Abstract: A fuel cell system is provided which includes a hydrocarbon fuel processor for generating hydrogen for use in a fuel cell. The system further includes a hydrogen buffer for storing a portion of the hydrogen generated by the fuel processor. The system further includes a staged hydrogen selective membrane providing pressurized hydrogen to the buffer. This stored hydrogen may then be used during start-up of the system in a number of ways, such as feed for the fuel cell, or when the fuel processor output is temporarily less than that required by the operating demand of the fuel cell.

Abstract: The present invention is a heat pipe having a specified volume of working fluid determined in relation to the interior volume of the heat pipe and a target temperature TT, to provide self-temperature regulation and pressure management. The heat pipe comprises at least a evaporator region and a condenser region having a known interior volume V and a mass of working fluid given by the relationship Mwf=Dwf at TT×V plus an amount of additional working fluid sufficient to have the rate of evaporation about equal to the rate of condensation for the particular heat pipe configuration.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for converting Fischer-Tropsch wax to high quality lube basestocks using a molecular sieve Beta catalyst followed by a unidimensional intermediate pore molecular sieve with near circular pore structures having an average diameter of 0.50 nm to 0.65 nm wherein the difference between the maximum diameter and the minimum is ?0.05 nm. Both catalysts comprise one or more Group VIII metals. For example, a cascaded two-bed catalyst system consisting of a first bed Pt/Beta catalyst followed by a second bed Pt/ZSM-48 catalyst is highly selective for wax isomerization and lube hydrodewaxing with minimal gas formation.

Abstract: In an internal combustion engine fuel system having a membrane separator for separating a primary fuel into a high octane fuel and a low octane fuel, and wherein the primary fuel is heated for separation in the membrane separator, the improvement comprising a heat pipe having an evaporator section positioned to be in the heat exchange relationship with exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine under conditions of use; and a heat output area in heat exchange relationship with a primary fuel as it is fed into the separator whereby the primary fuel is heated. In one embodiment the heat pipe is a variable conductance heat pipe having a top operating temperature not greater than about 160° C.

Abstract: A fuel system for on-board vehicle fuel separation to supply engine fuel compositions formulated as a function of driving cycle conditions. The invention results in improvements in one or more of feed efficiency and combustion emissions.