Patents by Inventor Mark J. Moran

Mark J. Moran has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Avoiding coolant slump into reactant fields during PEM fuel cell shutdown
    Patent number: 8062801
    Abstract: A fuel cell power plant (100) having a stack of fuel cells (102), each having an anode (104), a fuel reactant gas flow field plate (118), a cathode (106), an oxidant reactant gas flow field plate (120), and an electrolyte (101) between the anode and cathode. The stack has coolant channels (131), an air blower (144), air inlet (139a) and outlet (141a) valves, and a cathode recycle loop using either the primary air blower or a cathode recycle blower (135). A shutdown process includes recycling air through the cathodes with only one of an air inlet valve or air exit valve closed, while applying fresh fuel and recycling fuel through the anodes until oxygen is about 4% or less, or average cell voltage is about 0.2 or less, or for predetermined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: UTC Power Corporation
    Inventors: Mark J. Moran, Venkateshwarlu Yadha, Matthew P. Wilson
  • AVOIDING COOLANT SLUMP INTO REACTANT FIELDS DURING PEM FUEL CELL SHUTDOWN
    Publication number: 20100239927
    Abstract: A fuel cell power plant (100) having a stack of fuel cells (102), each having an anode (104), a fuel reactant gas flow field plate (118), a cathode (106), an oxidant reactant gas flow field plate (120), and an electrolyte (101) between the anode and cathode. The stack has coolant channels (131), an air blower (144), air inlet (139a) and outlet (141a) valves, and a cathode recycle loop using either the primary air blower or a cathode recycle blower (135). A shutdown process includes recycling air through the cathodes with only one of an air inlet valve or air exit valve closed, while applying fresh fuel and recycling fuel through the anodes until oxygen is about 4% or less, or average cell voltage is about 0.2 or less, or for predetermined period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Inventors: Mark J. Moran, Venkateshwarlu Yadha, Matthew P. Wilson