Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes a pair of bipolar plates and a membrane electrode assembly between the bipolar plates. The membrane electrode assembly comprises an anode compartment, a cathode compartment, and a proton exchange membrane disposed therebetween. The cell further includes a sealing surface formed in one of the pair of bipolar plates and a gasket located between the sealing surface and the proton exchange membrane. The gasket is configured to plastically deform to create a seal about one of the cathode compartment or the anode compartment. The sealing surface can include one or more protrusions.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method and system for dynamically controlling seal decompression. The method includes monitoring a set of parameters associated with an operation of a seal, wherein the set of parameters includes a maximum pressure subjected to the seal and an exposure time at the maximum pressure, calculating a target pressure ramp down rate based on at least one of the maximum pressure and the exposure time, and decreasing a pressure about the seal at a decompression rate that is based on the target pressure ramp down rate.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method for tuning the performance of at least one electrochemical cell of an electrochemical cell stack. The method includes supplying power to an electrochemical cell stack. The electrochemical cell stack includes a plurality of electrochemical cells. The method further includes monitoring a parameter of at least one electrochemical cell and determining if an electrochemical cell becomes impaired. The method also includes diverting a fraction of the current flow from the impaired electrochemical cell during operation of the electrochemical cell stack.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a method of producing hydrogen gas meeting a predetermined threshold of purity may include transferring a quantity of a hydrogen gas mixture through an electrochemical hydrogen pump, wherein the electrochemical hydrogen pump includes an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte membrane located between the anode and the cathode; separating a quantity of hydrogen gas from the hydrogen gas mixture by transferring the hydrogen gas from the anode, through the electrolyte membrane, to the cathode; collecting the hydrogen gas from the cathode, wherein the collected hydrogen gas at least meets the predetermined threshold of purity; and producing a certificate that the collected hydrogen gas has a purity that is at least substantially equal to the predetermined threshold of purity.

Abstract: One aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a fuel cell power system. The system may include one or more fuel cells configured to generate electric power and a compressor configured to supply compressed air to the one or more fuel cells. The system may further include one or more sensors. The sensors may be configured to generate a signal indicative of at least one measured parameter of air flow across the one or more fuel cells. The system may also include a controller in communication with the one or more fuel cells, the compressor, and the sensors. The controller may be configured to determine a desired pressure drop based on at least one calculated parameter, determine a control command for the compressor based on the desired pressure drop, and adjust the control command based on a feedback gain parameter and a feed forward gain parameter.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a compressed fuel dispensing station having a compressor configured to compress a fuel source, a plurality of fuel dispensing units, at least one low pressure compressed fuel reservoir fluidly connected to the fuel compressor and the plurality of fuel dispensing units, and a plurality of high pressure compressed fuel reservoirs, wherein each high pressure compressed fuel reservoir is fluidly connected to the fuel compressor and at least one fuel dispensing unit.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure may include a method of managing a state of charge of a battery having a plurality of battery cells. The method may include calculating an individual state of charge for each battery cell, calculating an average state of charge for the battery cells, defining a minimum and a maximum average state of charge threshold, and calculating an overall state of charge for the battery such that when the average state of charge is below the minimum threshold, the overall state of charge is calculated based on the state of charge of a subset of battery cells having the lowest state of charge, and when the average state of charge is above the maximum threshold, the overall state of charge is calculated based on the state of charge of a subset of battery cells having the highest state of charge.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, an electrochemical cell stack compression system may include an integral, hollow frame configured to contain a plurality of electrochemical cells arranged along an axis in a stack configuration. The frame may have a defined shape and may form a continuous border around a periphery of the electrochemical cell stack when inserted. The frame may be formed of a plurality of fibers.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes a pair of bipolar plates and a membrane electrode assembly between the bipolar plates. The electrochemical cell further includes a first seal defining a high pressure zone, wherein the first seal is located between the bipolar plates and configured to contain a first fluid within the high pressure zone. Further, the electrochemical cell includes a second seal defining an intermediate pressure zone, wherein the second seal is located between the bipolar plates and configured to contain a second fluid within the intermediate pressure zone. The first seal is configured to leak the first fluid into the intermediate pressure zone when the first seal unseats.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a plurality of fuel cells arranged in a stack configuration extending along a z-axis, wherein each fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly interposed between a pair of bipolar plates, and each membrane electrode assembly has a total active area measured in an x-y plane that is generally perpendicular to the z-axis. Each bipolar plate includes a plurality of common passages extending generally parallel to the z-axis. The total active area of each membrane electrode assembly includes a plurality of base active areas arranged co-planar in the x-y plane along an x-axis.

Abstract: A method of managing humidification for a fuel cell power system comprising, supplying air to a cathode inlet stream of a fuel cell. Detecting a fuel cell parameter associated with the humidity of the cathode inlet stream. Selectively operating the fuel cell in either an active humidification mode or a deactive humidification mode based on the fuel cell parameter, wherein the active humidification mode includes adding water to the cathode inlet stream and the deactive humidification mode includes adding no water to the cathode inlet stream.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell is disclosed comprising, a first flow structure, a second flow structure, and a membrane electrode assembly disposed between the first and second flow structures. The electrochemical cell further comprises a pair of bipolar plates, wherein the first flow structure, the second flow structure, and the membrane electrode assembly are positioned between the pair of bipolar plates. The electrochemical cell also includes a spring mechanism, wherein the spring mechanism is disposed between the first flow structure and the bipolar plate adjacent to the first flow structure, and applies a pressure on the first flow structure in a direction substantially toward the membrane electrode assembly.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards the design of bipolar plates for use in conduction-cooled electrochemical cells. Heat generated during the operation of the cell is removed from the active area of the cell to the periphery of the cell via the one or more bipolar plates in the cell. The one or more bipolar plates are configured to function as heat sinks to collect heat from the active area of the cell and to conduct the heat to the periphery of the plate where the heat is removed by traditional heat transfer means. The boundary of the one or more bipolar plates can be provided with heat dissipation structures to facilitate removal of heat from the plates. To function as effective heat sinks, the thickness of the one or more bipolar plates can be determined based on the rate of heat generation in the cell during operation, the thermal conductivity (“k”) of the material selected to form the plate, and the desired temperature gradient in a direction orthogonal to the plate (“?T”).

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards the design of electrochemical cells for use in high pressure or high differential pressure operations. The electrochemical cells of the present disclosure have non-circular external pressure boundaries, i.e., the cells have non-circular profiles. In such cells, the internal fluid pressure during operation is balanced by the axial tensile forces developed in the bipolar plates, which prevent the external pressure boundaries of the cells from flexing or deforming. That is, the bipolar plates are configured to function as tension members during operation of the cells. To function as an effective tension member, the thickness of a particular bipolar plate is determined based on the yield strength of the material selected for fabricating the bipolar plate, the internal fluid pressure in the flow structure adjacent to the bipolar plate, and the thickness of the adjacent flow structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a recirculation device comprising a body comprising at least one first passage configured to receive an exhaust, at least one second passage configured to receive a fuel, at least one third passage configured to receive a mixture of the exhaust and the fuel, and a longitudinal axis extending from the second passage to the third passage. The device can also comprise a nozzle comprising an inner cavity for directing fuel towards an orifice, located at the smallest cross-sectional area of the inner cavity and a piston slideably located within the body comprising a first end configured to receive the fuel and a second end configured to fuel to the nozzle cavity, whereby the piston can be actuated along the longitudinal axis of the body by the exhaust controlling the flow of fuel passing through the orifice. A mixing chamber located within the body can be configured to receive an exhaust and configured to receive fuel from the orifice.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards the design and arrangement of flow structures in electrochemical cells for use in high differential pressure operations. The flow structure on the low pressure-side of the cell has a larger surface area than the flow structure on the high-pressure side of the cell at the flow structure—MEA interface. The boundary of the high pressure flow structure is entirely within the boundary of the low pressure flow structure. A seal around the high pressure flow structure is also contained within the boundary of the low pressure flow structure. In such an arrangement, high fluid pressures acting on the electrolyte membrane from the high-pressure side of the cell is fully and continuously balanced by the flow structure on the low pressure-side of the membrane. Use of the low pressure flow structure as a membrane support prevents the rupture or deformation of the membrane under high stresses.

Abstract: A hydrogen extraction system is provided. The extraction system can comprise a compressor for compressing a gas mixture comprising hydrogen and a desulfurization unit for receiving the compressed gas mixture. The system can also comprise a hydrogen-extraction device for receiving a reduced-sulfur gas mixture and a hydrogen storage device for receiving an extracted hydrogen gas. A method of extracting hydrogen from a gas mixture comprising natural gas and hydrogen, and a method of determining an energy price are also provided.

Abstract: Equipment and methods for estimating and regulating the state of charge (SOC) of a battery in a hybrid fuel cell-battery system for use in a moving vehicle. The SOC is continuously estimated and the fuel cell power is regulated to maintain the SOC at a level such that the battery has enough stored energy to operate motors used in the vehicle, and enough spare capacity to accept regenerative energy from these motors during further operations.

Abstract: This disclosure related to polymer electrolyte member fuel cells and components thereof.

Abstract: A startup burner for rapidly heating a catalyst in a reformer, as well as related methods and modules, is disclosed.