Abstract: A fuel supply assembly which receives a supply of liquid fuel feedstock including hydrocarbons having higher and lower hydrocarbon content and high molecular weight sulfur-containing compounds, the higher hydrocarbon content and high molecular weight sulfur containing compounds being less volatile that the lower hydrocarbon content. The fuel supply assembly supplies fuel to a fuel cell assembly and has a housing unit adapted to house the liquid fuel feedstock so that the liquid fuel feedstock is subjected to vaporization conditions to allow at least a portion of the liquid fuel feedstock to vaporize to form fuel feedstock vapor, the vaporization conditions being such that the concentration of lower hydrogen content is higher and the concentration of higher hydrocarbon content and high molecular weight sulfur containing compounds is lower in the fuel feedstock vapor than in the liquid fuel feedstock.

Abstract: A dielectric assembly for electrically insulating a manifold or other component from a liquid electrolyte fuel cell stack wherein the dielectric assembly includes a substantially impermeable dielectric member over which electrolyte is able to flow and a barrier adjacent the dielectric member and having a porosity of less than 50% and greater than 10% so that the barrier is able to measurably absorb and chemically react with the liquid electrolyte flowing on the dielectric member to form solid products which are stable in the liquid electrolyte. In this way, the barrier inhibits flow or creepage of electrolyte from the dielectric member to the manifold or component to be electrically insulated from the fuel cell stack by the dielectric assembly.

Abstract: A fuel cell system for receiving input fuel, input water and input oxidant comprising a humidifying assembly for combining the input fuel with input water to produce humidified fuel, a fuel cell having an anode for receiving the humidified fuel and a cathode for receiving the input oxidant, and a power load controller for controlling a power load on the fuel cell system based on a power output set point and changes in the detected load.

Abstract: A gasket for use in a fuel cell system having at least one externally manifolded fuel cell stack, for sealing the manifold edge and the stack face. In accordance with the present invention, the gasket accommodates differential movement between the stack and manifold by promoting slippage at interfaces between the gasket and the dielectric and between the gasket and the stack face.

Abstract: An assembly having fuel cell plate structure adapted for use in a fuel cell in which gas flow channels are arranged to carry process gas adjacent the active and wet seal areas of the fuel cell, the plate structure having one or more baffles arranged such that when the plate structure is in the fuel cell the baffles of the plate structure cause the process gas flowing adjacent the wet seal areas to be directed away from the wet seal areas and toward the active areas of the cell.

Abstract: A caulk is provided for use in a fuel cell system having an externally manifolded fuel cell stack, forming a gas seal between a manifold gasket and the stack face. The caulk is formed of a ceramic material and a binder formed into a paste.

Abstract: A fuel cell system with improved electrical isolation having a fuel cell stack with a positive potential end and a negative potential, a manifold for use in coupling gases to and from a face of the fuel cell stack, an electrical isolating assembly for electrically isolating the manifold from the stack, and a unit for adjusting an electrical potential of the manifold such as to impede the flow of electrolyte from the stack across the isolating assembly.

Abstract: An assembly for storing electrolyte in a carbonate fuel cell is provided. The combination of a soft, compliant and resilient cathode current collector and an inactive anode part including a foam anode in each assembly mitigates electrical contact loss during operation of the fuel cell stack. In addition, an electrode reservoir in the positive end assembly and an electrode sink in the negative end assembly are provided, by which ribbed and flat cathode members inhibit electrolyte migration in the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: A fuel cell system and method in which the fuel cell system receives and an input oxidant gas and an input fuel gas, and in which a fuel processing assembly is provided and is adapted to at least humidify the input fuel gas which is to be supplied to the anode of the fuel cell of the system whose cathode receives the oxidant input gas via an anode oxidizing assembly which is adapted to couple the output of the anode of the fuel cell to the inlet of the cathode of the fuel cell during normal operation, shutdown and restart of the fuel cell system, and in which a control assembly is further provided and is adapted to respond to shutdown of the fuel cell system during which input fuel gas and input oxidant gas cease to be received by the fuel cell system, the control assembly being further adapted to, when the fuel cell system is shut down: control the fuel cell system so as to enable a purging gas to be able to flow through the fuel processing assembly to remove humidified fuel gas from the processing assembly

Abstract: An apparatus and method in which a delayed carbonate electrolyte is stored in the storage areas of a non-electrolyte matrix fuel cell component and is of a preselected content so as to obtain a delayed time release of the electrolyte in the storage areas in the operating temperature range of the fuel cell.

Abstract: A high-lithium carbonate electrolyte formed from a eutectic carbonate mixture including lithium carbonate and from an additional lithium-containing component adapted to form lithium carbonate during at least one of initial heat up and operation of the fuel cell.

Abstract: A fuel cell system with improved electrical isolation having a fuel cell stack with a positive potential end and a negative potential, a manifold for use in coupling gases to and from a face of the fuel cell stack, an electrical isolating assembly for electrically isolating the manifold from the stack, and a unit for adjusting an electrical potential of the manifold such as to impede the flow of electrolyte from the stack across the isolating assembly.

Abstract: A gasket for use in a fuel cell system having at least one externally manifolded fuel cell stack, for sealing the manifold edge and the stack face. In accordance with the present invention, the gasket accommodates differential movement between the stack and manifold by promoting slippage at interfaces between the gasket and the dielectric and between the gasket and the stack face.

Abstract: An assembly having a dielectric frame which utilizes a plurality of segments, each segment having opposing first and second surfaces and first and second ends portions. Each of the first and second end portions has an end surface and a cutout extending from the end surface of the end portion along the length of the segment and from the first surface to the second surface. The segments of the frame are arranged in abutting relationship with the first surfaces of the segments aligned and the second surfaces of said segments aligned and with the end surface of a first end portion of a segment abutting the end surface of the second end portion of the adjacent segment. In this way, the cutouts of the first and second end portions of abutting segments form a keyway and a key is situated in the keyway so as to hold the abutting segments together. In accordance with the invention, certain of the segments are provided with recesses in the first surfaces of the segments adjacent the cutouts.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use with an oxidizer assembly of a fuel cell system in which the oxidizer assembly has an oxidizing unit for oxidizing anode exhaust gas containing electrolyte particulates and is adapted or conditioned so as to enable the electrolyte particulates to be removable from the assembly and to be removed from the assembly, and wherein the conditioning and removing occur with the oxidizing unit retained in the oxidizer assembly. The fuel cell system is also adapted so that such conditioning and removing occur with the oxidizing assembly retained in the fuel cell system.

Abstract: An integrated power production system including a fossil fuel power plant for processing fossil based fuel such as coal or natural gas arranged in tandem with a carbonate fuel cell having an anode and a cathode section. The flue gas of the power plant serves exclusively as the inlet gas for the cathode section of the fuel cell. Anode exhaust gas leaving the anode section of the fuel cell is subjected to processing including sequestration of the carbon dioxide in the exhaust gas.

Abstract: A fuel cell gasket assembly for use in conjunction with a fuel cell stack by placing the gasket assembly between the periphery of a face of the stack and a manifold. The periphery of the stack face includes periphery portions that expand differently during operation of the stack. The gasket assembly comprises a member adapted to have different compressibilities over predetermined portions of the member and/or a resilient shim embedded in preselected sections the member whereby the gasket maintains contact with the periphery of the stack face and the manifold. The structure of the gasket assembly of the present invention provides a compliant fuel cell gasket assembly that accommodates bipolar plate growth and end cell growth in the fuel cell stack and maintains the gas seal between the stack and manifold structure.

Abstract: A loaded plate for use with or as part of a fuel cell of a fuel cell stack in which the loading material of the plate is in cord form. The loading material can be either an electrolyte or a catalyst and the cord form is realized by extruding the loading material on the plate.

Abstract: A connection assembly for connecting first and second components so as to promote electrical isolation therebetween comprising first and second members adapted to be connected to the first and second components and a dielectric member situated between the first and second members. A fastening assembly is provided to fasten the first and second members and the dielectric member together as a unit. The fastening assembly includes dielectric elements and a dielectric coating is applied to preselected surface areas of the first and second members. The first component of the connection assembly may be at a different electrical potential than the second component.

Abstract: A compliant member is described for placement in a fuel cell, in a wet seal area thereof, which is defined by a bipolar plate structure and is adjacent an electrode and current collector. The compliant member comprises a flat body member having sections extending outwardly of the plane of the body member and imparting compliance to the compliant member.