Abstract: An air flow deflector comprising (a) a deflector body having an outer surface, the deflector body providing an air passage extending through an inlet, a throat and an outlet, the size of the inlet is greater that the size of the throat; (b) a pair of channels provided between the inlet and the outlet and each of the pair of channels having a venturi profile; and (c) an outlet portion of the air flow deflector provided between the throat and the outlet to provide a gradual transition between the throat and the outlet; wherein the air flow deflector increases an air flow velocity of air entering said inlet.

Abstract: A wind deflector apparatus configured for increasing the velocity of an airstream flowing therethrough. The wind deflector apparatus comprises a hybrid conduit with one end comprising a first conduit having a distal end configured for receiving an airstream. The other end of the hybrid conduit comprises a pair of conduits wherein the distal ends of the pair of conduits are configured for releasing the airstream. The proximal ends of the pair of conduits depend together and are sealingly conjoined to the proximal end of the first conduit. The diameter of the distal end of first conduit is greater than the combined diameters of the distal ends of the pair of conduits. The wind deflector apparatus is communicable with wind tunnels and with wind-powered turbine generators. The wind deflector apparatus may have one or more wind-powered turbine generators installed in at least one of the conduits.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell stack configuration includes reactant flow fields bounded horizontally by seals and vertically by the fuel cell on one side and an interconnect on the other. The stack footprint may be rectangular with triangular reactant manifolds disposed in each corner, surrounding a central electrode area, which may be hexagonal in shape.

Abstract: An electrochemical fuel cell stack with improved reactant manifolding and sealing includes a pair of separator plates interposed between adjacent membrane electrode assemblies. Passageways fluidly interconnecting the anodes to a fuel manifold, and interconnecting the cathodes to an oxidant manifold, comprise at least one fluid passageway formed between adjoining non-active surfaces of the pairs of separator plates. The passageways extend through one or more ports penetrating the thickness of one of the plates thereby fluidly connecting the manifold to the opposite active surface of that plate, and the adjacent electrode. The ports comprise walls that have surfaces that are angled more than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees with respect to the direction of fluid flow in the fluid passageway upstream of the port. During operation, electrochemical fuel cell stacks comprising fluid ports with angled walls benefit from reduced pressure loss.

Abstract: An encapsulating seal for an electrochemical cell stack provides sealing when individual cell seals fail and also provides increased insulation and protection for the stack and its components. The encapsulating seal is disposed on at least one side of the cell stack and at least between one or more pairs of separator plates having a membrane electrode assembly between them. An improved method for sealing a electrochemical cell stack comprises forming an encapsulating seal with different material and conditions, such as with a seal material having a curing temperature greater than the operating temperature of the cell stack. The encapsulating seal can be formed by injection molding, potting or other suitable methods.

Abstract: Flow fields comprising a set of fluid distribution channels may be employed in fuel cells for purposes of distributing fluid reactants to an electrochemically active area of the fuel cell. Water management and reactant distribution may be improved by increasing pressure gradients between adjacent channels. Such pressure gradients may be increased by engineering the channels such that the resistance to reactant flow differs along the length of adjacent channels.

Abstract: An electrochemical fuel cell stack with improved reactant manifolding and sealing includes a pair of separator plates interposed between adjacent membrane electrode assemblies. Passageways fluidly interconnecting the anodes to a fuel manifold, and interconnecting the cathodes to an oxidant manifold, comprise at least one fluid passageway formed between adjoining non-active surfaces of the pairs of separator plates. The passageways extend through one or more ports penetrating the thickness of one of the plates thereby fluidly connecting the manifold to the opposite active surface of that plate, and the adjacent electrode. The ports comprise walls that have surfaces that are angled more than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees with respect to the direction of fluid flow in the fluid passageway upstream of the port. During operation, electrochemical fuel cell stacks comprising fluid ports with angled walls benefit from reduced pressure loss.

Abstract: An electrochemical fuel cell stack with improved reactant manifolding and sealing includes a pair of separator plates interposed between adjacent membrane electrode assemblies. Passageways fluidly interconnecting the anodes to a fuel manifold, and interconnecting the cathodes to an oxidant manifold, comprise at least one fluid passageway formed between adjoining non-active surfaces of the pairs of separator plates. The passageways extend through one or more ports penetrating the thickness of one of the plates thereby fluidly connecting the manifold to the opposite active surface of that plate, and the adjacent electrode. The ports comprise walls that have surfaces that are angled more than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees with respect to the direction of fluid flow in the fluid passageway upstream of the port. During operation, electrochemical fuel cell stacks comprising fluid ports with angled walls benefit from reduced pressure loss.