Abstract: A method for preparing dispersing particles in perfluorinated polymer ionomer includes combining particles and a perfluorinated ionomer precursor in a mixture, and converting the perfluorinated ionomer precursor to a perfluorinated proton-conducting ionomer in the presence of the particles.

Abstract: An example of a stable electrode structure is to use a gradient electrode that employs large platinum particle catalyst in the close proximity to the membrane supported on conventional carbon and small platinum particles in the section of the electrode closer to a GDL supported on a stabilized carbon. Some electrode parameters that contribute to electrode performance stability and reduced change in ECA are platinum-to-carbon ratio, size of platinum particles in various parts of the electrode, use of other stable catalysts instead of large particle size platinum (alloy, etc), depth of each gradient sublayer. Another example of a stable electrode structure is to use a mixture of platinum particle sizes on a carbon support, such as using platinum particles that may be 6 nanometers and 3 nanometers. A conductive support is typically one or more of the carbon blacks.

Abstract: A system and method for warming a fuel cell on an aircraft, the system includes at least one fuel cell. The fuel cell includes an anode and a cathode for creating thermal and electrical energy. A temperature sensor measures a first temperature of the fuel cell. A control unit is coupled to the temperature sensor. The control unit increases the first temperature to a second temperature in response to the first temperature being at least equal to a selected temperature threshold. Increasing of the first temperature is indicative of the control unit operating in a warming mode. The second temperature is higher than the selected temperature threshold.

Abstract: A proton exchange material includes perfluorinated carbon backbone chains and side chains extending off of the perfluorinated carbon backbone chains. The perfluorinated side chains include cross-link chains that have multiple sulfonimide groups, —SO2—NH—SO2—.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a proton conducting fuel cell composite membrane includes the step of electrospinning a non-charged polymeric material, such as PVDF and PSF, into fiber mats. The fibers are fused to one another to provide a welded porous mat. The welded porous mat is filled with proton conducting electrolyte, such as PFSA polymer, to generate a proton conducting composite membrane. The resulting proton conducting fuel cell membrane comprises a randomly oriented, three dimensional interlinked fiber lattice structure filled with proton conducting electrolyte, such as PFSA polymer.

Abstract: A power system for an aircraft includes a solid oxide fuel cell system which generates electric power for the aircraft and an exhaust stream; and a heat exchanger for transferring heat from the exhaust stream of the solid oxide fuel cell to a heat requiring system or component of the aircraft. The heat can be transferred to fuel for the primary engine of the aircraft. Further, the same fuel can be used to power both the primary engine and the SOFC. A heat exchanger is positioned to cool reformate before feeding to the fuel cell. SOFC exhaust is treated and used as inerting gas. Finally, oxidant to the SOFC can be obtained from the aircraft cabin, or exterior, or both.

Abstract: A fuel cell (10) device includes a plurality of channels (32, 34) that have at least one unrestricted inlet (33), a conduit for directing a flow having a distribution pattern (84) to the unrestricted inlet (33) and an opening (40) between the conduit (50) and the opening (40) for receiving the flow distribution pattern (84), the opening having such dimension (L, W) in which the distribution pattern tends to normalize within the opening so that flow to each of the unrestricted inlet (33) tends to normalize across said opening.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly is provided which includes an anode; a cathode; a membrane between the anode and the cathode; and a protective layer between the membrane and at least one electrode of the anode and the cathode, the protective layer having a layer of ionomer material containing a catalyst, the layer having a porosity of between 0 and 10%, an ionomer content of between 50 and 80% vol., a catalyst content of between 10 and 50% vol., and an electrical connectivity between catalyst particles of between 35 and 75%. A configuration using a precipitation layer to prevent migration of catalyst ions is also provided.

Abstract: A fuel system for an energy conversion device includes a deoxygenator system with a multitude of flow impingement elements which are interleaved to provide a fuel channel with intricate two-dimensional flow characteristics. The flow impingement elements break up the boundary layers and enhance the transport of oxygen from the core of the of the fuel flow within the fuel channel to the oxygen permeable membrane surfaces by directing the fuel flow in a direction normal to the oxygen permeable membrane. The rapid mixing of the relatively rich oxygen core of the fuel with the relatively oxygen-poor flow near the oxygen permeable membrane enhances the overall removal rate of oxygen from the fuel. Because this process can be accomplished in fuel channels of relatively larger flow areas while maintaining laminar flow, the pressure drop sustained is relatively low.

Abstract: The fuel processing system of the present invention supplies a flow of H2-rich reformate to a water gas shift membrane reactor, comprising a water gas shift reaction region and a permeate region, separated by an H2-separation membrane H2 formed over a catalyst in the reaction region selectively passes through the H2-separation membrane to the permeate region for delivery to a use point (such as the fuel cell of a fuel cell power plant) A sweep gas, preferably steam, removes the H2 from the permeate region The direction of sweep gas flow relative to the reformate flow is controlled for H2-separation performance and is used to determine the loading of the catalyst in the reaction region Coolant, thermal and/or pressure control subsystems of the fuel cell power plant may be integrated with the fuel processing system

Abstract: A power system for an aircraft includes a solid oxide fuel cell system which generates electric power for the aircraft and an exhaust stream; and a heat exchanger for transferring heat from the exhaust stream of the solid oxide fuel cell to a heat requiring system or component of the aircraft. The heat can be transferred to fuel for the primary engine of the aircraft. Further, the same fuel can be used to power both the primary engine and the SOFC. A heat exchanger is positioned to cool reformate before feeding to the fuel cell. SOFC exhaust is treated and used as inerting gas. Finally, oxidant to the SOFC can be obtained from the aircraft cabin, or exterior, or both.

Abstract: A fuel system for an energy conversion device includes a deoxygenator system with a multitude of flow impingement elements which are interleaved to provide a fuel channel with intricate two-dimensional flow characteristics. The flow impingement elements break up the boundary layers and enhance the transport of oxygen from the core of the of the fuel flow within the fuel channel to the oxygen permeable membrane surfaces by directing the fuel flow in a direction normal to the oxygen permeable membrane. The rapid mixing of the relatively rich oxygen core of the fuel with the relatively oxygen-poor flow near the oxygen permeable membrane enhances the overall removal rate of oxygen from the fuel. Because this process can be accomplished in fuel channels of relatively larger flow areas while maintaining laminar flow, the pressure drop sustained is relatively low.

Abstract: A fuel system for an energy conversion device includes a deoxygenator system with a porous membrane. The deoxygenator includes an oxygen receiving channel separated from the fuel channel by the porous membrane. The capillary forces counteract the pressure differential across the membrane, preventing any leakage of the fuel, while the oxygen concentration differential across the membrane allows for deoxygenation of the fuel through the porous membrane.

Abstract: A fuel system for an energy conversion device includes a deoxygenator system with a porous membrane. The deoxygenator includes an oxygen receiving channel separated from the fuel channel by the porous membrane. The capillary forces counteract the pressure differential across the membrane, preventing any leakage of the fuel, while the oxygen concentration differential across the membrane allows for deoxygenation of the fuel through the porous membrane.