于引导还原流体邻近阳极催化剂通过; 与阴极催化剂相邻固定的阴极流场，用于引导工艺氧化剂流通过邻近的阴极催化剂; 与阴极流场保持热交换关系的直接防冻防渗冷却板; 以及通过冷却器板的直接防冻溶液，用于控制燃料电池内的温度。 直接防冻溶液是在电池工作温度下不挥发的有机防冻溶液。 优选的直接防冻溶液是选自具有良好的低挥发性和高表面张力特性的甘油，丁三醇和戊三醇的烷三醇。 直接防冻防渗冷却器板可以由对液体不可渗透并且与诸如电镀金属的燃料电池操作环境兼容的任何材料构成，或者在优选实施例中，冷却器板可以是细孔商业石墨材料。

公开(公告)号：US20090301802A1

公开(公告)日：2009-12-10

申请号：US12156798

申请日：2008-06-05

申请人： Melanie A. LaRocco ,  Margaret M. Steinbugler ,  Wolfgang Strobl ,  Ingo Falkenberg

发明人： Melanie A. LaRocco ,  Margaret M. Steinbugler ,  Wolfgang Strobl ,  Ingo Falkenberg

IPC分类号： B60K1/04

CPC分类号： H02J7/1423 ,  F02N11/0866 ,  F02N2011/0888 ,  H02J2001/004 ,  Y02T10/7005 ,  Y02T10/7022

摘要： An internal combustion engine vehicle includes a compact light weight PEM fuel cell auxiliary power system (2) which is used to provide electrical power for operating the vehicle starter (10) to start the vehicle, and for operating additional electrical equipment while the vehicle is running, or before the vehicle is running. A small light weight dry cell battery (4) is included in the vehicle for supplying startup power for the PEM fuel cell auxiliary power system. The conventional heavy and bulky twelve volt battery is not needed in the vehicle thereby eliminating the weight and size of the twelve volt battery from the vehicle. A bank of super capacitors (18) can be included in the vehicle which are operatively connected to the PEM fuel cell auxiliary power system and to the starter. The super capacitors can be charged by the PEM fuel cell auxiliary power system during operation of the vehicle, and can be activated to provide startup electrical power to the starter along with the PEM fuel cell auxiliary power system so as to start the vehicle in adverse ambient conditions, such as during subfreezing weather.

摘要翻译： 内燃机车辆包括紧凑型重量轻的PEM燃料电池辅助动力系统（2），其用于提供用于操作车辆起动器（10）以启动车辆的电力，并且用于在车辆行驶时操作附加的电气设备 ，或车辆运行前。 车辆中包括一个小型轻质干电池（4），用于为PEM燃料电池辅助电源系统提供启动电源。 在车辆中不需要常规的重型和庞大的十二伏电池，从而消除了来自车辆的十二伏电池的重量和尺寸。 车辆中可以包括一组超级电容器（18），其可操作地连接到PEM燃料电池辅助电力系统和起动器。 超级电容器可以在车辆操作期间由PEM燃料电池辅助动力系统充电，并且可以被激活以向PEM燃料电池辅助动力系统提供启动电力，以便在不利环境中起动车辆 条件，如在低温天气。