Abstract: The present invention is directed to improvements in storage and delivery systems that allow for rapid fill and delivery of gases reversibly stored in a nonvolatile liquid medium, improvements in delivery and purity of the delivered gas. The low pressure storage and delivery system for gas which comprises: a container having an interior portion containing a reactive Lewis basic or Lewis acidic reactive liquid medium that is reversibly reacted with a gas having opposing Lewis acidity or basicity; a system for transferring energy into or out of the reactive liquid medium; or, a product gas purifier (e.g. a gas/liquid separator); or both.

Abstract: Disclosed is a dispenser useful for dispensing a first liquid and retrieving a second liquid comprising a first conduit having an orifice for dispensing the first liquid, and a second conduit having an orifice for retrieving a second liquid in direction countercurrent to the first liquid. Also disclosed are methods for using a dispenser of the invention comprising placing a dispenser in communication with a first compartment and a second compartment, the dispenser comprising a first conduit having an orifice for dispensing the first liquid and a second conduit having an orifice for retrieving a second liquid in direction countercurrent to the first liquid; transferring the first liquid through the first conduit into the first compartment; and transferring the second liquid situated in the second compartment into the second conduit. The invention also relates to the use of the dispenser in a fueling process.

Abstract: An electronically conducting fuel cell component is composed of a porous metal flow field, an intermediate layer bonded directly to the flow field and an electrode bonded directly to the intermediate layer. The direct bonding eliminates the need for tie rods or other mechanical pressure to maintain the electrical contact of the fuel cell component layers.

Abstract: An electrochemical fuel cell contains first and second monolithic electrically conducting flow field-bipolar plate assemblies arranged essentially parallel to each other such that an inside surface of the first bipolar separator plate is facing an inside surface of the second bipolar separator plate, wherein the bipolar separator plates are electrically and mechanically connected by intervening layers that are directly bonded to each other. The fuel cells can be stacked between endplates and supplied with hydrogen and oxygen to generate electric power. An air cooled condenser for use with a fuel cell stack is composed of a porous foam condensing element and a porous foam cooling element. The condenser can be placed by a fuel cell stack for cooling purposes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a self-replenishing liquid water source onboard an automobile for supplying liquid water to an electrolyzer, such as an on-board hydrogen generator useful for the suppression of unwanted emissions. While automobiles typically have water reservoirs resupplied by a person, the invention provides a passive means of water collection for reliable replenishment due to operations of the automobile itself. The invention provides condensate from the engine exhaust gas by cooling a region of the exhaust system using cooling fluid from the engine coolant system. The cooling fluid is circulated during a period following the engine cold start event when the heat load on the engine coolant system is low.

Abstract: An electrochemical fuel cell contains first and second monolithic electrically conducting flow field-bipolar plate assemblies arranged essentially parallel to each other such that an inside surface of the first bipolar separator plate is facing an inside surface of the second bipolar separator plate, wherein the bipolar separator plates are electrically and mechanically connected by intervening layers that are directly bonded to each other. The fuel cells can be stacked between endplates and supplied with hydrogen and oxygen to generate electric power. An air cooled condenser for use with a fuel cell stack is composed of a porous foam condensing element and a porous foam cooling element. The condenser can be placed by a fuel cell stack for cooling purposes.

Abstract: A porous gas diffusion electrode for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. The electrode contains an electrocatalyst, a polymer electrolyte and nanosized pores. The pores are formed using nanosized pore-formers. The pore-former is applied to a substrate along with a polymer electrolyte and an electrocatalyst and the resulting structure is treated to remove the pore-former.

Abstract: The present invention provides a self-replenishing liquid water source onboard an automobile for supplying liquid water to an electrolyzer, such as an on-board hydrogen generator useful for the suppression of unwanted emissions. While automobiles typically have water reservoirs resupplied by a person, the invention provides a passive means of water collection for reliable replenishment due to operations of the automobile itself. The invention provides condensate from the engine exhaust gas by cooling a region of the exhaust system using cooling fluid from the engine coolant system. The cooling fluid is circulated during a period following the engine cold start event when the heat load on the engine coolant system is low.

Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for network-based configuration of a programmable logic device. A default application is initiated on a programmable logic device. A file request for configuration data from the logic device is sent to a server located remotely from the logic device utilizing a network. The configuration data is received from the network server. The configuration data is used to configure the logic device to run a second application. The second application is run on the logic device.

Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for processing data and controlling peripheral hardware. A first Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) of a reconfigurable logic device is initiated. The first FPGA is configured with programming functionality for programming a second FPGA of the logic device in accordance with reconfiguration data. The reconfiguration data for configuring the second FPGA is retrieved. The first FPGA utilizes the reconfiguration data for programming the second FPGA to run an application. The first FPGA also utilizes the reconfiguration data for programming the second FPGA to control peripheral hardware incident to running the application.

Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for remote altering of a configuration of a hardware device. A hardware device is accessed utilizing a network, where the hardware device is configured in reconfigurable logic. Reconfiguration information is selected, sent to the hardware device, and used to reprogram the reconfigurable logic of the hardware device for altering a configuration of the hardware device.

Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for providing a hardware-based reconfigurable multimedia device. A default multimedia application is initiated on a reconfigurable multimedia device. A request for a second multimedia application is received from a user. Configuration data is retrieved from a data source and is used for configuring the logic device to run the second multimedia application. The second multimedia application is run on the logic device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a self-replenishing liquid water source onboard an automobile for supplying liquid water to an electrolyzer, such as an on-board hydrogen generator useful for the suppression of unwanted emissions. While automobiles typically have water reservoirs resupplied by a person, the invention provides a passive means of water collection for reliable replenishment due to operations of the automobile itself. The invention provides condensate from the engine exhaust gas by cooling a region of the exhaust system using cooling fluid from the engine coolant system. The cooling fluid is circulated during a period following the engine cold start event when the heat load on the engine coolant system is low.

Abstract: The present invention provides a self-replenishing liquid water source onboard an automobile for supplying liquid water to an electrolyzer, such as an on-board hydrogen generator useful for the suppression of unwanted emissions. While automobiles typically have water reservoirs resupplied by a person, the invention provides a passive means of water collection for reliable replenishment due to operations of the automobile itself. The invention provides condensate from the engine exhaust gas by cooling a region of the exhaust system using cooling fluid from the engine coolant system. The cooling fluid is circulated during a period following the engine cold start event when the heat load on the engine coolant system is low.

Abstract: An electrochemical fuel cell contains first and second monolithic electrically conducting flow field-bipolar plate assemblies arranged essentially parallel to each other such that an inside surface of the first bipolar separator plate is facing an inside surface of the second bipolar separator plate, wherein the bipolar separator plates are electrically and mechanically connected by intervening layers that are directly bonded to each other. The fuel cells can be stacked between endplates and supplied with hydrogen and oxygen to generate electric power. An air cooled condenser for use with a fuel cell stack is composed of a porous foam condensing element and a porous foam cooling element. The condenser can be placed by a fuel cell stack for cooling purposes.

Abstract: A porous gas diffusion electrode for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. The electrode contains an electrocatalyst, a polymer electrolyte and nanosized pores. The pores are formed using nanosized pore-formers. The pore-former is applied to a substrate along with a polymer electrolyte and an electrocatalyst and the resulting structure is treated to remove the pore-former.

Abstract: An electronically conducting fuel cell component is composed of a porous metal flow field, an intermediate layer bonded directly to the flow field and an electrode bonded directly to the intermediate layer. The direct bonding eliminates the need for tie rods or other mechanical pressure to maintain the electrical contact of the fuel cell component layers.

Abstract: A mixture of hydrogen and air is introduced onto the face of the catalytic monolith of a catalytic converter in the exhaust line of a cold internal combustion engine. The hydrogen and the oxygen from the air spontaneously combine exothermically, thereby pre-heating the catalytic converter. Pre-heating the catalytic converter significantly improves the effectiveness of the catalytic converter in eliminating undesirable emissions of the internal combustion engine. The hydrogen is preferably produced on-board the vehicle using the system. The hydrogen source may also be coupled to the internal combustion engine to be burned by the engine during startup in the absence of gasoline to minimize the production of unacceptable emissions while the catalyst is brought up to light-off temperature. The hydrogen and the oxygen are preferably metered to provide a predetermined concentration of oxygen and hydrogen and are preferably mixed in a mixing chamber prior to introduction to the catalyst.

Abstract: A rechargeable battery cell includes an anode with a major portion of active material, a cathode including MnO.sub.2 doped with bismuth, and a separator between the cathode and anode which substantially prevents bismuth from migrating from the cathode to the anode. The rechargeable battery cell has a high cycle life and does not contain toxic compounds found in conventional rechargeable batteries.

Abstract: A mixture of hydrogen and air is introduced onto the face of the catalytic monolith of a catalytic converter in the exhaust line of a cold internal combustion engine. The hydrogen spontaneously combusts, thereby pre-heating the catalytic converter. Pre-heating the catalytic converter significantly improves the effectiveness of the catalytic converter in eliminating undesirable emissions of the internal combustion engine. The hydrogen is preferably produced on-board the vehicle using the system. The hydrogen source may also be coupled to the internal combustion engine to be burned by the engine during startup in the absence of gasoline to minimize the production of unacceptable emissions while the catalyst is brought up to light-off temperature.