Abstract: A method for producing electric power from hydrogen and hydrogen from electric power, comprising: a reversible electric power-hydrogen conversion stage comprising a fuel cell stack to produce electric power from stored hydrogen and an electrolytic cell stack to produce hydrogen from electric power; a hydrogen pressure modification stage to modify the pressure of hydrogen supplied to or produced from the reversible electric power-hydrogen conversion stage; an electric power management and conditioning stage to condition electric power from/to the reversible electric power-hydrogen conversion stage; and a management stage to differentially manage the operation of the reversible electric power-hydrogen conversion stage, the hydrogen pressure modification stage and the electric power management and conditioning stage according to whether the system produces electric power from hydrogen or hydrogen from electric power and on a user-settable operation management strategy.

Abstract: A PEM-fuel-cell-stack backup electric generator comprising: a fuel-cell stack, formed by a plurality of stacked PEM fuel cells electrically connected in series for supplying electrical energy to an electrical load; a cell-voltage monitor for measuring the voltage supplied by each fuel cell; an electrical-energy management and conditioning unit, connected between the fuel-cell stack and the electrical load; a blower for supplying the amount of air necessary for the chemical reactions that occur in the fuel cells; a hydrogen recirculator for recirculating hydrogen between the outlet and the inlet of the fuel-cell stack; a hydrogen-purging device for carrying out a primary purging of hydrogen at a lower flow rate, and a secondary purging of hydrogen at a higher flow rate; and a controller, programmed for managing operation of the electric generator differently at start-up, at shut-down, and during normal operation thereof.

Abstract: A fuel cell electric generator designed for back-up in the absence of network electricity supply. The generator comprises a fuel cell stack, means for supplying the stack with a first and a second reagent flow comprising, in turn, pressure reducing means, and a manifold body to communicate with the stack said first and second reagent flows and at least a flow of coolant fluid via a respective coolant loop. The manifold body comprises inside chambers for the mixing of said reagent flows with corresponding re-circulated product flows and a coolant fluid expansion chamber within which said pressure reducing means of said first and second reagent flows are positioned at least partially drowned by said coolant. Method for the start-up and shutdown of the generator, and a method for detecting the flooding of a fuel cell and a method for detecting the presence of gas leakages in the generator are also disclosed.

Abstract: A fuel cell electric generator designed for back-up in the absence of network electricity supply. The generator comprises a fuel cell stack, means for supplying the stack with a first and a second reagent flow comprising, in turn, pressure reducing means, and a manifold body to communicate with the stack said first and second reagent flows and at least a flow of coolant fluid via a respective coolant loop. The manifold body comprises inside chambers for the mixing of said reagent flows with corresponding re-circulated product flows and a coolant fluid expansion chamber within which said pressure reducing means of said first and second reagent flows are positioned at least partially drowned by said coolant. Method for the start-up and shutdown of the generator, and a method for detecting the flooding of a fuel cell and a_method for detecting the presence of gas leakages in the generator are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stack (200) comprising a plurality of stacked fuel cells (100), fixed and fluidically connected to a first head (210), which comprises: a feeding inlet (301) for a fuel flow and a corresponding outlet (302); a feeding inlet (303) for a comburent flow and a corresponding outlet (306); a feeding inlet (302) and a corresponding outlet (305) for a flow of a cooling heat-transfer fluid thermally coupled with the fuel cells (100) in order to remove at least part of the reaction heat at the fuel cells (100) themselves; the first head (210) comprising a feeding inlet (307) and a corresponding outlet (308) for a flow may pass, said volume being thermally coupled with the cooling heat-transfer fluid flow, so that the cooling heat-transfer fluid delivers at least some of the heat removed from the fuel sells (100) to the working heat-transfer fluid.

Abstract: A fuel cell electric generator designed for back-up in the absence of network electricity supply. The generator comprises a fuel cell stack, means for supplying the stack with a first and a second reagent flow comprising, in turn, pressure reducing means, and a manifold body to communicate with the stack said first and second reagent flows and at least a flow of coolant fluid via a respective coolant loop. The manifold body comprises inside chambers for the mixing of said reagent flows with corresponding re-circulated product flows and a coolant fluid expansion chamber within which said pressure reducing means of said first and second reagent flows are positioned at least partially drowned by said coolant. Method for the start-up and shut-down of the generator, and a method for detecting the flooding of a fuel cell and a method for detecting the presence of gas leakages in the generator are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for producing electric power from hydrogen and hydrogen from electric power, comprising: a reversible electric power-hydrogen conversion stage comprising a fuel cell stack to produce electric power from stored hydrogen and an electrolytic cell stack to produce hydrogen from electric power; a hydrogen pressure modification stage to modify the pressure of hydrogen supplied to or produced from the reversible electric power-hydrogen conversion stage; an electric power management and conditioning stage to condition electric power from/to the reversible electric power-hydrogen conversion stage; and a management stage to differentially manage the operation of the reversible electric power-hydrogen conversion stage, the hydrogen pressure modification stage and the electric power management and conditioning stage according to whether the system produces electric power from hydrogen or hydrogen from electric power and on a user-settable operation management strategy.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stack (200) comprising a plurality of stacked fuel cells (100), fixed and fluidically connected to a first head (210), which comprises: a feeding inlet (301) for a fuel flow and a corresponding outlet (302); a feeding inlet (303) for a comburent flow and a corresponding outlet (306); a feeding inlet (302) and a corresponding outlet (305) for a flow of a cooling heat-transfer fluid thermally coupled with the fuel cells (100) in order to remove at least part of the reaction heat at the fuel cells (100) themselves; the first head (210) comprising a feeding inlet (307) and a corresponding outlet (308) for a flow may pass, said volume being thermally coupled with the cooling heat-transfer fluid flow, so that the cooling heat-transfer fluid delivers at least some of the heat removed from the fuel sells (100) to the working heat-transfer fluid.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electric power generator comprising a plurality of fuel cells stacked in a stack and configured to supply an electric load, the generator comprising means for generating a gas fuel to be supplied to the stack, and means for removing at least part of a heat flow generated in the stack as a consequence of the consumption of said gas fuel; characterized in that it comprises heating means configured to maintain said means for generating gas fuel within a predetermined temperature range and comprising means for transferring at least part of said removed part of the heat flow generated in the stack from said removing means to said means for generating gas fuel.

Abstract: A system for producing electric power from hydrogen and hydrogen from electric power, comprising: a reversible electric power-hydrogen conversion stage comprising a fuel cell stack to produce electric power from stored hydrogen and an electrolytic cell stack to produce hydrogen from electric power; a hydrogen pressure modification stage to modify the pressure of hydrogen supplied to or produced from the reversible electric power-hydrogen conversion stage; an electric power management and conditioning stage to condition electric power from/to the reversible electric power-hydrogen conversion stage; and a management stage to differentially manage the operation of the reversible electric power-hydrogen conversion stage, the hydrogen pressure modification stage and the electric power management and conditioning stage according to whether the system produces electric power from hydrogen or hydrogen from electric power and on a user-settable operation management strategy.

Abstract: A PEM-fuel-cell-stack backup electric generator comprising: a fuel-cell stack, formed by a plurality of stacked PEM fuel cells electrically connected in series for supplying electrical energy to an electrical load; a cell-voltage monitor for measuring the voltage supplied by each fuel cell; an electrical-energy management and conditioning unit, connected between the fuel-cell stack and the electrical load; a blower for supplying the amount of air necessary for the chemical reactions that occur in the fuel cells; a hydrogen recirculator for recirculating hydrogen between the outlet and the inlet of the fuel-cell stack; a hydrogen-purging device for carrying out a primary purging of hydrogen at a lower flow rate, and a secondary purging of hydrogen at a higher flow rate; and a controller, programmed for managing operation of the electric generator differently at start-up, at shut-down, and during normal operation thereof.

Abstract: A fuel cell electric generator designed for back-up in the absence of network electricity supply. The generator comprises a fuel cell stack, means for supplying the stack with a first and a second reagent flow comprising, in turn, pressure reducing means, and a manifold body to communicate with the stack said first and second reagent flows and at least a flow of coolant fluid via a respective coolant loop. The manifold body comprises inside chambers for the mixing of said reagent flows with corresponding re-circulated product flows and a coolant fluid expansion chamber within which said pressure reducing means of said first and second reagent flows are positioned at least partially drowned by said coolant. Method for the start-up and shut-down of the generator, and a method for detecting the flooding of a fuel cell and a method for detecting the presence of gas leakages in the generator are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for purging water or another fluid from one or both the anode and cathode compartments of a fuel cell stack is presented. The stack is hydraulically connected to a source of reagents and to an outlet conduit, which is in its turn connected to a drain or a recirculator. At least one flow of reagents is regulated by a regulator and is sent from the source to the stack to produce electric power to be supplied to a user. The method includes interrupting withdrawal of current from the fuel cell stack and to the user by feeding the latter by an auxiliary source of electric energy such as to satisfy, on its own, electric energy requirements of the user. The method also includes simultaneously continuing to feed the at least one flow of reagents to the stack until the stack is purged to a desired extent.