Abstract: A dielectric member having a reduced electrolyte creepage characteristic is realized by forming the dielectric member to have a surface roughness of Ra 10 or less.

Abstract: A dielectric member having a reduced electrolyte creepage characteristic is realized by forming the dielectric member to have a surface roughness of Ra 10 or less.

Abstract: A fuel cell system (1) and method wherein a gas passage means (3b) is disposed adjacent an electrode (3a) of a fuel cell (2) and process gas (8) is provided to the gas passage means (3b), the process gas being at a preselected temperature and including a preselected amount of a preselected constituent, said temperature, constituent and amount of constituent being selected to inhibit or retard electrolyte from being carried from the fuel cell (2) and/or to compensate for loss of electrolyte through other means in the cell (2) as the gas traverses the gas passage means (3b).

Abstract: A fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell including first and second electrolyte-communicative passage means, a third electrolyte-isolated passage means in thermal communication with a heat generating surface of the cell, independent first, second and third input manifolds for the first, second and third passage means, the first input manifold being adapted to be connected to a first supply for a first process gas and one of the second and third input manifold means being adapted to be connected to a second supply for a second process gas, and means for conveying a portion of the gas passing out of the passage means fed by the one input manifold means to the other of the second and third input manifold means.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack comprised of a number of fuel cells each including first and second passage means for conveying first and second process gases, respectively, through the stack, the stack further including a first internal manifold common to the first passages means and a number of third passages means for conveying a cooling gas through the stack.

Abstract: A fuel cell system provided with a first passage means in communication with and adjacent to a cell diffusion electrode and with a second passage means having a catalyst for reforming hydrocarbons and communicating with the first passage means through a gas porous member. Differential pressure means is further provided to establish a pressure differential between the passage means for promoting reformed gas flow from the second passage means to the first passage means and retarding electrolyte vapor passage from the first passage means to the second passage means.

Abstract: A fuel cell system wherein the fuel and oxidant gases are supplied to the respective anode and cathode sections of the system fuel cell at different pressures, the pressure of the fuel gas being lower than that of the oxidant gas which is maintained high to promote fuel cell efficiency.

Abstract: High pressure steam is generated in a fuel cell system utilizing a quantity of process gas which has been exhausted from the system fuel cell and whose temperature has been raised through heat exchange with a higher temperature gas generated elsewhere in the fuel cell system.

Abstract: Carbon containing members susceptible to corrosion in an acid electrolyte fuel cell are protected against such corrosion through the practice of supplying carbon dioxide gas to the fuel cell regions adjacent these members.

Abstract: A molten alkali metal carbonates fuel cell porous anode with a stabilizing agent to maintain porosity and surface area during fuel cell operation. A molten alkali carbonates fuel cell having the above stabilized anode and a method for production of such porous anodes.

Abstract: Thermal control in fuel cell operation is affected through sensible heat of process gas by providing common input manifolding of the cell gas flow passage in communication with the cell electrolyte and an additional gas flow passage which is isolated from the cell electrolyte and in thermal communication with a heat-generating surface of the cell. Flow level in the cell gas flow passage is selected based on desired output electrical energy and flow level in the additional gas flow passage is selected in accordance with desired cell operating temperature.