Abstract: A liquid separator includes a housing, a separation chamber disposed within the housing, a drain, an inlet channel, a swirler disposed within the inlet channel, and an outlet channel. The drain has a drain passageway for draining liquid from the separation chamber. The inlet channel is configured to communicate the fluid stream from a first inlet end to a second inlet end disposed within the housing and proximate the separation chamber. The outlet channel is configured to communicate the fluid stream from a first outlet end positioned proximate the second inlet end, to a second outlet end remote from the separation chamber. The drain passageway has an inner diameter sized such that the interaction between the surface tension of the liquid and the inner passageway causes some liquid to be retained in the drain passageway, to form a low pressure gas seal of the drain passageway.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel cell system and a method of operating same, The fuel cell has a first reactant inlet, a first reactant outlet, a second reactant inlet, a second reactant outlet. The invention involves (a) providing a first reactant incoming stream to the first reactant inlet; (b) providing a second reactant incoming stream to the second reactant inlet; (c) monitoring a fuel cell state variable indicative of flooding; (d) based on the fuel cell state variable, determining whether the fuel cell is flooded; and, (e) providing an additional amount of the first reactant to the fuel cell when the fuel cell is flooded.

Abstract: A fuel cell system and a method of operating same are provided. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell for driving a load, at least one fuel cell peripheral, a device for measuring at least one fuel cell operation characteristic, and at least one controller for controlling the operation of at least one fuel cell peripheral based on the at least one fuel cell operation characteristic. The fuel cell operation characteristic is divided into at least two ranges, and operation of at least one fuel cell is controlled to provide it with a respective operational characteristic for each range of operation of the fuel cell system.

Abstract: A fuel cell system has: a fuel cell having a first reactant inlet, a first reactant outlet, a second reactant inlet, a second reactant outlet, and optionally a coolant inlet and coolant outlet. A first reactant supply subsystem supplies a first reactant incoming stream to the first reactant inlet of the fuel cell. A second reactant supply subsystem supplies a second reactant incoming stream to the second reactant inlet of the fuel cell. A first reactant recirculation subsystem recirculates at least a portion of the first reactant exhaust stream from the first reactant outlet to an enthalpy shifting subsystem in which one portion of the heat and moisture in first reactant exhaust stream is transferred to one of the first reactant incoming stream in the first reactant supply subsystem and the second reactant incoming stream in the second reactant supply subsystem. Another portion of the heat and moisture is transferred to the other stream.

Abstract: A back pressure valve, comprises: a first housing including a first chamber formed therein having an inlet and an outlet for a first fluid; a second housing including a second chamber formed; a flexible diaphragm having an outer peripheral edge portion abutting the second housing; and closing off the second chamber; a back pressure member moveably disposed in the first chamber of the first housing, wherein the first chamber is defined by the first housing and the back pressure member; wherein the flexible diaphragm is fixed onto and moveable together with the back pressure member, whereby pressure in the second chamber determines fluid pressure required to maintain the back pressure member in a steady position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel cell system for producing electrical power and a method of operating same. The fuel cell has a first reactant inlet, a first reactant outlet, a second reactant inlet, and a second reactant outlet. The invention involves (a) providing a first reactant incoming stream to the first reactant inlet at a first reactant supply rate; (b) providing a second reactant incoming stream to the second reactant inlet at a second reactant supply rate; (c) conditioning at least one of the first reactant incoming stream and the second reactant incoming stream to a selected conditioning level; and, (d) selectably and temporarily reducing the selected conditioning level to increase at least one of the first reactant supply rate and the second reactant supply rate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel cell system and a method of operating same, The fuel cell has a first reactant inlet, a first reactant outlet, a second reactant inlet, a second reactant outlet. The invention involves (a) providing a first reactant incoming stream to the first reactant inlet; (b) providing a second reactant incoming stream to the second reactant inlet; (c) monitoring a fuel cell state variable indicative of flooding; (d) based on the fuel cell state variable, determining whether the fuel cell is flooded; and, (e) providing an additional amount of the first reactant to the fuel cell when the fuel cell is flooded.

Abstract: A fuel cell system, comprising: a fuel cell for producing electrical energy; a load driven by the fuel cell; a first reactant supply line for supplying a first reactant to the fuel cell; a second reactant supply line for supplying a second reactant to the fuel cell; a first reactant buffer for storing first reactant and supplying an additional amount of first reactant to the fuel cell in response to an increase in a measured characteristic; a first flow regulating device that regulating the amount of the first reactant supplied from the first reactant buffer to the fuel cell; and a controller for controlling the first flow regulating device in response to the measured characteristic.

Abstract: A fuel cell system and a method of operating same are provided. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell for driving a load, at least one fuel cell peripheral, a device for measuring at least one fuel cell operation characteristic, and at least one controller for controlling the operation of at least one fuel cell peripheral based on the at least one fuel cell operation characteristic. The fuel cell operation characteristic is divided into at least two ranges, and operation of at least one fuel cell is controlled to provide it with a respective operational characteristic for each range of operation of the fuel cell system.

Abstract: A fuel cell system and a method of operating same. The fuel cell system comprises a fuel cell for driving a load, a first process delivery device for supplying a first process fluid to the fuel cell, and a controller for controlling an operation rate of the first process fluid delivery device based on an overriding signal received from a signal source external to the controller and the fuel cell.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for delivery and regulation of a process fluid to a multi-cell electrochemical device. A controller regulates the process fluid flow, after at least one of the process parameters indicates a drop in load current draw, based on the operating rate of the fuel cell and the rate of decrease in the load.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for delivery and regulation of process fluid flow of a multi-cell electrochemical device. A controller regulates the process fluid flow using pre-determined setpoints stored in the controller until at least one of the process parameters has reached a pre-determined value when the controller is switched to the open loop control mode, and the controller regulates the process fluid flow using at least one of the process parameter signals when the controller is switched to the closed loop control mode.

Abstract: The present Invention relates to a humidifier that has a housing defining a chamber having at least one open end. The housing is provided with a gas inlet connectable in fluid communication with a source of gas having a first moisture content, and a gas outlet connectable with a passageway for the withdrawal of a gas having a second moisture content greater than the first moisture content. The humidifier also has at least one fluid distributing portion disposed within the at least one open end of the housing to continuously distribute a fluid within the chamber, and at least one baffle disposed within the housing to define a flow path for the gas to be humidified. During operation, the gas absorbs at least a portion of the fluid as the fluid is being continuously distributed in the chamber thereby increasing the moisture content of the gas as it travels from the gas inlet towards the gas outlet.

Abstract: A fuel cell system has: a fuel cell having a first reactant inlet, a first reactant outlet, a second reactant inlet, a second reactant outlet, and optionally a coolant inlet and coolant outlet. A first reactant supply subsystem supplies a first reactant incoming stream to the first reactant inlet of the fuel cell. A second reactant supply subsystem supplies a second reactant incoming stream to the second reactant inlet of the fuel cell. A first reactant recirculation subsystem recirculates at least a portion of the first reactant exhaust stream from the first reactant outlet to a regenerative dryer subsystem in which one portion of the heat and moisture in first reactant exhaust stream is transferred to one of the first reactant incoming stream in the first reactant supply subsystem and the second reactant incoming stream in the second reactant supply subsystem. Another portion of the heat and moisture is transferred to the other stream.

Abstract: A fuel cell system has: a fuel cell having a first reactant inlet, a first reactant outlet, a second reactant inlet, a second reactant outlet, and optionally a coolant inlet and coolant outlet. A first reactant supply subsystem supplies a first reactant incoming stream to the first reactant inlet of the fuel cell. A second reactant supply subsystem supplies a second reactant incoming stream to the second reactant inlet of the fuel cell. A first reactant recirculation subsystem recirculates at least a portion of the first reactant exhaust stream from the first reactant outlet to an enthalpy shifting subsystem in which one portion of the heat and moisture in first reactant exhaust stream is transferred to one of the first reactant incoming stream in the first reactant supply subsystem and the second reactant incoming stream in the second reactant supply subsystem. Another portion of the heat and moisture is transferred to the other stream.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a humidifier that comprises a housing, at least one water distributing portion having a plurality of water distributing ports, and at least one baffle disposed within the housing to define a flow path for the gas to be humidified. Packing material can be provided in the housing to further increase the contact area between the gas and the water, if desired.

Abstract: A back pressure valve, comprises: a first housing including a first chamber formed therein having an inlet and an outlet for a first fluid; a second housing including a second chamber formed; a flexible diaphragm having an outer peripheral edge portion abutting the second housing; and closing off the second chamber; a back pressure member moveably disposed in the first chamber of the first housing, wherein the first chamber is defined by the first housing and the back pressure member; wherein the flexible diaphragm is fixed onto and moveable together with the back pressure member, whereby pressure in the second chamber determines fluid pressure required to maintain the back pressure member in a steady position.