Abstract: A system includes a reversible proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell stack configured to receive oxygen and to controllably receive water and hydrogen, an electrical bus for coupling to a vehicle engine to receive electricity, the electrical bus coupled to the reversible fuel cell stack to controllably receive electricity from the fuel cell stack and provide electricity to the reversible fuel cell stack, and a hydrogen storage unit coupled to controllably receive hydrogen from the fuel cell stack, provide hydrogen to the fuel cell stack, and to provide hydrogen to a hydrogen gas powered electricity generator unit to couple to the electrical bus.

Abstract: A hybrid fuel cell system includes a fuel supply system including a fuel tank, a start-up subsystem, a reforming subsystem and a depressurization system. The reforming subsystem is to receive fuel and to reform fuel to generate a hydrogen enriched gases and steam mixture. The hybrid fuel cell system includes a water supply system that provides water for the steam generator. The water supply system includes a water condenser directly downstream from the reforming subsystem that is in fluid communication with the hydrogen enriched gases and steam mixture to condense the hydrogen enriched gases and steam mixture into water and hydrogen enriched gases. The depressurization system is to reduce a pressure of the hydrogen enriched gases. The hybrid fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack downstream from the depressurization system and having an anode inlet in fluid communication with the depressurization system to receive the hydrogen enriched gases.

Abstract: A method of fuel desulfurization comprises receiving fuel from a source of fuel in a gaseous phase and condensing the fuel in the gaseous phase in a fuel condenser to convert at least a portion of the fuel into a liquid phase. The method further comprises delivering the fuel in the liquid phase directly to a reformer and returning the uncondensed portion of the fuel in the gaseous phase to the source of fuel to inert the source of fuel.

Abstract: An environmental control system includes an air conditioning subsystem; a mix manifold downstream of the air conditioning subsystem and upstream of an environment to be conditioned; and a contaminant removal subsystem downstream of the environment to be conditioned. The contaminant removal subsystem includes a first gas-liquid contactor-separator. The first gas-liquid contactor-separator includes a first rotating porous bed that provides a heat/mass transfer surface for contact between a contaminated air from the environment and a liquid absorbent.

Abstract: An environmental control system includes an air conditioning subsystem; a mix manifold downstream of the air conditioning subsystem and upstream of an environment to be conditioned; and a contaminant removal subsystem downstream of the environment to be conditioned. The contaminant removal subsystem includes a first gas-liquid contactor-separator. The first gas-liquid contactor-separator includes a first packed, stationary bed that provides a heat/mass transfer surface for contact between a contaminated air from the environment and a liquid absorbent.

Abstract: A fuel cell secondary power and thermal management system includes a compressor, a turbine, a first heat exchanger, a proton exchange membrane fuel cell, and a second heat exchanger. The first heat exchanger has first and second air flow circuits and transfers heat between the first and second air flow circuits. The proton exchange membrane fuel cell includes a cathode air flow circuit and an anode hydrogen flow circuit. The cathode air flow circuit receives air from the first air flow circuit. The second heat exchanger has a third and fourth air flow circuits and is configured to transfer heat between the third and fourth air flow circuits. The third air flow circuit receives air from the second air flow circuit outlet. The fourth air flow circuit receives the air discharged from the cathode air flow circuit and supplies air to the turbine.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a fuel cell including a fuel desulfurization system. The method includes receiving fuel from a fuel source in a first phase and depressurizing the fuel in the first phase in a vacuum system to convert at least a portion of the fuel into a second phase. The method further includes reforming the portion of the fuel in the second phase to create a hydrogen enriched fuel in the second phase, and delivering the hydrogen enriched fuel in the second phase to a fuel cell stack.

Abstract: An environmental control system includes an air conditioning subsystem; a mix manifold downstream of the air conditioning subsystem and upstream of an environment to be conditioned; and a contaminant removal subsystem downstream of the environment to be conditioned. The contaminant removal subsystem includes a first gas-liquid contactor-separator. The first gas-liquid contactor-separator includes a first rotating porous bed that provides a heat/mass transfer surface for contact between a contaminated air from the environment and a liquid absorbent.

Abstract: An environmental control system includes an air conditioning subsystem; a mix manifold downstream of the air conditioning subsystem and upstream of an environment to be conditioned; and a contaminant removal subsystem downstream of the environment to be conditioned. The contaminant removal subsystem includes a first gas-liquid contactor-separator. The first gas-liquid contactor-separator includes a first rotating porous bed that provides a heat/mass transfer surface for contact between a contaminated air from the environment and a liquid absorbent.

Abstract: A fuel cell secondary power and thermal management system includes a compressor, a turbine, a first heat exchanger, a proton exchange membrane fuel cell, and a second heat exchanger. The first heat exchanger has first and second air flow circuits and transfers heat between the first and second air flow circuits. The proton exchange membrane fuel cell includes a cathode air flow circuit and an anode hydrogen flow circuit. The cathode air flow circuit receives air from the first air flow circuit. The second heat exchanger has a third and fourth air flow circuits and is configured to transfer heat between the third and fourth air flow circuits. The third air flow circuit receives air from the second air flow circuit outlet. The fourth air flow circuit receives the air discharged from the cathode air flow circuit and supplies air to the turbine.

Abstract: A hybrid fuel cell system includes a fuel supply system including a fuel tank, a start-up subsystem, a reforming subsystem and a depressurization system. The reforming subsystem is to receive fuel and to reform fuel to generate a hydrogen enriched gases and steam mixture. The hybrid fuel cell system includes a water supply system that provides water for the steam generator. The water supply system includes a water condenser directly downstream from the reforming subsystem that is in fluid communication with the hydrogen enriched gases and steam mixture to condense the hydrogen enriched gases and steam mixture into water and hydrogen enriched gases. The depressurization system is to reduce a pressure of the hydrogen enriched gases. The hybrid fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack downstream from the depressurization system and having an anode inlet in fluid communication with the depressurization system to receive the hydrogen enriched gases.

Abstract: An environmental control system includes an air conditioning subsystem; a mix manifold downstream of the air conditioning subsystem and upstream of an environment to be conditioned; and a contaminant removal subsystem downstream of the environment to be conditioned. The contaminant removal subsystem includes a first gas-liquid contactor-separator. The first gas-liquid contactor-separator includes a first packed, stationary bed that provides a heat/mass transfer surface for contact between a contaminated air from the environment and a liquid absorbent.

Abstract: Apparatus are provided for a hybrid fuel cell system. The hybrid fuel cell system includes a fuel supply system. The fuel supply system includes a fuel source, a reforming subsystem and a depressurization system. The fuel source is in fluid communication with the reforming subsystem. The reforming subsystem reforms the fuel from the fuel source to generate hydrogen enriched gases, and the reforming subsystem is in fluid communication with the depressurization system. The depressurization system reduces a pressure of the hydrogen enriched gases. The hybrid fuel cell system also includes a fuel cell stack in communication with the depressurization system to receive the hydrogen enriched gases at the reduced pressure.

Abstract: An environmental control system includes an air conditioning subsystem; a mix manifold downstream of the air conditioning subsystem and upstream of an environment to be conditioned; and a contaminant removal subsystem downstream of the environment to be conditioned. The contaminant removal subsystem includes a first gas-liquid contactor-separator. The first gas-liquid contactor-separator includes a first packed, stationary bed that provides a heat/mass transfer surface for contact between a contaminated air from the environment and a liquid absorbent.

Abstract: An environmental control system (ECS) having contaminants in supply air that flows into an environment includes an outside air contaminant component that senses contaminants in outside air, wherein the outside air contaminant component is upstream of the environment, A recirculated air contaminant component is provided and that senses contaminants in recirculated air supplied by the environment, wherein the recirculated air contaminant component is downstream of the environment. A voltage supply provides a non-linear variable voltage to at least one of the components. A controller is in communication with the components and the voltage supply; wherein, upon a measured resistance, from at least one of the components, that exceeds a threshold, the controller varies at least one of an outside air flow and a recirculated air flow in the ECS.

Abstract: A fuel cell system is provided. The fuel cell system includes a source of fuel, and a fuel desulfurization system fluidly coupled to the source of fuel to receive the fuel in a gaseous phase. The fuel desulfurization system includes a fuel condenser that condenses at least a portion of the fuel from the gaseous phase to a liquid phase. The fuel cell system includes a reformer fluidly coupled to the fuel desulfurization system that receives the fuel from the fuel desulfurization system in the liquid phase to generate hydrogen enriched fuel and a fuel cell stack fluidly coupled to the reformer to receive the hydrogen enriched fuel.

Abstract: A method of fuel desulfurization comprises receiving fuel from a source of fuel in a gaseous phase and condensing the fuel in the gaseous phase in a fuel condenser to convert at least a portion of the fuel into a liquid phase. The method further comprises delivering the fuel in the liquid phase directly to a reformer and returning the uncondensed portion of the fuel in the gaseous phase to the source of fuel to inert the source of fuel.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a fuel cell including a fuel desulfurization system. The method includes receiving fuel from a fuel source in a first phase and depressurizing the fuel in the first phase in a vacuum system to convert at least a portion of the fuel into a second phase. The method further includes reforming the portion of the fuel in the second phase to create a hydrogen enriched fuel in the second phase, and delivering the hydrogen enriched fuel in the second phase to a fuel cell stack.

Abstract: Hydrogen production systems and methods of producing the same are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a hydrogen production system comprises a reformer reactor that comprises a reformer reactor wall. A plurality of reformer tubes are interconnected to define a reformer lattice that has a reformer inner flow path and a reformer outer flow path. The plurality of reformer tubes are within the reformer reactor and connected to the reformer reactor wall at a plurality of discrete locations. The reformer lattice defines a combustor side that is one of the reformer inner or outer flow paths, and a reformer side that is the other of the reformer inner or outer flow paths. A reformer catalyst is positioned within the reformer side.

Abstract: Hydrogen production systems and methods of producing the same are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a hydrogen production system comprises a reformer reactor that comprises a reformer reactor wall. A plurality of reformer tubes are interconnected to define a reformer lattice that has a reformer inner flow path and a reformer outer flow path. The plurality of reformer tubes are within the reformer reactor and connected to the reformer reactor wall at a plurality of discrete locations. The reformer lattice defines a combustor side that is one of the reformer inner or outer flow paths, and a reformer side that is the other of the reformer inner or outer flow paths. A reformer catalyst is positioned within the reformer side.