Abstract: An exhaust purification system of an internal combustion engine is provided with an electrochemical reactor provided in an exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine, and a voltage control device controlling a voltage supplied to the electrochemical reactor. The electrochemical reactor is provided with an ion conducting solid electrolyte layer and an anode layer and cathode layer placed on the surface of the solid electrolyte layer. The voltage control device is configured to perform short-circuit detection control detecting short-circuiting between the anode layer and the cathode layer, and energizing control applying current between the anode layer and the cathode layer so to energize the short-circuited part when short-circuiting is detected.

Abstract: An exhaust purification system of an internal combustion engine is provided with an electrochemical reactor provided in an exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine, and a voltage control device controlling a voltage supplied to the electrochemical reactor. The electrochemical reactor is provided with an ion conducting solid electrolyte layer and an anode layer and cathode layer placed on the surface of the solid electrolyte layer. The voltage control device is configured to perform short-circuit detection control detecting short-circuiting between the anode layer and the cathode layer, and energizing control applying current between the anode layer and the cathode layer so to energize the short-circuited part when short-circuiting is detected.

Abstract: A method of purifying a hydrogen stream using an electrochemical cell having an enclosed electrically conductive cylindrical outer shell and a hollow wet polymeric membrane located within and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical member which provides an inner compartment and an outer compartment. An electrode having a longitudinal axis is located within the inner compartment and is spaced from the hollow polymeric membrane. A gas inlet for feeding a hydrogen stream that is to be purified communicates with the inner compartment and a gas outlet is provided for passing purified hydrogen gas thru the cylindrical outer shell. The electrode within the hollow wet polymeric membrane is connected to an anode terminal of a dc supply with an electrical conductor and the outer shell of the cylindrical shaped member is connected to a cathode terminal of the dc supply with another electrical conductor.

Abstract: A method for preparing a thin ceramic material with a continuous controlled surface porosity gradient is disclosed as well as its use for producing electrochemical cells that conduct by oxide ions. The thin ceramic material is characterized by a continuous variation in porosity from 0% to about 80% of small thicknesses.

Abstract: Anode and cathode separator plates are suitable for use in ion pumps for converting an input stream such as reformate into a pressurized and purified hydrogen-rich gas stream. The plates may include a single cathode outlet opening forming a portion of cathode output gas manifold, an anode inlet opening forming a portion of an inlet gas stream manifold and being sized larger than inlet cathode outlet opening, the distance of the anode inlet opening to an edge of the plate being less than the distance of the cathode outlet opening from an edge of the plate, and the size of the fluid flow channel of the anode separator plate being smaller than the size of the fluid flow channel of the cathode separator plate. Methods for forming the plates and infrastructure systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of separating oxygen from an oxygen containing feed and reacting the oxygen with a reactive substance and an oxygen ion transport membrane element utilized for such purposes. The oxygen ion transport membrane element has a self-supporting dense layer and a surface porous feature in contact with and supported by the dense layer. The porous surface feature may be a layer, a layer having discontinuities or a series of repeating geometrical forms. The dense layer and the porous surface feature are capable of conducting oxygen ions and electrons. The porous surface feature at least in part forms the anode side of the oxygen ion transport membrane element at which the reactive substance reacts with the separated oxygen and has a thickness less than that of the dense layer and a greater surface area than that of a surface of the dense layer adjoining the porous layer. Pores within the porous surface feature have a pore aspect ratio of pore size to pore length of between about 0.1 and about 5.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the separation of oxygen from an oxygen-containing fluid using novel membranes, formed from perovskitic or multi-phase structures, with a chemically active coating. The process exhibits exceptionally high rates of oxygen flux. The process uses membranes that are conductors of oxygen ions and electrons, which are substantially stable in air over the temperature range of 25° C. to the operating temperature of the membrane.

Abstract: A method and apparatus removes carbon monoxide from hydrogen rich fuel by means of a catalytic material that preferentially adsorbs with carbon monoxide. The catalytic material is regenerated by an oxidizing agent that reacts with the carbon monoxide absorbed by the catalytic material. The reaction is initiated by an electrical current is generated either galvanically or electrolytically through the catalytic material.

Abstract: An electrochemical autothermal reformer (EATR) provides hydrogen. The EATR includes an autothermal reformer region, a reformer anode supply region, and a composite membrane layer separating the reformer anode from the autothermal reformer region. The composite membrane layer includes a mechanically stable porous ceramic support member with a thin gas permeable ceramic substrate layer overlaying the support member. Overlaying the substrate layer is a first thin metallic catalyst layer which promotes the dissociation of H.sub.2 to 2H.sup.+ +2e.sup.-. Overlaying the first catalyst layer is a metallic oxide layer capable of conducting 2H.sup.+ +2e.sup.- at elevated temperatures. Overlaying the metallic oxide layer is a second thin metallic catalyst layer which promotes the recombination of 2H.sup.+ +2e.sup.- to H.sub.2.

Abstract: A system and process for producing a high-purity product from a feed stream containing elemental oxygen by applying the feed stream to at least one separator including a feed zone and a permeate zone separated by a solid electrolyte membrane, and driving a portion of oxygen contained in the feed stream from the feed zone to the permeate zone via the membrane by applying to the permeate zone a reactive purge stream containing a reactive gas which combines with oxygen to establish a lower partial pressure of oxygen in that zone. Oxygen-depleted retentate is withdrawn as a high-purity product stream.

Abstract: Production of air containing minus alkali ion. As shown in FIG. 2, there is shown an electric stone fine powder 20 having the grain size of 0.3 to 3 microns on the average, an electric stone carrier having the electric stone fine powder 20 uniformly mixed therewith, which is in the form of clothes having a volume intrinsic DC electric resistance of 10.sup.7 to 10.sup.10 .OMEGA..cm. This constitutes a vent contact reaction portion 2 as shown in FIG. 3. This portion 2 is located above an air intake 1a at the lower part of a box 1 and extended over the whole internal surface of the box 1. Ventilation means 3 formed from an electric fan causes the electric stone carrier 30 to subject to direct forced ventilation into contact with air, and minus alkali ion is prepared from water molecules which are moisture in air. The air containing the minus alkali ion is delivered from an air port 1b provided at the upper part of the box 1 to an installation spot.