Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a hotbox configured to house a fuel cell stack, the fuel cell stack including a temperature sensor configured to detect temperature inside the fuel cell stack. The system includes a first tank including a first valve and configured to store methanol. The system includes a second tank including a second valve and configured to store water. The system includes a controller communicatively coupled to receive signals from the temperature sensor and control each of the first valve and the second valve. The controller is configured to set a dosing rate of methanol, based on a temperature of the fuel cells stack, to a predefined dosing rate and initiate operating at least one of the first valve and the second valve to deliver a mixture of methanol and water at the predefined dosing rate to prevent re-oxidation of an anode of the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: A method of operating a fuel cell system on a by-product gas containing a fuel constituent. The fuel cell system includes a fuel reformer for forming a reformate stream, a combustor for supplying heat energy to the fuel reformer, and a fuel cell stack. The method includes the steps of separating a by-product gas into a purified gas stream and a residual stream with a gaseous fuel purifier, feeding the purified gas stream to the fuel reformer configured to transform the purified gas stream to produce a reformate stream, and feeding the residual gas stream to a combustor configured to provide heat energy to the fuel reformer. The purified gas stream contains a higher concentration of preferable fuel constituents and a lower concentration of contaminants than the residual gas stream.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell system including electric resistance elements for heating of space and components within the “hot zone” enclosure of the system, preferably in combination with means for using “waste” heat from other sources, to assist in warm-up from a cold start and/or to maintain a stand-by temperature of reformer and fuel cell elements within the system and/or to maintain optimum operating temperatures within the system during periods of very low electrical demand on the system. A method is included for using off-peak grid electricity, battery-stored onboard electricity, or vehicle-generated electricity to energize the resistance heaters, as well as utilizing gaseous waste heat sources such as vehicle exhaust gas to complement the resistance heating.

Abstract: Building a track for a computer game, including: enabling a player of the computer game to generate the track using a controller used to play the computer game, wherein the track is generated from a point of view of the player steering the controller; and laying out the track behind the player steering the controller.

Abstract: A hybrid input differential engine system comprising a planetary gear set. Preferably, an ICE is connected to the planet gear carrier, the output shaft is connected to the ring gear, and the sun gear is connected to a supercharger/expander and an electric or hydraulic motor/generator. As engine torque increases, the supercharger speeds up, increasing torque still further, enabling a small displacement engine to have very high torque at low RPM. In cruise conditions, the sun gear direction is reversed by the motor/generator, causing the supercharger to act as an expander for efficiently throttling the engine. The motor/generator modulates the speed/torque relationships between the engine and the supercharger/expander. A second motor/generator may be used on the output shaft. The electric machines and electric storage may be downsized because less electrical power is needed for the operation of the system.

Abstract: A method of operating a fuel cell system on a by-product gas containing a fuel constituent. The fuel cell system includes a fuel reformer for forming a reformate stream, a combustor for supplying heat energy to the fuel reformer, and a fuel cell stack. The method includes the steps of separating a by-product gas into a purified gas stream and a residual stream with a gaseous fuel purifier, feeding the purified gas stream to the fuel reformer configured to transform the purified gas stream to produce a reformate stream, and feeding the residual gas stream to a combustor configured to provide heat energy to the fuel reformer. The purified gas stream contains a higher concentration of preferable fuel constituents and a lower concentration of contaminants than the residual gas stream.

Abstract: During periods of vehicle inactivity, a vehicle-based APU electric generating system may be coupled into a regional electric grid to send electricity into the grid. A currently-preferred APU is a solid oxide fuel cell system. When a large number of vehicles are thus equipped and connected, substantial electric buffering can be effected to the grid load. A vehicle-based APU can also function as a back-up generator to a docking facility in the event of power failure of the grid. Gaseous hydrocarbon is readily supplied by pipe in many locations as a commercial and residential heating fuel source, and a hydrocarbon reformer on the vehicle can be attached to the fuel source, enabling an APU to operate as a stationary power source indefinitely. An optional storage tank on the vehicle may be refueled with gaseous fuel, for example, while the battery is being electrically recharged by the grid.

Abstract: An energy conversion system comprising ammonia for fueling an SOFC stack to generate electricity and a hydrogen-rich tailgas. In the SOFC stack, ammonia is cracked to hydrogen and nitrogen. Ammonia is stored in a metal halide complex and is released therefrom as gaseous ammonia by waste heat from the SOFC. A heat exchanger is positioned across the SOFC cathode such that incoming air is tempered by the cathode exhaust air. In a two-stage energy conversion system, the hydrogen-rich tailgas from the SOFC is supplied as fuel to a secondary energy conversion device which may be, for example, an internal combustion engine or a gas turbine engine which may operate, for example, either a generator for generating additional electricity or a vehicle for motive power, or a second fuel cell stack.

Abstract: A system comprising a cylindrical housing containing a sorbent cartridge selective of one or more gases in a gaseous mixture. End caps on opposite ends of the housing seal to the ends of the cartridge and direct the flow of gas mixture through a portion of the cartridge. The first end cap has entrance and exit ports for the gas mixture and for a purging gas for cartridge regeneration. The second end cap includes a compartment to receive and return the gas mixture to the first cap exit port. The purging gas follows a similar pathway via the remaining portion of the cartridge. The cartridge is rotatable within the housing; thus, the exhausted portion of the medium may be rotated into position for regeneration while a regenerated portion of the medium is rotated into position for re-use, thus providing continuous adsorption from the gas mixture.

Abstract: A hybrid fuel cell system comprising a solid-oxide fuel cell system, a proton exchange membrane fuel cell system, a hydrocarbon reformer and a hydrogen separator. A large PEM provides output power, such as motive power for a vehicle, using hydrogen storage that may be resupplied from a separate hydrogen refilling station or from the onboard reformer. The SOFC is preferably small and provides heat and exhaust water that, when recycled into the reformer, allow the reformer to operate endothermically without requiring atmospheric air, thus excluding nitrogen from the reformate stream. Alternatively, the reformer and SOFC are stationary at a base station and the PEM is aboard the vehicle. The SOFC and reformer have sufficient capacity to recharge hydrogen storage in the vehicle in a relatively short period of time, such as overnight.

Abstract: A system for removing sulfur from a continuous reformate stream feeding a fuel cell stack. First and second sulfur traps are disposed in parallel between a hydrocarbon reformer and the fuel cell stack. The ends of the sulfur traps are connected to conventional four-way valves such that either trap may be selected for trapping sulfur from the reformate stream, while the other trap is undergoing regeneration by backflushing the accumulated adsorbed sulfur deposits. Thus, the sulfur traps may be used and stripped alternately, permitting continuous supply of desulfurized reformate to the fuel cell assembly. In a currently preferred embodiment, the hot cathode air exhaust is used to assist in stripping the out-of-service trap. In an alternative embodiment, two reformers are provided and the reformers are alternately regenerated along with their respective traps.

Abstract: A hybrid fuel cell system comprising a solid-oxide fuel cell system, a proton exchange membrane fuel cell system, a hydrocarbon reformer and a hydrogen separator. A large PEM provides output power, such as motive power for a vehicle, using hydrogen storage that may be resupplied from a separate hydrogen refilling station or from the onboard reformer. The SOFC is preferably small and provides heat and exhaust water that, when recycled into the reformer, allow the reformer to operate endothermically without requiring atmospheric air, thus excluding nitrogen from the reformate stream. Alternatively, the reformer and SOFC are stationary at a base station and the PEM is aboard the vehicle. The SOFC and reformer have sufficient capacity to recharge hydrogen storage in the vehicle in a relatively short period of time, such as overnight.

Abstract: A boost system comprising a turbocharger, a supercharger operable as either a compressor or an expander. Air flows through the turbocharger, optionally through a first charge air cooler CAC1, then through the supercharger, a second charge air cooler CAC2, and into the engine. At low engine speeds, the supercharger may be used to compress air, which is tempered by CAC2. At high engine speeds, the turbocharger has excess capacity, resulting in a hot compressed air stream. The supercharger operates as an expander to cool the air stream and reduce the air pressure and temperature to a desired level. Temperature may be reduced to a level below that desired for combustion; CAC2 then rewarms the air, thereby storing cooling capacity. A useful embodiment incorporates a turbocharger with a hybrid gas/electric or diesel/electric engine arrangement wherein a supercharger and a starter/generator/motor are disposed on a disconnectable secondary drive powered by the engine.

Abstract: A hybrid SOFC/gas turbine electric generating system comprising an SOFC stack, a hydrocarbon reformer, a first anode tailgas hydrogen-rich combustor to drive a first gas turbine stage, and a second stoichiometric combustor to drive a second gas turbine stage to drive a generator. Anode tailgas is also recycled into the reformer for substantially endothermic reforming of hydrocarbon fuel. Oxidant is provided as pure oxygen—which may be stored as liquid oxygen. All nitrogen may be excluded. Cathode exhaust is passed to the first combustor, to the second combustor, and is recycled into the cathodes. The turbine exhaust is passed through successive heat exchangers cooled by liquid oxygen being vaporized, precipitating water and solid CO2. The system is operated at about 800 kPa (about 8 atmospheres), thereby increasing the power output of the stack. The system may be operated with no gaseous exhaust or with by-products of water and CO2.

Abstract: A hybrid input differential engine system comprising a planetary gear set. Preferably, an ICE is connected to the planet gear carrier, the output shaft is connected to the ring gear, and the sun gear is connected to a supercharger/expander and an electric or hydraulic motor/generator. As engine torque increases, the supercharger speeds up, increasing torque still further, enabling a small displacement engine to have very high torque at low RPM. In cruise conditions, the sun gear direction is reversed by the motor/generator, causing the supercharger to act as an expander for efficiently throttling the engine. The motor/generator modulates the speed/torque relationships between the engine and the supercharger/expander. A second motor/generator may be used on the output shaft. The electric machines and electric storage may be downsized because less electrical power is needed for the operation of the system.

Abstract: A system comprising a cylindrical housing containing a sorbent cartridge selective of one or more gases in a gaseous mixture. End caps on opposite ends of the housing seal to the ends of the cartridge and direct the flow of gas mixture through a portion of the cartridge. The first end cap has entrance and exit ports for the gas mixture and for a purging gas for cartridge regeneration. The second end cap includes a compartment to receive and return the gas mixture to the first cap exit port. The purging gas follows a similar pathway via the remaining portion of the cartridge. The cartridge is rotatable within the housing; thus, the exhausted portion of the medium may be rotated into position for regeneration while a regenerated portion of the medium is rotated into position for re-use, thus providing continuous adsorption from the gas mixture.

Abstract: An energy conversion system comprising ammonia for fueling an SOFC stack to generate electricity and a hydrogen-rich tailgas. In the SOFC stack, ammonia is cracked to hydrogen and nitrogen. Ammonia is stored in a metal halide complex and is released therefrom as gaseous ammonia by waste heat from the SOFC. A heat exchanger is positioned across the SOFC cathode such that incoming air is tempered by the cathode exhaust air. In a two-stage energy conversion system, the hydrogen-rich tailgas from the SOFC is supplied as fuel to a secondary energy conversion device which may be, for example, an internal combustion engine or a gas turbine engine which may operate, for example, either a generator for generating additional electricity or a vehicle for motive power, or a second fuel cell stack.

Abstract: A catalytic reformer assembly is used to generate reformate from hydrocarbon fuels for fueling an energy producing source such as a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) assembly or an internal combustion engine (ICE). In the case of an SOFC assembly, it emits a tail gas (syngas) from the anodes which contains significant residual hydrogen and carbon monoxide, is very hot, and is completely anoxic. Syngas is thus an ideal medium for vaporizing and carrying higher boiling point fuels into the reformer. At least a portion of the anode syngas is recycled into a fuel vaporizer/mixer ahead of the reformer and ahead of the entry point of air into the fuel stream, such that the fuel dispersed into the fuel vaporizer/mixer is fully vaporized and heated prior to being combined with air for exothermic reforming. In the case of an ICE, hot exhaust is used as the recycled carrier gas.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling reformate delivered to an electrochemical cell in an electric power system. The system comprises: a reformate pressure sensor disposed in the reformate and configured to measure reformate pressure; a controllable valve configured to control the flow of reformate to the electrochemical cell; and a controller coupled to the reformate pressure sensor and the controllable valve. The controller receives a reformate pressure signal from the reformate pressure sensor, a controllable valve position signal from the controllable valve, and transmits a controllable valve command to the controllable valve.

Abstract: A method for fuel cell system thermal management includes: maintaining a first zone at a first selected temperature range, maintaining a second zone at a second selected temperature range, and maintaining a third zone at a third selected temperature range. The second zone is in thermal communication with a first sensor and comprises a reformer, while the third zone is in thermal communication with a second sensor and comprises a fuel cell stack. The second selected temperature range is greater than the first selected temperature range, while the third selected temperature range is greater than the second selected temperature range.