Abstract: A sparging evaporator for an inerting system including an outer vessel, an inner vessel within the outer vessel, and a plenum formed between the inner and outer vessels. The outer vessel includes a gas inlet for receiving inlet gas into the plenum, and a liquid inlet for receiving liquid fuel into the plenum. The inlet gas in the plenum generates a gas pressure that is exerted against a free surface of the liquid fuel in the plenum thereby forcing the liquid fuel and the inlet gas through an inlet of the inner vessel. The inner vessel contains a structure that promotes liberation of fuel vapor from the liquid fuel and enables the inlet gas in the liquid fuel to sparge the fuel vapor in the liquid fuel, thereby forming a fuel-enriched gas mixture that can be fed to a reactor of the inerting system.

Abstract: A sparging evaporator for an inerting system including an outer vessel, an inner vessel within the outer vessel, and a plenum formed between the inner and outer vessels. The outer vessel includes a gas inlet for receiving inlet gas into the plenum, and a liquid inlet for receiving liquid fuel into the plenum. The inlet gas in the plenum generates a gas pressure that is exerted against a free surface of the liquid fuel in the plenum thereby forcing the liquid fuel and the inlet gas through an inlet of the inner vessel. The inner vessel contains a lattice structure that promotes liberation of fuel vapor from the liquid fuel and enables the inlet gas in the liquid fuel to sparge the fuel vapor in the liquid fuel, thereby forming a fuel-enriched gas mixture that can be fed to a reactor of the inerting system.

Abstract: A system for humidifying a fuel cell includes: a container including an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide; a source of pressurized gas coupled to the container for pressurizing the hydrogen peroxide solution container; and a catalyst reaction chamber including a catalyst for decomposing hydrogen peroxide into a gaseous mixture of water vapor and oxygen. The gaseous mixture of water vapor and oxygen is combined with a flow of reactant oxidant gas to obtain a humidified oxidant gas stream, which is delivered to the fuel cell.

Abstract: A system for humidifying a fuel cell includes: a container including an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide; a source of pressurized gas coupled to the container for pressurizing the hydrogen peroxide solution container; and a catalyst reaction chamber including a catalyst for decomposing hydrogen peroxide into a gaseous mixture of water vapor and oxygen. The gaseous mixture of water vapor and oxygen is combined with a flow of reactant oxidant gas to obtain a humidified oxidant gas stream, which is delivered to the fuel cell.

Abstract: A fire suppression system for producing oxygen-depleted air includes a fuel cell stack formed from a plurality of fuel cells for providing power to an associated load, and a controller coupled to the plurality of fuel cells, wherein the controller is configured to regulate current output from the plurality of fuel cells to maintain a prescribed percentage level of oxygen depleted air in an exhaust stream of the plurality of fuel cells. Further, a method for maintaining an updated polarization curve for a fuel cell includes commanding step-and-hold air flow commands and associated electrical current limit commands to the fuel cell system. Upon the fuel cell reaching each successive step-and-hold steady state condition, electrical current and voltage pairs are stored and plotted to form the real-time polarization curve.

Abstract: A smart material actuator wherein one or more smart material devices are constrained in a frame such that expansion or contraction of the frame effects movement of side frame members away from or towards one another. The side frame members are constrained such that such movement away from or towards one another effects rotational movement of the frame for outputting amplified movement at an output member that rotates with the frame.