Abstract: A fuel cell plate integrating an active flow field zone for carrying out electrochemical reaction and at least one humidification zone for humidifying reactant stream. The area of the humidification field is proportionally designed to the fuel cell active flow field so that an adequate humidity and temperature can be achieved for fuel cell systems that can have different capacities, under which resizing the humidifier would be otherwise required by the prior art designs.

Abstract: A method of controlling fluid flow to a stack of fuel cell flow field plates comprises providing in each fuel cell flow field plate of the stack of plates a fluid supply manifold aperture for conducting a supply of fluid to a number of the plates in the stack, the fluid supply manifold apertures forming an elongated fluid supply manifold extending through the stack, flowing the supply of fluid into the fluid supply manifold and laterally diverting a part of the supply of fluid to feed each of the number of the plates. The plates are each fed in parallel from the fluid supply manifold, and the laterally diverting is performed in a manner to avoid turbulence in the fluid supply manifold from adversely affecting supply of fluid to downstream ones of the number of plates.

Abstract: A method of flowing reactants over an ion exchange membrane in a fuel cell flow field plate is provided. The flow field plate is provided, comprising a network of flow channels in the plate bounded by an electrochemically active electrode, the network comprising a series of passages having parallel grooves, the passages being interconnected by a header providing a substantially even redistribution of fluid flow received from grooves of one passage to grooves of the next passage. A reactant fluid is supplied to create a flow across the network to achieve a desired reactant utilization, wherein a flow rate and a concentration of reactant molecules per active area of membrane in the grooves increase by less than 80% across the header.

Abstract: Treatment of the anxiety disorders and insomnia in humans may be accomplished by administering gabapentin in an effective amount.

Abstract: An electric power generating system and method of operation is comprised of a waste-heat boiler adapted to a Rankine cycle provided with turbines for driving an electric generator. The waste-heat boiler uses exhaust combustion products from a fuel-fired device as a thermal heat source for vapor regeneration of an organic heat exchange fluid mixture used in the Rankine cycle.

Abstract: A fuel cell stand-by energy supply system is provided for supplying electrical power to a device operated by power from an electrical utility in the event of a power failure. The system is comprised of a microcontroller which is connected to a detector capable of detecting power failure. The microcontroller monitors this detector and one or more conditions of the device to which electrical power is fed. The microcontroller operates a fuel cell switch to connect the fuel cell d.c. supply directly to the d.c. device or to a voltage conditioning circuit to produce an operative a.c. supply which is connected to the device to continue operation thereof during the power failure. The microcontroller monitors and manages the load in relation to the fuel cell power. The microcontroller also performs an autodiagnostic of the fuel cell.

Abstract: An integrated air conditioning and hot water supply system for conditioning air and supplying hot water to a building is described. The system incorporates a hot water tank in the system which feeds a heat exchanger to heat air which is recirculated from the building when required during cool weather periods. A combined air dehumidification device and cooling device are also provided to dehumidify and cool return air from the building in a recirculation circuit when required by the building during warm weather periods. The cooling devices incorporate coils connected to the city water supply whereby to preheat a supply of water to the hot water tank. The combined circuit also cools fresh air and treats it to provide a source of heated air to regenerate a desiccant wheel which is used as the dehumidification device. A heat recovery ventilator is also incorporated in the integrated system to treat exhaust air from the building during cool weather periods and to admit warmed fresh air thereto.

Abstract: An oxygen-enriched gas burner and method of operation thereof for incinerating and/or melting and/or vitrifying and/or performing thermal treatment and/or oxidizing ground/liquid waste materials and particularly, but not exclusively, contaminated waste materials. The burner comprises a body having annular chambers and defining an injection nozzle which is adjustable whereby to adjust the configuration of a flame and wherein the nozzle is provided, at the center thereof with an axial feed port through which the grounded solid/liquid waste material is injected within the flame. The waste material is fed axially within the flame under control pressure with the waste feed and flame configuration being adjusted independently from one another whereby the waste material is substantially incinerated without substantially affecting the combustion of the gas which would otherwise produce undesirable carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons.

Abstract: An air-cooled oxygen-gas burner for use with a direct fired furnace. The burner comprises a body formed from three concentric metal tubes supported in a cylindrical housing secured about a conical bore in a refractory side wall of a furnace. The three concentric tubes have a cone shaped inner end which are adjustable to define a nozzle with annular openings therebetween of variable size to vary the shape of a flame produced by a mixture of combustible gas, oxygen and air fed under pressure, respectively, in each of two chambers defined between the three concentric metal tubes and a chamber defined between the tubes and the cylinder housing. The combustible gas is fed in the inner chamber, the oxygen in the intermediate chamber, while the air is fed in the outer chamber to cool the concentric tube assembly and the furnace refractory about the burner nozzle.