Abstract: Processes for reducing the color of polytrimethylene ether glycol or copolymers thereof are provided. The processes include polycondensing diols in the presence of an acid catalyst and adding base continuously over a period of the polycondensation reaction. The invention also relates to the polytrimethylene ether glycol thereof produced by these processes.

Abstract: Processes for synthesizing polyether diols and polyester diols are provided. The processes include reacting diols and/or diacids in the presence of carbon black. The processes can be used to produce polymers of a variety of molecular weights.

Abstract: Processes for synthesizing polytrimethylene ether glycol and copolymers thereof are provided. The processes include polycondensing diols in the presence of carbon black, and may be used to produce polymers having molecular weights from about 250 to about 5000.

Abstract: Processes for reducing the color of polytrimethylene ether glycol or copolymers thereof are provided. The processes include polycondensing diols in the presence of an acid catalyst and adding base continuously over a period of the polycondensation reaction. The invention also relates to the polytrimethylene ether glycol thereof produced by these processes.

Abstract: A process for improved performance in at least one fuel cell, having a loss in power output of at least 5% of an initial power output, wherein the fuel cell comprises a cathode, an anode, an anode chamber, a cathode chamber, a fuel comprising an anolyte that flows through the cell, and a catholyte gas, wherein the fuel cell is connected to an external load, and wherein the process includes the steps of taking the load off the fuel cell; and applying an external electric field from an external power source to the fuel cell to reverse electrochemical reactions until at least 5% of the lost power output is regained. Purging the fuel cell further enhances regeneration of the cell.

Abstract: A process for improved performance in at least one fuel cell, having a loss in power output of at least 5% of an initial power output, wherein the fuel cell comprises a cathode, an anode, an anode chamber, a cathode chamber, a fuel comprising an anolyte that flows through the cell, and a catholyte gas, wherein the fuel cell is connected to an external load, and wherein the process includes the steps of taking the load off the fuel cell; and applying an external electric field from an external power source to the fuel cell to reverse electrochemical reactions until at least 5% of the lost power output is regained. Purging the fuel cell further enhances regeneration of the cell.

Abstract: A process for improved performance in a fuel cell or stack of fuel cells wherein the fuel cell has a cathode, an anode, an anode chamber, a cathode chamber, a fuel comprising an anolyte that flows through the cell, and a catholyte gas, and wherein the fuel cell is connected to an external load, and wherein the process comprises taking the load off the cell, and cycling between a minimum voltage and about 50% of the maximum voltage drawn from the fuel cell until a maximum current is reached, or a minimum load and about 50% of the maximum load until a maximum voltage is reached. Fuel cell performance is further enhanced by purging.

Abstract: An electrically conductive flow field separator plate is disclosed for use in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell. The plate comprises a frame portion, a central planar portion within the frame and a flow field formed in a surface of the central planar portion. The frame portion is elastomeric so as to form a seal with adjacent fuel cell components thereby eliminating the use of separate sealing elements. The frame and the central planar portion are of unitary construction and comprise from about 10 wt. % to about 50 wt. % of elastomer and from about 50 wt. % to about 90 wt. % of conductive filler.

Abstract: A method is disclosed to heat a direct methanol fuel cell stack system at start-up without using any external energy source. During the start-up period, the fuel cell stack is at open circuit state so that the fuel cell stack is not connected to any external circuit. The methanol solution introduced at the anode side of the fuel cell stack will diffuse through the proton conductive membrane to the cathode side of the fuel cell stack. The methanol diffused from the anode side will be oxidized at the cathode side by oxygen in the air stream. This oxidation reaction generates heat that heats up the fuel cell stack and the system. The concentration of methanol in the methanol solution can be varied depending on the initial stack temperature. The lower the initial stack temperature, the higher the concentration of the methanol solution required. At an initial stack temperature of ?40° C., a solution having 40 wt % methanol is preferred to avoid freezing of the solution.

Abstract: A modular unitized electrochemical fuel cell cartridge (20) is formed from a mono-polar anode plate (22), a second mono-polar cathode plate (24 ) and a solid polymer membrane electrode assembly (26) operably interposed between the anode and the cathode. An electrochemical fuel cell stack is provided having at least one removable fuel cell cartridge, a pair of current collectors which are individually disposed on opposite sides of the anode and the cathode plates and a pair of end plates which are individually disposed on opposite sides of the current collectors from the anode and cathode plates. Sealing ridges (42) and mating grooves (44) as well as alignment means (46) enable the easy assembly of a modular unitized fuel cell cartridge and stacking said cartridge.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for measuring the concentration of a low molecular weight alcohol, such as methanol, in an aqueous solution. The method uses a fuel cell sensor that includes an anode chamber for electrochemical oxidation of the methanol, a cathode chamber for electrochemical reduction of oxygen; a proton conducting membrane arranged between the anode and cathode; and a voltmeter operatively connected to the anode and cathode chambers. An aqueous solution of the methanol is fed to the anode chamber while the fuel cell sensor is operated at an open circuit state, thereby allowing the methanol to crossover to the cathode where it is oxidized. The open circuit voltage across the anode and the cathode is measured using the voltmeter and the concentration of the methanol is determined from the open circuit voltage.

Abstract: A method is disclosed to heat a direct methanol fuel cell stack system at start-up without using any external energy source. During the start-up period, the fuel cell stack is at open circuit state so that the fuel cell stack is not connected to any external circuit. The methanol solution introduced at the anode side of the fuel cell stack will diffuse through the proton conductive membrane to the cathode side of the fuel cell stack. The methanol diffused from the anode side will be oxidized at the cathode side by oxygen in the air stream. This oxidation reaction generates heat that heats up the fuel cell stack and the system. The concentration of methanol in the methanol solution can be varied depending on the initial stack temperature. The lower the initial stack temperature, the higher the concentration of the methanol solution required. At an initial stack temperature of −40° C., a solution having 40 wt % methanol is preferred to avoid freezing of the solution.

Abstract: The polymerization rate of olefins polymerizations using late transition metal catalysts which are coordinated to various ligands may be controlled by the amount of hydrogen present in the polymerization. The effect of hydrogen on polymerization rate is reversible.