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：US06916571B2

公开(公告)日：2005-07-12

申请号：US10465006

申请日：2003-06-19

申请人： Albert P. Grasso ,  Glenn W. Scheffler ,  Leslie L. Van Dine ,  Brian F. Dufner ,  Richard D. Breault

发明人： Albert P. Grasso ,  Glenn W. Scheffler ,  Leslie L. Van Dine ,  Brian F. Dufner ,  Richard D. Breault

IPC分类号： H01M20060101 ,  H01M2/00 ,  H01M2/02 ,  H01M2/08 ,  H01M2/12 ,  H01M2/14 ,  H01M2/36 ,  H01M8/00 ,  H01M8/02 ,  H01M8/04 ,  H01M8/10

CPC分类号： H01M8/04074 ,  H01M8/0267 ,  H01M8/04029 ,  H01M8/04134 ,  H01M8/04253 ,  H01M8/241 ,  H01M8/2457 ,  H01M8/2483

摘要： Water flow field inlet manifolds (33, 37) are disposed at the fuel cell stack (11) base. Water flow field outlet manifolds (34, 38) are located at the fuel cell stack top. Outlet and inlet manifolds are interconnected (41-43, 47, 49, 50) so gas bubbles leaking through the porous water transport plate cause flow by natural convection, with no mechanical water pump. Variation in water level within a standpipe (58) controls (56, 60, 62, 63) the temperature or flow of coolant. In another embodiment, the water is not circulated, but gas and excess water are vented from the water outlet manifolds. Water channels (70) may be vertical. A hydrophobic region (80) provides gas leakage to ensure bubble pumping of water. An external heat exchanger (77) maximizes water density differential for convective flow.

摘要翻译： 水流场入口歧管（33,37）设置在燃料电池堆（11）的基部。 水流场出口歧管（34,38）位于燃料电池堆顶部。 出口和入口歧管相互连接（41-43,47,49,50），因此通过多孔水输送板泄漏的气泡通过自然对流而流动，没有机械水泵。 立管（58）内的水位变化控制（56,60,62,63）冷却液的温度或流量。 在另一个实施方案中，水不循环，但是从出水歧管排出气体和多余的水。 水通道（70）可以是垂直的。 疏水区域（80）提供气体泄漏以确保泡沫泵送水。 外部热交换器（77）使对流流量的水密度差最大化。

公开(公告)号：US06428916B1

公开(公告)日：2002-08-06

申请号：US09468027

申请日：1999-12-20

申请人： Albert P. Grasso ,  Richard D. Breault ,  Leslie L. Van Dine

发明人： Albert P. Grasso ,  Richard D. Breault ,  Leslie L. Van Dine

IPC分类号： H01M804

CPC分类号： H01M8/04119 ,  H01M8/04029

摘要： A coolant treatment system for a direct antifreeze cooled fuel cell power plant including a degassifier for providing interaction between an oxidant and an antifreeze solution which has circulated throughout the fuel cell power plant so that dissolved gases within the antifreeze solution are removed. The fuel cell power plant is configured to allow the antifreeze solution to be in direct fluid communication with the fuel cell assemblies comprising the fuel cell power plant.

摘要翻译： 一种用于直接防冻冷却的燃料电池发电厂的冷却剂处理系统，其包括用于提供氧化剂和防冻液之间的相互作用的脱气装置，其循环在整个燃料电池发电厂中，从而除去防冻溶液中的溶解气体。 燃料电池发电厂被配置为允许防冻溶液与包括燃料电池发电厂的燃料电池组件直接流体连通。

公开(公告)号：US06699612B2

公开(公告)日：2004-03-02

申请号：US10034739

申请日：2001-12-26

申请人： Richard D. Breault ,  Leslie L. Van Dine

发明人： Richard D. Breault ,  Leslie L. Van Dine

IPC分类号： H01M0804

CPC分类号： H01M8/04225 ,  H01M8/0267 ,  H01M8/04022 ,  H01M8/04029 ,  H01M8/04156 ,  H01M8/04223 ,  H01M8/04302 ,  H01M8/0662

摘要： The invention reduces free water volume in a fuel cell power plant so support systems of the plant are freeze tolerant. The fuel cell power plant includes a coolant system having a sealed cooler plate that circulates an antifreeze coolant in heat exchange with a fuel cell and that collects fuel cell water; a water vapor removal system that removes water vapor from the antifreeze coolant to regulate the antifreeze concentration; and a start-up system having a start-up heat exchanger and a start-up valve that selectively direct heated antifreeze coolant into the cooler plate for a start-up procedure. The plant may also include a fuel processing system that utilizes the removed water vapor, and that is in heat exchange with the start-up heat exchanger. The antifreeze coolant is a low vapor pressure solution, such as an alkanetriol or polyethylene glycol.

摘要翻译： 本发明减少燃料电池发电厂中的自由水体积，因此该设备的支撑系统是耐冻的。 燃料电池发电厂包括冷却剂系统，该冷却剂系统具有密封的冷却器板，其与防燃剂冷却剂循环，与燃料电池进行热交换并且收集燃料电池水; 水蒸气去除系统，其从防冻剂冷却剂中去除水蒸气以调节防冻液浓度; 以及具有启动热交换器和启动阀的启动系统，其将加热的防冻冷却剂选择性地引导到用于启动程序的冷却器板中。 该设备还可以包括利用去除的水蒸气并与起动热交换器进行热交换的燃料处理系统。 防冻剂冷却剂是低蒸气压溶液，例如烷三醇或聚乙二醇。

公开(公告)号：US6048383A

公开(公告)日：2000-04-11

申请号：US168511

申请日：1998-10-08

申请人： Richard D. Breault ,  Thomas F. Fuller ,  Leslie L. Van Dine

发明人： Richard D. Breault ,  Thomas F. Fuller ,  Leslie L. Van Dine

IPC分类号： B01J39/20 ,  B01J47/12 ,  H01M8/04 ,  H01M8/06 ,  H01M8/10 ,  B01D53/22

CPC分类号： H01M8/04119 ,  H01M2300/0082 ,  H01M8/04014

摘要： A mass transfer composite membrane for use with a fuel cell power plant includes a transfer medium core between opposed, rigid, porous support sheets. An inlet surface of the composite membrane is positioned in contact with an oxidant inlet stream of a fuel cell power plant, and an opposed exhaust surface of the composite membrane is positioned in contact with an exhaust stream exiting the fuel cell power plant to recover mass such as water from the exhaust stream and transfer it into the oxidant inlet stream entering the fuel cell. The transfer medium core may comprise any of a variety of materials for sorbing a fluid substance consisting of polar molecules such as water molecules from a fluid stream consisting of polar and non-polar molecules. A preferred transfer medium core is an ionomeric membrane such as a water saturated polyfluorosulfonic acid ionomer membrane. The porous support sheets may comprise a reinforcing fiber with a thermoset resin, such as a carbon sheet with a phenolic resin, or a glass fiber with an epoxy resin, wherein the sheets are thermoset into a rigid configuration. The mass transfer composite membrane may be a flat or a mounded layer defining protrusions and depressions. A plurality of the mounded layer membranes may be disposed within a frame in mirror-image association wherein protrusions and depressions formed by the mounds of adjacent membranes contact each other to define serpentine passages for the inlet and exhaust streams.

摘要翻译： 用于燃料电池发电厂的传质复合膜包括在相对的，刚性的，多孔的支撑片之间的转印介质芯。 复合膜的入口表面定位成与燃料电池发电厂的氧化剂入口流接触，并且复合膜的相对的排气表面与离开燃料电池发电厂的废气流接触，以回收质量 作为来自废气流的水并将其转移到进入燃料电池的氧化剂入口流中。 转移介质芯可以包括用于吸附由极性分子组成的流体物质的各种材料，例如由极性和非极性分子组成的流体流的水分子。 优选的转印介质芯是离聚物膜，例如水饱和的聚氟磺酸离聚物膜。 多孔性支撑片可以包括具有热固性树脂的增强纤维，例如具有酚醛树脂的碳片，或具有环氧树脂的玻璃纤维，其中片材被热固化成刚性构型。 传质复合膜可以是限定突起和凹陷的平坦或平坦层。 多个沉积层膜可以以镜像关联设置在框架内，其中由相邻膜的凹部形成的突起和凹陷彼此接触以限定用于入口和排出流的蛇形通道。

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：US06794073B2

公开(公告)日：2004-09-21

申请号：US10037195

申请日：2001-11-09

申请人： Richard D. Breault ,  David A. Condit ,  Albert P. Grasso ,  Michael E. Gorman

发明人： Richard D. Breault ,  David A. Condit ,  Albert P. Grasso ,  Michael E. Gorman

IPC分类号： H01M804

CPC分类号： H01M8/04134 ,  H01M8/04029 ,  H01M8/04089 ,  H01M8/04126 ,  H01M8/04156 ,  H01M8/04253 ,  H01M2008/1095 ,  H01M2300/0082

摘要： A direct antifreeze cooled fuel cell is disclosed for producing electrical energy from reducing and process oxidant fluid streams that includes an electrolyte secured between an anode catalyst and a cathode catalyst; a porous anode substrate secured in direct fluid communication with and supporting the anode catalyst; a porous wetproofed cathode substrate secured in direct fluid communication with and supporting the cathode catalyst; a porous water transport or cooler plate secured in direct fluid communication with the porous cathode substrate; and, a direct antifreeze solution passing through the porous water transport plate. A preferred direct antifreeze solution passing through the porous water transport plate remains essentially within the water transport plate and does not poison the catalysts.

摘要翻译： 公开了直接防冻冷却的燃料电池，用于通过减少和处理氧化剂流体流产生电能，所述氧化剂流体流包括固定在阳极催化剂和阴极催化剂之间的电解质; 与阳极催化剂直接流体连通并支撑阳极催化剂的多孔阳极基板; 固定成与阴极催化剂直接流体连通并支撑阴极催化剂的多孔耐湿阴极基板; 固定成与多孔阴极基板直接流体连通的多孔水输送或冷却板; 以及通过多孔水输送板的直接防冻溶液。 通过多孔水输送板的优选的直接防冻溶液基本上保持在水输送板内，并且不会使催化剂中毒。