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: Stack systems are provided, including fuel cell stack systems and electrolyzer stack systems. The stack systems include, in one embodiment, a first end plate, a second end plate, a compression plate, and multiple cells and associated plate structures arranged in a cell stack. A center fastener passes through a central opening in the cell stack and connects the first and second end plates together with the compression plate and the cell stack disposed between the first and second end plates. The center fastener applies a compressive force on the cell stack through the compression plate. In addition, multiple adjustable compression screws extend from the first end plate about the center fastener to apply one or more variable forces on the cell stack through the compression plate in addition to the compressive force on the cell stack applied by the center fastener.

Abstract: Plate structures and plate assemblies are provided for stack systems, including fuel cell stack systems and/or electrolyzer stack systems. The plate structures have a non-planar, three-dimensional shape, and include a circumferential end and a center end which are vertically offset, with a wall structure connecting the circumferential end and center end. A plurality of curving fluid channels are provided on at least one side of the wall structure between the circumferential end and the center end. The circumferential end includes multiple outer fluid transport openings through the plate structure and the center end includes multiple inner fluid transport openings through the plate structure. One or more outer fluid transport openings and one or more inner fluid transport openings facilitate, at least in part, flow of a fluid across the plate structure between the circumferential end and center end through the plurality of curving fluid channels.

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 connector system is provided for facilitating electrically connecting to a fuel cell stack. The connector system includes a receptacle within the fuel cell stack, a circuit board, and a connector electrically connected to and extending from the circuit board. The receptacle is configured to facilitate electrically connecting to the fuel cell stack, and the connector is receivable within the receptacle for electrically connecting the circuit board to the fuel cell stack. The connector is elastically deformable to facilitate operative positioning of the connector within the receptacle, and to facilitate an interference fit of the connector within the receptacle against a surface defining, at least in part, the receptacle to secure the connector within the receptacle, with the connector electrically connected to a fuel cell plate of the fuel cell stack.

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.

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 method for use in manufacturing a fuel cell stack includes assembling a membrane electrode assembly to have a membrane between a first gas diffusion layer and a second gas diffusion layer. A bypass blocker is located at a space between a first gas diffusion layer of the membrane electrode assembly and a seal. The blocker is deformed on the seal and deformation is avoided of the blocker at the space such that the blocker inhibits a bypass flow of a reactant through the space between the gas diffusion layer and the seal in a direction of flow of the reactant during operation of the fuel cell. The membrane electrode assembly is located between a first fluid flow plate and a second fluid flow plate.

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 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: 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: 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 away 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 from the membrane electrode assembly laterally toward at least one of the exterior ends. 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 on the sub-gasket from an exterior side of the first seal to a location on an interior side of the first seal.

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 connector system for use in connecting a fuel cell plate to an electrical device includes first arms elastically deformable toward each other to allow an insertion of the first arms into a first slot of a fuel cell plate and elastically returnable to provide a force against a surface of the fuel cell plate to hold the arms against the fuel cell plate, and second arms elastically deformable toward each other to allow an insertion of the second arms into a second slot of an electrical device and elastically returnable to provide a force against a surface of the electrical device to hold the arms against the electrical device. The first arms are connected to the second arms at intersecting points allowing movement of the first arms relative to the second arms.