Abstract: A catalytic hydrogen combustor is disclosed that is adapted to combust substantially all the hydrogen in the fuel cell exhaust gas during both steady state operation and for short duration higher hydrogen concentration pulses. Hydrogen combustion is catalyzed in two zones, a first zone in which a lower level of catalyst activity is used to catalyze combustion of a higher concentration hydrogen pulse as it moves through the zone and a second zone in which a higher level of catalyst activity is used to catalyze combustion of a lower concentration of hydrogen that is characteristic of steady state fuel cell operation.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an apparatus and method for rapid synthesis and analysis of members of a combinatorial library. The apparatus includes a plurality of vessels for containing individual library members and a fluid handling system that apportions a test fluid about equally between each of the vessels. This allows for simultaneous screening of library members by detecting changes in test fluid following contact with individual library members. Fluid flow through each of the vessels is controlled using passive flow restrictors or active flow controllers to ensure that each library member contacts approximately the same amount of test fluid per unit time. The disclosed apparatus and method is especially useful for making inorganic oxide mixtures and for screening the mixtures based on their ability to catalyze the conversion of fluid reactants.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an apparatus and method for rapid synthesis and analysis of members of a combinatorial library. The apparatus includes a plurality of vessels for containing individual library members and a fluid handling system that apportions a test fluid about equally between each of the vessels. This allows for simultaneous screening of library members by detecting changes in test fluid following contact with individual library members. Fluid flow through each of the vessels is controlled using passive flow restrictors or active flow controllers to ensure that each library member contacts approximately the same amount of test fluid per unit time. The disclosed apparatus and method is especially useful for making inorganic oxide mixtures and for screening the mixtures based on their ability to catalyze the conversion of fluid reactants.