Abstract: A method for mixing and dispensing fuel includes flowing fuel from a tank toward a first flow path and a second flow path and separating the fuel into a first stream and a second stream. The method includes flowing the first stream in the first flow path through a vaporizer to a heat exchanger, flowing the second stream in the second flow path to the heat exchanger, flowing the first stream through a warm portion of the heat exchanger to exchange heat with the second stream, and flowing the second stream through a cold portion of the heat exchanger to exchange heat with the first stream. The method further includes flowing the first stream and the second stream from the heat exchanger to a mixing point, combining the first stream and the second stream to obtain a target stream, and dispensing the target stream through a dispenser.

Abstract: A catalyst includes a support and a plurality of catalyst particles disposed on the support. The support may include a plurality of metal oxide or doped metal oxide particles and a plurality of organic groups attached to the metal oxide or doped metal oxide particles via diazonium salt reaction. The plurality of organic groups, which may be aromatic groups and/or alkyl groups, may be substituted with functional groups that are positively or negatively charged.

Abstract: Method and system for electrochemically compressing hydrogen. In one embodiment, the system includes a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) that includes a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM), an anode, and a cathode. First and second gas diffusion media are positioned adjacent the cathode and anode, respectively. A humidifying membrane is positioned next to the second gas diffusion medium on a side opposite the anode. A water supply is connected to the humidifying membrane, and a hydrogen gas supply is connected to the second gas diffusion medium. A hydrogen gas collector including a back pressure regulator is connected to the first gas diffusion medium. Separators, positioned on opposite sides of the MEA, are connected to a power source. In use, hydrogen is electrochemically pumped across the MEA and collected in the hydrogen gas collector. The PEM is kept properly humidified by the humidifying membrane, which releases water into the second gas diffusion medium.

Abstract: A heat exchanger comprises an inlet, an outlet, a heat exchanging channel, and an opening. The heat exchanging channel surrounds a cavity. The opening provides access to the cavity. The inlet is coupled to one end of the heat exchanging channel and the outlet is coupled to another end of the heat exchanging channel. The heat exchanging channel is isolated from the cavity. No access or passage is present between the heat exchanging channel and the cavity. During operation, heat exchanging fluid flows through the heat exchanging channel thereby cooling fluid within the cavity. The heat exchanging fluid never contacts the fluid within the cavity. In various embodiments, the heat exchanging channel has a single or stacked layer when viewed along a cross section. The heat exchanging channel has a spherical, cylindrical, or rectangular shape. In one embodiment, an insulative layer is disposed between layers of the heat exchanging channel.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of electrolyzer recycling, including inserting an electrolyzer in a solution to loosen a bond between a first plate and a membrane electrode assembly and a second plate and the membrane electrode assembly of the electrolyzer, separating the membrane electrode assembly from the first plate and the second plate, acid leaching the membrane electrode assembly to obtain a first precious metal, and dispersing the membrane electrode assembly to obtain a second precious metal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of fuel cell recycling, including inserting a fuel cell in a solution to loosen a bond between a first plate and a membrane electrode assembly and a second plate and the membrane electrode assembly of the fuel cell, separating the membrane electrode assembly from the first plate and the second plate, and acid leaching the membrane electrode assembly to obtain a precious metal.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly, a first plate separator and a second plate separator on opposite sides of the membrane electrode assembly and a voltage sensor for detecting a cell voltage relative to opposite sides of the membrane electrode assembly. A transmitter is coupled to the sensor and configured to wirelessly transmit an indication of the cell voltage.

Abstract: A method for sealing an electrolyzer cell may include applying a sealant between two layers of an electrolyzer cell and compressing the two layers towards each other. The method may further include flowing fluid through a flow field in the electrolyzer cell. The method may further include controlling a temperature of the fluid flowing through the flow field and controlling a pressure applied to the sealant by the compressing the two layers towards each other. The method may further include conforming the sealant to the two layers.

Abstract: Catalyst sputtering-based methods of facilitating forming a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) catalyst layer are provided. The methods include forming a catalyst ink, including obtaining a powder including a plurality of support particles, and depositing, via sputtering, a catalyst onto the plurality of support particles to form a supported catalyst for the catalyst ink. Further, the method includes providing the catalyst ink with the supported catalyst on a membrane to facilitate forming the catalyst layer of the membrane electrode assembly.

Abstract: An exchange membrane includes, for example, a first layer membrane having a first thickness, a second layer membrane having a thickness less than the first thickness, and the second layer membrane containing a catalyst, a catalyst content in the second layer membrane being greater than a catalyst content in the first layer membrane, and the exchange membrane having an interface between the first layer membrane and the second layer membrane. In some embodiments, the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) includes the first layer membrane without a catalyst, and/or the exchange membrane includes a bi-layer exchange membrane.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a membrane electrode assembly, a first plate separator and a second plate separator on opposite sides of the membrane electrode assembly. The first plate separator and the second plate separator have exterior ends laterally spaced from the membrane electrode assembly. A first gas diffusion layer is located between the first plate separator and the membrane electrode assembly. A second gas diffusion layer is located between the second plate separator and the membrane electrode assembly. The sub-gasket extends laterally from the membrane electrode assembly. A first seal is located between the first plate separator and the sub-gasket. A conductive trace is attached to the sub-gasket and extends laterally on the sub-gasket away from the first seal and upwardly away from the subgasket to contact the first plate separator.

Abstract: A cryogenic dewar may include an inner tank and an outer tank. The cryogenic dewar may further include a plurality of trunnion mounts. A first four of the trunnion mounts may be coupled between a front half of the inner tank and a front half of the outer tank. A second four of the trunnion mounts may be coupled between a rear half of the inner tank and a rear half of the outer tank. The trunnion mount may be further strengthen with a plurality of pie-shaped reinforcing pads welded to each other and to an outer surface of the inner tank.

Abstract: A hydrogen fuel coupling system may include a hydrogen fuel tank and a hydrogen fuel supply connector. The tank has a first connector, and a second connector disposed around the first connector. The second connector has a boil-off inlet port for receiving gaseous hydrogen from the tank. The hydrogen fuel supply connector may include a hydrogen fuel transfer line, a third connector for operably sealably connecting the transfer line to a first connector of the tank for supplying liquid hydrogen, and a shroud extending around the third connector and the transfer line defining a gap therebetween. A fourth connector operably sealably connects a first end of the shroud to a second connector of the tank. A second end of the shroud is operably sealably engageable with the transfer line. A boil-off vent is connected to the shroud for venting gas from the gap.

Abstract: A fuel cell plate includes a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, a peripheral edge, an alignment hole spaced from the peripheral edge, and an insert received therein. The insert includes an annular portion which bounds a passage for receiving an aligning member and flanges extending radially from axial ends of the annular portion on the first surface and second surface of the fuel cell plate. The insert is electrically insulating and may include an annular cantilever portion of an annular cantilever snap joint permitting insertion of the annular body into the alignment hole and forming a snap fit therein and inhibiting and/or preventing removal therefrom.

Abstract: A method for forming a recombination layer includes, for example, an ionomer and a nanocrystal catalyst disposed in the ionomer. A method for forming the recombination layer may include, for example, providing an ionomer dispersion, providing a compound having a catalyst having a charge, adding the catalyst in the compound to the ionomer to form a mixture, reducing the catalyst in the compound to a metal catalyst in the ionomer, and forming the mixture with the metal catalyst into a recombination layer for a proton exchange membrane.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a first fluid flow plate including a first plurality of first channels for flow of an oxidant or a fuel. The plurality of first channel has first channel cross-sectional flow areas. A second fluid flow plate includes a second plurality of second channels for flow of an oxidant or a fuel. The plurality of second channels has second channel cross-sectional flow areas. A membrane electrode assembly is located between the first plate and the second plate. The first flow plate includes a passage for a flow of a fluid entirely on a seam side of the first flow plate as the first plurality of first channels. The passage has a cross-sectional area for flow of the fluid smaller than the first channel cross-sectional flow area.

Abstract: A cryogenic dewar may include an inner tank and an outer tank. The cryogenic dewar may further include one or more longitudinal stiffeners coupled to the inner tank at locations of stress that provide resistance to such stress. The inner vessel may include a combination of longitudinal stiffeners to allow the dewar to meet governmental imposed regulations on strength and safety of the dewar without increasing the weight of the dewar or to increase the amount by weight of cryogenic liquid that can be transported under governmental imposed regulations, or both, by, with the addition of longitudinal stiffeners, simultaneously increasing the grade of the material of the inner tank.

Abstract: Electrolyzer systems and end plate assemblies are provided with one or more fluid-isolating inserts. The electrolyzer system includes a stack of electrolyzer cells, a current collector, an end plate assembly, and an isolation plate positioned between the end plate assembly and current collector. The end plate assembly includes at least one fluid channel to allow fluid to pass therethrough, where the fluid channel(s) is in fluid communication with at least one fluid channel through the current collector and isolation plate. The end plate assembly includes an end plate and an fluid-isolating insert residing, at least in part, within a pocket in the end plate. The fluid-isolating insert includes at least one electrically-isolating fluid channel that defines, at least in part, the fluid channel(s) of the end plate assembly, where the fluid-isolating insert increases an effective length of a fluid conduction path between the current collector and the end plate.

Abstract: A catalyst includes a support and a plurality of catalyst particles disposed on the support. The support may include a plurality of metal oxide or doped metal oxide particles and a plurality of organic groups attached to the metal oxide or doped metal oxide particles via diazonium salt reaction. The plurality of organic groups, which may be aromatic groups and/or alkyl groups, may be substituted with functional groups that are positively or negatively charged.

Abstract: A method for operating of a fuel cell includes flowing oxidant and fuel to a cathode and an anode of a fuel cell to provide a flow of electrical current from the fuel cell to a battery. The fuel cell is disconnected from the battery and a flow of the oxidant to the cathode is stopped. Current passes from the fuel cell through a resistor coupled to the fuel cell, and a voltage of the fuel cell decreases to clean off the catalyst surface of a membrane of a membrane electrode assembly of the fuel cell. The flow of oxidant to the cathode is increased and the battery is reconnected to the fuel cell to provide electrical current to the battery.