Abstract: A ventilation system for a fuel cell power module is provided. The ventilation system includes a ventilation enclosure for evacuating fluids from the fuel cell power module, the ventilation enclosure having an air inlet for providing ingress of air to the enclosure. The ventilation system further concludes a ventilation shaft in fluid communication with the ventilation enclosure and an evacuation pump arranged to exhaust fluid from the ventilation enclosure to a desired location.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a balance-of-plant system and apparatus suited for regulating the operation of an electrolyzer cell stack. Specifically, in some embodiments, a balance-of-plant system and apparatus is operable to regulate the respective pressures of at least two reaction products relative to one another. Various examples are provided to demonstrate how the respective pressures of two reaction products can be regulated in relation to one another in a pressure following configuration, thereby regulating the pressure differential across an electrolyte layer according to aspects of different embodiments of the invention. Some of the examples provided also include design simplifications and alternatives that may reduce production costs of electrochemical cells configured according to aspects of different embodiments of the invention.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a balance-of-plant system and apparatus suited for regulating the operation of an electrolyzer cell stack. Specifically, in some embodiments, a balance-of-plant system and apparatus is operable to regulate the respective pressures of at least two reaction products relative to one another. Various examples are provided to demonstrate how the respective pressures of two reaction products can be regulated in relation to one another in a pressure following configuration, thereby regulating the pressure differential across an electrolyte layer according to aspects of different embodiments of the invention. Some of the examples provided also include design simplifications and alternatives that may reduce production costs of electrochemical cells configured according to aspects of different embodiments of the invention.

Abstract: A system includes power modules received within a frame of a ventilation enclosure. Each of the power modules has a fuel cell stack. A ventilation shaft is arranged along a rear side of the ventilation enclosure and sealingly receives the power modules so that exhaust outlets of the power modules discharge into the ventilation shaft. Each of the power modules is removably attachable to the ventilation shaft through the front side of the ventilation enclosure. A fuel supply pipe in the ventilation shaft supplies fuel to fuel inlets of the power modules. An exhaust pump draws exhaust fluid out of the ventilation shaft.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to cell plates for an electrolyser module and to an electrolyser module incorporating the plates. The plates comprise an electrolysis chamber opening, at least one degassing chamber opening, and at least one gas-liquid conduit opening. The plates further comprise a channel connecting the electrolysis chamber opening and the gas-liquid conduit opening. The present invention is directed further to a process and apparatus for separating a gas-liquid mixture generated at an electrolysis cell.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell assembly includes first and second flow field plates, first and second gas diffusion media disposed between the first and second flow field plates, and a membrane electrode assembly disposed between the first and second gas diffusion media. The membrane electrode assembly can include a proton exchange membrane, and a catalyst layer on the proton exchange membrane. The catalyst layout can be configured to omit the catalyst layer from a portion of the proton exchange membrane adjacent an edge region of one of the first and second gas diffusion media, thereby enabling at least a portion of the reactant fluid flow to first encounter a region of the membrane electrode assembly without the catalyst layer. The modified catalyst layout can improve reactant fluid flow along the membrane electrode assembly, reduce wear on the membrane electrode assembly and improve electrochemical cell efficiency during operation.

Abstract: A frame assembly for a fuel cell power module, particularly but not exclusively for use in lift trucks, has at least one frame element. The frame element is provided with an internal cavity that is filled with a fill material to provide a desired mass of the frame assembly. The frame assembly is configured to receive a fuel cell stack and other balance of plant components of a fuel cell power module and may also be configured to receive a fuel storage vessel. The frame assembly can be configured so that it can replace a battery pack of a lift truck and still provide adequate counterweight.

Abstract: A method for removal of excess process water from a fuel cell system comprises: collecting excess process water in a container; applying vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic vibrations, to at least a portion of the water to create a mist of water; and removing the mist of water from the container and expelling the mist into the ambient atmosphere. The mist may be directed to a radiator to promote evaporation. A corresponding system for removal of excess process water from a fuel cell system comprises is also provided.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes: a membrane electrode assembly: first and second reactant flow field plates for providing first and second reactant flow fields disposed on either side of the membrane electrode assembly. A first seal is disposed between the first reactant flow field plate and the membrane electrode assembly for impeding leakage of process fluids of the electrochemical cell. A first gas diffusion layer is disposed between the first reactant flow field plate and the membrane electrode assembly for diffusing reactant from the first reactant flow field to the membrane electrode assembly. The gas diffusion layer provides a peripheral support structure for supporting the membrane electrode assembly at a periphery between the first reactant flow field and the first seal to impede substantial distortion of the membrane electrode assembly between the first reactant flow field and the first seal.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for measuring impedance and voltage characteristics of individual cells of multi-cell electrochemical devices, for example a battery or a fuel cell stack. The electrochemical system comprises a plurality of cells; a measuring device including a plurality of inputs connected across the plurality of cells to generate voltage and current signals indicative of voltage and current characteristics of the plurality of cells; a current supply/draw means for superimposing modulated current values through the plurality of cells; and a controller for controlling at least one system operating condition based on the voltage and current characteristics received from the measuring device, the controller being connected to the measuring device.

Abstract: A fuel cell module is provided having a fuel cell stack, a parasitic load connectable across the electrodes, and a reactant reservoir for storing an amount of a first reactant such as hydrogen. When the fuel cell module is shutdown, the stored amount of the first reactant can be drawn to react with an amount of a second reactant (e.g., oxygen in air) remaining in the stack to electrochemically consume the first and second reactants, thereby leaving a mixture that substantially comprises a non-reactive agent (e.g., nitrogen), thereby passively blanketing the electrodes. The parasitic load limits the voltage of the fuel cell stack and induces the electrochemical consumption of the first and second reactants remaining in the stack during shutdown. A pressure gradient between the electrodes and an optional check valve may allow for movement of the non-reactive agent between electrodes. A process related to said fuel cell module is also provided.

Abstract: Fuel cell modules usually have an inherently limited load slew rate, which is adequate for some applications but insufficient where close load following is desired. An example of where the inherent lack of dynamic response, of a typical fuel cell module, has proven to be insufficient is within a standalone AC power generation system in which the fuel cell module does not, or cannot, possibly, receive a priori knowledge of current demand changes by load. In contrast, the present invention aims to provide a current controller for use in a fuel cell system, a fuel cell system with adaptive current control and a method of operating a fuel cell system that employs an adaptive current controller that enables a relatively fast dynamic response to abrupt increases in current demand whilst also providing a controlled adjustment to the output current provided by a fuel cell module included in the system.

Abstract: As an electrochemical cell stack gets older the internal resistances within the stack rise overtime as the materials that the stack is made of degrade. Consequently, an old and “worn” electrochemical cell stack draws less current at the same stack voltage and operating temperature as a new stack. When the current draw falls the electrochemical reaction rates also fall, as less energy is available to drive the electrochemical reactions. However, if the operating temperature of an older stack is controllable raised the current draw by an electrolyzer cell stack also rises, which in turn causes the reaction rates to rise again. Accordingly, in some embodiments, a balance-of-plant system is operable to regulate the current draw of an electrolyzer cell stack by first manipulating the operating temperature of the same electrolyzer cell stack.

Abstract: A sealing technique is provided for forming complex and multiple seal configurations for fuel cells and other electrochemical cells. To provide a seal, for sealing chambers for oxidant, fuel and/or coolant, a groove network is provided extending through the various elements of the fuel cell assembly. A source of seal material is then connected to an external filling port and injected into the groove network, and the seal material is then cured to form the seal. There is thus formed a “seal in place”, that is robust and can accommodate variations in tolerances and dimensions, and that can be bonded, where possible, to individual elements of the fuel cell assembly. This avoids the difficulty, labor intensive cost and complexity of manually assembling many individual gaskets into complex groove shapes and the like. The seal material can be selected to be comparable with a wide variety of gases, liquid coolants and the like.

Abstract: A liquid separator includes a housing, a separation chamber disposed within the housing, a drain, an inlet channel, a swirler disposed within the inlet channel, and an outlet channel. The drain has a drain passageway for draining liquid from the separation chamber. The inlet channel is configured to communicate the fluid stream from a first inlet end to a second inlet end disposed within the housing and proximate the separation chamber. The outlet channel is configured to communicate the fluid stream from a first outlet end positioned proximate the second inlet end, to a second outlet end remote from the separation chamber. The drain passageway has an inner diameter sized such that the interaction between the surface tension of the liquid and the inner passageway causes some liquid to be retained in the drain passageway, to form a low pressure gas seal of the drain passageway.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for humidifying fuel, and optionally oxidant, supplied to a fuel cell system, which can be a single fuel cell or a multiplicity of fuel cells. A catalytic reactor is provided, which is supplied with a portion of the fuel and the oxidant. The fuel is supplied in excess of the oxidant to the catalytic reactor, so as to generate a stream of fuel which is both heated and humidified. For a closed system, a heated and humidified fuel flow, and optionally a heated and humidified oxidant flow, are mixed with additional flows of these gases supplied to the fuel cell.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel cell system and a method of operating same, The fuel cell has a first reactant inlet, a first reactant outlet, a second reactant inlet, a second reactant outlet. The invention involves (a) providing a first reactant incoming stream to the first reactant inlet; (b) providing a second reactant incoming stream to the second reactant inlet; (c) monitoring a fuel cell state variable indicative of flooding; (d) based on the fuel cell state variable, determining whether the fuel cell is flooded; and, (e) providing an additional amount of the first reactant to the fuel cell when the fuel cell is flooded.

Abstract: A fuel cell system and a method of operating same are provided. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell for driving a load, at least one fuel cell peripheral, a device for measuring at least one fuel cell operation characteristic, and at least one controller for controlling the operation of at least one fuel cell peripheral based on the at least one fuel cell operation characteristic. The fuel cell operation characteristic is divided into at least two ranges, and operation of at least one fuel cell is controlled to provide it with a respective operational characteristic for each range of operation of the fuel cell system.

Abstract: A liquid separator configured to separate liquid from a fluid stream. The separator includes a housing, a separation chamber disposed within the housing, a drain having a drain passageway for draining liquid from the separation chamber, an inlet chamber configured to receive the fluid stream, an inlet channel configured to communicate the fluid stream from the inlet chamber to the separation chamber, a swirler disposed within the inlet channel, and an outlet channel configured to communicate the fluid stream from a first outlet end positioned proximate the second inlet end, to a second outlet end remote from the separation chamber. Preferably, the separator also includes a separator mounting face proximate the inlet chamber, the mounting face configured for mounting the separator to a humidifier. The housing preferably includes a base and a cap which is removably mountable to the base.

Abstract: A method for humidifying and controlling the temperature of a process gas stream comprising the steps of super-saturating and heating the process gas stream with steam until it reaches a first pre-set temperature; cooling the process gas stream until it reaches a second pre-set temperature; removing excess condensed water from the process gas stream; and heating the process gas stream until it reaches a third pre-set temperature. An apparatus for implementing this method is also disclosed.