Abstract: A fuel gas and an oxidant gas are humidified using a flow transmitter and a static mixer to achieve saturation of fuel and oxidant process gases prior to feeding to a fuel cell.

Abstract: A bilayer or trilayer composite ion exchange membrane suitable for use in a fuel cell. The composite membrane has a high equivalent weight thick layer in order to provide sufficient strength and low equivalent weight surface layers for improved electrical performance in a fuel cell. In use, the composite membrane is provided with electrode surface layers. The composite membrane can be composed of a sulfonic fluoropolymer in both core and surface layers.

Abstract: An electrochemical fuel cell having a membrane electrode assembly and a layer of an electrically conductive porous material adjacent thereto which has at least two portions with different mean pore sizes, wherein a first portion of the layer adjacent to the membrane electrode assembly has a porosity no greater than a second portion of the layer adjacent to the opposite side of the layer; the second portion has a porosity of at least about 82 percent; and the second portion has an mean pore size which is at least about 10 microns and at least ten times greater than the mean pore size of the first portion.

Abstract: A polymer polyol is prepared by polymerizing one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers in a polyol. A high molecular weight stabilizer having polymerizable ethylenic unsaturation and a low hydroxyl functionality is used, which leads to improved dispersion stability at reduced stabilizer level.

Abstract: A bipolar electrochemical cell comprising a novel connector for electrically connecting the anode and cathode of adjacent cell units comprising a corrugated, electrically conductive sheet which defines, respectively, with said cathode and said anode, separate channels for feeding gases or a gas and an electrolyte to said electrodes and a spacer placed between the cell separator and one of the electrodes which is adapted to provide, upon compression of a cell stack, dimensional separation of the cell separator and the electrode as well as electrical contact with the electrodes of the bipolar cell connector.

Abstract: An ion exchange membrane electrolyzer having at least one electrolytic cell containing a gas diffusion cathode, a current distributor, an anode supported by a wall of the electrolytic cell housing, and spacing means separating the current distributor which is in contact with said gas diffusion cathode from said ion exchange membrane wherein the force exerted by gas pressure applied to one face of the gas diffusion cathode is transmitted to said anode via said current distributor, and/or said spacing means, and said ion exchange membrane.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell having a hydraulically impermeable permselective membrane located between electrodes comprising at least one gas diffusion, laminar electrode having hydrophilic and hydrophobic layers and attendant current collector means is operated with greater efficiency by forcing the laminar, gas diffusion electrode against the current collector means so as to make and maintain electrical contact therebetween by means of gas pressure exerted against the hydrophobic side of the laminar, gas diffusion electrode opposite to that which faces the permselective membrane.

Abstract: A gas diffusion composite electrode is disclosed which is suitable for use in combination with an electrically conductive current collector. The electrode comprises an electrochemically active, porous and heterogeneous layer containing (1) an interconnected, hydrophilic island material comprising a blend of a major amount of an electrically conductive, particulate material, such as carbon black, in combination with an electrochemically active catalyst, and a minor amount of a hydrophobic polymer in combination with (2) a hydrophobic matrix material consisting essentially of a hydrophobic polymer rendered substantially porous by removal of a pore-forming ingredient. Methods of preparing the heterogeneous layer and the composite electrode are also disclosed.

Abstract: A gas diffusion composite electrode is disclosed which is suitable for use in combination with an electrically conductive current collector. The electrode comprises an electrochemically active, porous and heterogeneous layer containing (1) an interconnected, hydrophilic island material comprising a blend of a major amount of an electrically conductive, particulate material, such as carbon black, in combination with an electrochemically active catalyst, and a minor amount of a hydrophobic polymer in combination with (2) a hydrophobic matrix material consisting essentially of a hydrophobic polymer rendered substantially porous by removal of a pore-forming ingredient. Methods of preparing the heterogeneous layer and the composite electrode are also disclosed.