Abstract: The fuel cell device includes an electrode assembly. A gas diffusion layer is on each side of the electrode assembly. A solid, non-porous plate is adjacent each of the gas diffusion layers. A hydrophilic soak up region is near an inlet portion of at least one of the gas diffusion layers. The hydrophilic soak up region is configured to absorb liquid water from the electrode assembly when the fuel cell device is shutdown.

Abstract: A fuel cell (40) includes first and second catalysts (12?), (14?) secured to opposed surfaces of an electrolyte (16?); a first flow field (26?) secured in fluid communication with the first catalyst (12?) defining a plurality of flow channels (30A?, 30B?, 30C?, 30D?) between a plurality of ribs (32A?, 32B?, 32C?, 32D?, 32E?) of the first flow field (26?); and a backing layer (42) secured between the first flow field (26?) and the first catalyst (12?). The backing layer (42) includes a carbon black, a hydrophobic polymer, and randomly-dispersed carbon fibers (44). The carbon fibers (44) are at least twice as long as a width (46) of the flow channels (30A?, 30B?, 30C?, 30D?) defined in the adjacent first flow field (26?). The backing layer (42) replaces a known substrate (22) and diffusion layer (18).

Abstract: A method of operating a system for combined heat and power (CHP) includes generating electricity using a prime mover having a mechanical drive system. The method further includes distributing a variable amount of electricity from the prime mover to an electrical load and distributing a variable amount of electricity from the prime mover to a dummy load.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly is provided which includes an anode; a cathode; a membrane between the anode and the cathode; and a protective layer between the membrane and at least one electrode of the anode and the cathode, the protective layer having a layer of ionomer material containing a catalyst, the layer having a porosity of between 0 and 10%, an ionomer content of between 50 and 80% vol., a catalyst content of between 10 and 50% vol., and an electrical connectivity between catalyst particles of between 35 and 75%. A configuration using a precipitation layer to prevent migration of catalyst ions is also provided.

Abstract: An exemplary fuel cell plate includes a plurality of first flow field channels that have an inlet near one end and an outlet near an opposite end. The first flow field channels establish a plurality of first fluid flow paths from a corresponding inlet to the corresponding outlet. A plurality of second flow field channels have an inlet near one end and an outlet near an opposite end for establishing a plurality of second fluid flow paths from the inlet to the outlet. The direction of fluid flow in the first fluid flow paths is opposite to a direction of fluid flow in the second fluid flow paths. At least some of the second flow field channels are between two of the first flow field channels.

Abstract: An inlet fuel distributor (10-10d) has a permeable baffle (39, 54, 54a, 60) between a fuel supply pipe (11, 83) and a fuel inlet manifold (12, 53, 53a, 63) causing fuel to be uniformly distributed along the length of the fuel inlet manifold. A surface (53, 68) may cause impinging fuel to turn and flow substantially omnidirectionally improving its uniformity. Recycle fuel may be provided (25, 71) into the flow downstream of the fuel inlet distributor. During startup, fuel or inert gas within the inlet fuel distributor and the fuel inlet manifold may be vented through an exhaust valve (57, 86) in response to a controller (58, 79) so as to present a uniform fuel front to the inlets of the fuel flow fields (58).

Abstract: A fuel cell stack (32) includes a plurality of fuel cells in which each fuel cell is formed between a pair of conductive, porous, substantially hydrophilic plates (17) having oxidant reactant gas flow field channels (12-15) on a first surface and fuel reactant gas flow field channels (19, 19a) on a second surface opposite to the first surface, each ˜f the plates being separated from a plate adjacent thereto by a unitized electrode assembly (20) including a cathode electrode (22), having a gas diffusion layer (GDL) an anode electrode (23) having a GDL with catalyst between each GDL and a membrane (21) disposed therebetween. Above the stack is a condenser (33} having tubes (34) that receive coolant air (39, 40} to condense water vapor out of oxidant exhaust in a chamber (43). Inter-cell wicking strips (26) receive condensate and conduct it along the length of the stack to all cells.

Abstract: A durable catalyst support/catalyst is capable of extended water gas shift operation under conditions of high temperature, pressure, and sulfur levels. The support is a homogeneous, nanocrystalline, mixed metal oxide of at least three metals, the first being cerium, the second being Zr, and/or Hf, and the third importantly being Ti, the three metals comprising at least 80% of the metal constituents of the mixed metal oxide and the Ti being present in a range of 5% to 45% by metals-only atomic percent of the mixed metal oxide. The mixed metal oxide has an average crystallite size less than 6 nm and forms a skeletal structure with pores whose diameters are in the range of 4-9 nm and normally greater than the average crystallite size. The surface area of the skeletal structure per volume of the material of the structure is greater than about 240 m2/cm3. The method of making and use are also described.

Abstract: A method and system for removing oil in an organic rankine cycle (ORC) system (10) is used to prevent failures in the ORC system (10), especially during startup. The ORC system (10) includes an evaporator, a turbine (18), a condenser and a pump, and is configured to circulate a refrigerant (22) through the ORC system (10). The oil-removal system is used to remove oil from certain areas of the turbine (18), and includes an eductor line (32) and an eductor system (20). The eductor line (32) is located upstream of the turbine (18) and configured to receive a portion of the refrigerant (22b) exiting the evaporator. The eductor line (32) delivers the refrigerant (22b) to an eductor system (20) configured to remove oil from inside the turbine (18) and deliver the oil to an oil sump (58).

Abstract: The invention is a hydrogen passivation shut down system for a fuel cell power plant (10). An anode flow path (24) is in fluid communication with an anode catalyst (14) for directing hydrogen fuel to flow adjacent to the anode catalyst (14), and a cathode flow path (38) is in fluid communication with a cathode catalyst (16) for directing an oxidant to flow adjacent to the cathode catalyst (16) of a fuel cell (12). Hydrogen fuel is permitted to transfer between the anode flow path (24) and the cathode flow path (38). A hydrogen reservoir (66) is secured in fluid communication with the anode flow path (24) for receiving and storing hydrogen during fuel cell (12) operation, and for releasing the hydrogen into the fuel cell (12) whenever the fuel cell (12) is shut down.

Abstract: The invention is a hydrogen passivation shut down system for a fuel cell power plant (10). An anode flow path (24) is in fluid communication with an anode catalyst (14) for directing hydrogen fuel to flow adjacent to the anode catalyst (14), and a cathode flow path (38) is in fluid communication with a cathode catalyst (16) for directing an oxidant to flow adjacent to the cathode catalyst (16) of a fuel cell (12). Hydrogen fuel is permitted to transfer between the anode flow path (24) and the cathode flow path (38). A hydrogen reservoir (66) is secured in fluid communication with the anode flow path (24) for receiving and storing hydrogen during fuel cell (12) operation, and for releasing the hydrogen into the fuel cell (12) whenever the fuel cell (12) is shut down.

Abstract: A fuel cell (70) having an anode (72), a cathode (78) and an electrolyte (76) between the anode (72) and the cathode (78) includes a cathode catalyst (80) formed of a plurality of nanoparticles. Each nanoparticle (20) has a plurality of terraces (26) formed of platinum surface atoms (14), and a plurality of edge (28) and corner regions (29) formed of atoms from a second metal (30)—The cathode catalyst may be formed by combining a platinum nanoparticle with a metal salt in a solution. Ions from the second metal react with platinum and replace platinum atoms on the nanoparticle. The second metal atoms at the corner and edge regions of the nanoparticle, as well as at any surface defects, result in a more stable catalyst structure. In some embodiments, the fuel cell (70) is a proton exchange membrane fuel cell and the nanoparticles are tetrahedron-shaped. In some embodiments, the fuel cell (70) is a phosphoric acid fuel cell and the nanoparticles are cubic-shaped.

Abstract: The direction of flow of purged fuel reactant gas (20) is sensed (38, 39, 44, 53, 54) to ensure it flows outwardly from a fuel cell stack (9) towards the ambient (21). If the purged fuel reactant. gas is not flowing outwardly, a signal (39) causes a controller (26) to open the circuit (35) thereby disconnecting the electrical load (33) from the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: A method for operating a fuel cell power plant to supply power to an internal load and an external load, includes the steps of evaluating power needs of the internal and external loads to determine a fixed IDC value sufficient to supply the needs; providing auxiliary power to the internal load and output power to the external load so as to maintain operation of the fuel cell power plant at the fixed IDC value; and adjusting at least one of the auxiliary power to the internal load and output power to the external load so as to maintain operation of the fuel cell power plant at the fixed IDC value. Operation within a preselected voltage range is also provided.

Abstract: A standard phosphoric acid fuel cell power plant (11) has its heat exchanger (29) removed such that a higher temperature coolant flow can be directed from the system to the generator (37) of an absorption chiller (34). In one embodiment, the higher temperature coolant may flow directly from the fuel cell stack (14) to the generator and after passing therethrough, it is routed back to the high temperature coolant loop (27). In another embodiment, the higher temperature coolant is made to transfer some of its heat to a lower temperature coolant and the lower temperature coolant is then made to flow directly to the generator and back to the lower temperature coolant loop (22). In the first embodiment, either a double effect absorption chiller or a single effect absorption chiller is used, while in the second embodiment a single effect absorption chiller is used.

Abstract: During fuel cell startup and shutdown or other power reduction transitions of a fuel cell power plant, the excess electric energy generated by consumption of reactants is extracted by a storage control (200) in response to a controller (185) as current applied to an energy storage system 201 (a battery). In a boost embodiment, an inductor (205) and a diode (209) connect one terminal (156) of the stack (151) of the battery. An electronic switch connects the juncture of the inductor and the diode to both the other terminal (155) of the stack and the battery. The switch is alternately gated on and off by a signal (212) from a controller (185) until sufficient energy is transferred from the stack to the battery. In a buck environment, the switch and the inductor (205) connect one terminal (156) of the stack to the battery. A diode connects the juncture of the switch with the inductor to the other terminal (155) of the fuel cell stack and the battery.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly (10) includes an anode (16); a cathode (14), a membrane (12) between the anode and the cathode; and a protective barrier layer (22) between the membrane and at least one of the anode and the cathode, the protective barrier layer being adapted to restrict migration of at least one of oxygen and hydrogen from the anode and/or cathode to the membrane. The barrier layer keeps a plane of polarized charge (Xo) outside of the membrane and helps avoid formation of disconnected catalyst.

Abstract: Water in a fuel cell accumulator is kept above freezing by a hydrogen/oxygen catalytic combustor fed hydrogen through a mechanical thermostatic valve in thermal communication with the container and connected to a hydrogen supply. The system includes an ejector hydrogen/oxygen combustor and a diffusion hydrogen/oxygen combustor for warming a medium within a container such as water in the accumulator of a fuel cell in response to a mechanic hydrostatic valve which conducts hydrogen to a combustor responsive to the temperature of the container.

Abstract: Provision is made in an organic rankine cycle power plant for modulating the flow of hot gases from a thermal source to the evaporator. The modulation device may be a blower on the downstream side of the evaporator or a valve on the upstream side thereof. The modulation device is controlled by generation of a digital signal to enable or disenable the modulation device and an analog signal for adjusting the position of the modulation device.

Abstract: A site management system (11) is provided for a power system (8) at site in a utility distribution grid (10). The power system (8) includes multiple fuel cell power plants, e.g., fuel cells, (18) and one or more loads (14), for selective connection/disconnection with the grid (10). The site management system (11) controls the power plants (18) in an integrated manner, alternatively in a grid connected mode and a grid independent mode. The multiple power plants (18) at the site may be viewed and operated as a unified distributed resource on the grid (10). The site management system (11) provides signals representative of the present power capability (Kw Capacity—88) of each of the power plants (18), and a signal (Total Kw Capacity—95) representative of the total present power capability at the site.