Abstract: A foodstuff comprising at least two components separated by a barrier layer, the barrier layer being a film of a polyol, polyol derivative or mixture thereof and a method for manufacturing such a foodstuff. The method comprises applying a polyol, a polyol derivative or mixture thereof to at least part of a surface of a first component to form a film thereon, and bringing at least part of a surface of a second component into contact with the film. The barrier layer is preferably formed by solidification of a molten polyol, polyol derivative or mixture thereof. A barrier layer formed by applying a film of polyol to a non-edible substrate.

Abstract: A PEM fuel cell power plant includes fuel cells, each of which has a cathode reactant flow field plate which is substantially impermeable to fluids, a water coolant source, and a fluid permeable anode reactant flow field plate adjacent to said water coolant source. The anode reactant flow field plates pass water from the coolant sources into the cells where the water is evaporated to cool the cells. The cathode flow field plates prevent reactant crossover between adjacent cells. By providing a single water permeable plate for each cell in the power plant the amount of water present in the power plant at shut down is limited to a degree which does not require adjunct water purging components to remove water from the plates when the power plant is shut down during freezing ambient conditions. Thus the amount of residual ice in the power plant that forms in the plates during shut down in such freezing conditions will be limited.

Abstract: A coated foodstuff having a core and a hard coating around the core wherein the coating comprises at least 90% crystalline erythritol by weight and a method of making such a foodstuff comprising forming a core, melting a coating material comprising at least 90% erythritol by weight, applying the molten coating material around the core, and solidifying the molten coating material to form a crystalline coating around the core.

Abstract: Fuel cells (38) have minute water passageways (67) that provide water through one or both reactant gas flow field plates (74, 82) of each fuel cell, whereby the fuel cell is cooled convectively. The water passageways (67; 78, 85; 78a, 85a) may be vented by a porous plug (69), or by a microvacuum pump (89) that does not pump any water from the passageways, or simply vented (99) to atmosphere. A condenser (59) may have a contiguous reservoir (64); the condenser (59) may be vertical, such as a vehicle radiator (FIG. 1), or may be horizontal, contiguous with the top of the fuel cell stack (37, FIG. 5). The passageways may be grooves (76, 77; 83, 84) in the reactant gas flow plates (75, 81) or the passageways may comprise a plane of porous hydrophilic material (78a, 85a) contiguous with substantially the entire surface of one or both of the reactant gas flow field plates.

Abstract: Fuel cells (38) have water passageways (67; 78, 85; 78a, 85a) that provide water through reactant gas flow field plates (74, 81) to cool the fuel cell. The water passageways may be vented to atmosphere (99), by a porous plug (69), or pumped (89, 146) with or without removing any water from the passageways. A condenser (59, 124) receives reactant air exhaust, may have a contiguous reservoir (64, 128), may be vertical, (a vehicle radiator, FIG. 2), may be horizontal, contiguous with the top of the fuel cell stack (37, FIG. 5), or below (124) the fuel cell stack (120). The passageways may be grooves (76, 77; 83, 84) or may comprise a plane of porous hydrophilic material (78a, 85a) contiguous with substantially the entire surface of one or both of the reactant gas flow field plates. Air flow in the condenser may be controlled by shutters (155). The condenser may be a heat exchanger (59a) having freeze-proof liquid flowing through a coil (161) thereof, the amount being controlled by a valve (166).

Abstract: An inlet fuel distributor (10-10d) has a permeable baffle (39, 54, 54a, 60) between a fuel supply pipe (11, 83) and a fuel inlet manifold (12, 53, 53a, 63) causing fuel to be uniformly distributed along the length of the fuel inlet manifold. A surface (53, 68) may cause impinging fuel to turn and flow substantially omnidirectionally improving its uniformity. Recycle fuel may be provided (25, 71) into the flow downstream of the fuel inlet distributor. During startup, fuel or inert gas within the inlet fuel distributor and the fuel inlet manifold may be vented through a valve (57, 86) in response to a controller (58, 79) so as to present a uniform fuel front to the inlets of the fuel flow fields (58).

Abstract: A plurality of cooler plates (9) are disposed between fuel cells (8) in a stack (7) and have protrusions (12, 13) which include coolant inlet and outlet channels (15). The protrusions are surrounded by an elastomeric sealant material (35, 36) which forms a seal with the manifold structures (27, 28) to form coolant inlet and outlet manifolds (17, 20). The sealant material prevents coolant from entering fuel cells along the edges thereof, thereby preventing the fuel cells from being poisoned by the coolant. The coolant inlet and outlet manifold structures (27, 28) also define reactant gas manifolds (18, 21).

Abstract: A PEM fuel cell assembly includes cooler plates (10) with internal coolant manifolds (25) isolated from the cell stack assembly by an isolation gap (28) to minimize the risk of contamination of the cells by antifreeze. The internal coolant manifolds are formed by seal assemblies (24), each disposed between inlet or outlet openings (14, 15) in projections (16) of each cooler plate extending outwardly from the fuel cell planform (20) to provide a gap (28), which may be used as an air turn manifold. Flanges (40) with through holes (41) may receive tie rods to assist assembly of a fuel cell stack with the cooler plate.