Purification Patents (Class 429/410)
  • Patent number: 8206490
    Abstract: A separator scrubber (58) and isolation loop (78) decontaminates a fuel reactant stream of a fuel cell (12). Water passes over surfaces of an ammonia dissolving means (61) within the scrubber (58) while the fuel reactant stream simultaneously passes over the surfaces to remove contaminants from the fuel reactant into the water. An accumulator (68) collects the separated contaminants and water, and an isolation loop pump (84) directs flow of the separated contaminant stream through the isolation loop (78). A heat exchanger (86) and an ion exchange bed (88) modify the heat of, and remove contaminants from, the separated contaminant stream, and the isolation loop (78) directs the decontaminated stream back onto the packed bed (62)-. Separating contaminants from the fuel reactant stream and then isolating and concentrating the separated contaminants within the ion exchange bed (88) minimizes cost and maintenance requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: UTC Fuel Cells, LLC
    Inventors: Albert P. Grasso, John L. Preston, Jr., Francis Kocum, Richard J. Assarabowski, Derek Hildreth
  • Publication number: 20120156574
    Abstract: A method for producing hydrogen using fuel cell off gases, the method feeding hydrocarbon fuel to a sulfur adsorbent to produce a desulfurized fuel and a spent sulfur adsorbent; feeding said desulfurized fuel and water to an adsorption enhanced reformer that comprises of a plurality of reforming chambers or compartments; reforming said desulfurized fuel in the presence of a one or more of a reforming catalyst and one or more of a CO2 adsorbent to produce hydrogen and a spent CO2 adsorbent; feeding said hydrogen to the anode side of the fuel cell; regenerating said spent CO2 adsorbents using the fuel cell cathode off-gases, producing a flow of hydrogen by cycling between said plurality of reforming chambers or compartments in a predetermined timing sequence; and, replacing the spent sulfur adsorbent with a fresh sulfur adsorbent at a predetermined time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventors: Duraiswamy Kandaswamy, Anand S. Chelappa, Mack Knobbe
  • Publication number: 20120135321
    Abstract: A boiler unit (100) housed in an enclosure, the boiler unit (100) configured to receive a solid state combined heat and power generating device (130). The boiler unit (100) comprises a heating device (110) to produce heat; and a control unit (120) to independently control each of the heating device (110) and the solid state combined heat and power generating device (130). The boiler unit (100) is operable without the solid state combined heat and power generating device (130) being present.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2009
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: Ceres Intellectual Property Company Limited
    Inventors: James Devriendt, Christopher John Evans, Robert Morgan, Paul Barnard, Bruce Girvan
  • Publication number: 20120135322
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell module, a water supply apparatus for supplying water to the fuel cell module, a water container for supplying the water to the water supply apparatus, a condenser for condensing water vapor in an exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell module and supplying the condensed water to the water container. The water container has a supply port for supplying the water from the condenser to the water container, and a discharge port for sending the water to the water supply apparatus, and a water channel having a serpentine pattern as a passage of the water from the supply port to the discharge port. An ion exchanger section is provided in the water channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuki Yoshimine
  • Patent number: 8187756
    Abstract: An ion exchange resin member 20 that serves as an impurity remover for removing impurities from fluid F discharged from a fuel cell 100 is placed in a discharge passage for the fluid F to flow through, and a dispersion means for dispersing the fluid F over, and making the fluid F flow to, an entry-side surface 21 of the ion exchange resin member 20 is placed upstream from the ion exchange resin member 20. Also, a gas discharge part and a liquid discharge part are placed downstream from a fluid outlet of the ion exchange resin member 20, and a liquid-movement-preventing means for preventing a liquid in the fluid discharged from the fluid outlet from moving toward the gas discharge part is placed between the ion exchange resin member 20 and at least either the gas discharge part or the liquid discharge part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuo Fujita, Hiroyuki Yumiya, Taisuke Miyamoto, Hiroyuki Sekine, Mituhiro Satou, Sadatoshi Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20120121995
    Abstract: A method of operating a fuel cell system on a by-product gas containing a fuel constituent. The fuel cell system includes a fuel reformer for forming a reformate stream, a combustor for supplying heat energy to the fuel reformer, and a fuel cell stack. The method includes the steps of separating a by-product gas into a purified gas stream and a residual stream with a gaseous fuel purifier, feeding the purified gas stream to the fuel reformer configured to transform the purified gas stream to produce a reformate stream, and feeding the residual gas stream to a combustor configured to provide heat energy to the fuel reformer. The purified gas stream contains a higher concentration of preferable fuel constituents and a lower concentration of contaminants than the residual gas stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: MALCOLM JAMES GRIEVE
  • Patent number: 8178248
    Abstract: A carbon monoxide remover includes a reactor body having an inner space, and a catalyst provided in the inner space of the reactor body to react with the reforming gas. A diffusion unit is installed at an inlet portion of the reactor body for introducing the reforming gas to diffuse the reforming gas over the entire area of the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: In-Hyuk Son, Dong-Myung Suh, Dong-Uk Lee
  • Publication number: 20120115052
    Abstract: A fuel cell system of the present invention is a fuel cell system including a fuel cell (101) and includes a medium circulation passage (71), a heat medium tank (102), a first circulator (105), a recovered water tank (104), a water circulation passage (72), a second circulator (108), a water purifier (109), a temperature detector (111), and a controller (110). The heat medium circulation passage (71) and the water circulation passage (72) are configured so as to realize heat exchange between a heat medium and water. The controller (110) executes a circulation operation in which when the temperature detector (111) detects a temperature lower than a first temperature capable of sterilizing microorganisms, the second circulator (108) is caused to operate such that the temperature detected by the temperature detector (111) becomes the first temperature or higher.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirofumi Kokubu, Koichi Kusumura, Akinari Nakamura, Takayuki Urata
  • Publication number: 20120115051
    Abstract: In at least one of flow distribution areas 35 provided on a separator 15, plurality of first projections 46 formed in a region corresponding to a first section (parted regions 32a and 32c) of a center area (including parted regions 32a through 32c) having a relatively high flow rate of a first fluid (refrigerant) are designed to have a larger diameter of a cross section than plurality of first projections 46 formed in a region corresponding to a second section (parted region 32b) of the center area having a relatively low flow rate of the first fluid. This arrangement effectively attains a substantially uniform flow rate distribution of a fluid in a fluid flow path formed on a separator, which is configured to have concavo-convex structures formed in a mutually reversed relation on two opposed sides thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori YAMAMOTO, Toshiyuki SUZUKI, Haruyuki AONO, Junichi SHIRAHAMA
  • Publication number: 20120107703
    Abstract: A fuel cell system of the present invention includes: a reformer (1) configured to generate a hydrogen-containing fuel gas from a material gas and steam; a fuel cell (101) configured to generate electric power by using a fuel gas supplied from the reformer (1); a water tank (3) configured to store water; a water utilizing device configured to utilize the water supplied from the water tank (3); a first water supply unit (5) disposed on a water passage (30) extending from the water tank (3) to the water utilizing device and configured to supply the water in the water tank (3) to the water utilizing device; and a purifier (4) disposed on the water passage (30) and configured to purify the water flowing through the water passage (30), and the purifier (4) is provided such that when a water level of the water tank (3) is a full water level, the purifier (4) is filled with the water by the weight of the water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Akinori Yukimasa, Junji Morita, Akinari Nakamura, Takayuki Urata
  • Patent number: 8158292
    Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a fuel cell anode exhaust system includes a fuel cell anode having an input and an output. The system also includes a first conduit loop communicating with the anode input and output. The system also includes a second conduit loop having an input and an output. The input and output communicate with the first conduit loop. A gas separator is disposed on the second conduit loop for purifying an exhaust stream fed into the gas separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Lawrence M. Rose, Suriyaprakash Ayyangar Janarthanam, Alexander T. Zaremba, Craig Winfield Peterson
  • Patent number: 8153310
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus system includes an electronic apparatus and a fuel cell device which supplies electricity to the electronic apparatus. The electronic apparatus includes a housing, a heat generating component located in the housing, and a thermal radiation mechanism. The fuel cell device includes an electromotive section which has an anode and a cathode and generates the electricity based on a chemical reaction, a fuel tank containing a fuel, a circulation system which allows air and a fuel supplied from the fuel tank to circulate through the electromotive section, and a gas purifying filter arranged in the circulation system and having a catalyst section which decontaminates a gas component in an exhaust from the electromotive section. The gas purifying filter is located adjacent to the thermal radiation mechanism so as to be heatable by heat from the radiation mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Tomohiro Hirayama
  • Publication number: 20120082909
    Abstract: The fuel processor (10) comprises a desulphurisation reactor (12), a catalytic partial oxidation reactor (14), a combustor (16) and a pre-reformer (18), means (20) to supply a hydrocarbon fuel to the desulphurisation reactor (12), means (24) to supply air to the catalytic partial oxidation reactor (14) and means (24) to supply air to the combustor (16). A method of operating the fuel processor for a fuel cell arrangement includes (a) supplying safe gas to the fuel cell arrangement in a first mode of operation, (b) supplying synthesis gas to the fuel cell arrangement in a second mode of operation and (c) supplying processed hydrocarbon fuel to the fuel cell arrangement in a third mode of operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Gary J. SAUNDERS, Fabio Cerutti
  • Publication number: 20120082908
    Abstract: A fuel cell, a method for operating a fuel cell and a fuel cell system, which ensure no dew condensation for a wet reaction gas in the inlet area of gas channels in plates in a fuel cell stack. Gas channels and heat medium channels are disposed on one surface and the other surface of one plate, respectively. Gas channels are disposed on the other plate such that they face the gas channels in the plate. A gas inlet header is disposed at the upper part of the gas channel in the plate and a heat medium inlet header is disposed at the upper part of the heat medium channels such that they face the gas inlet header on the other side. Cooling water such as heat medium is supplied from the heat medium supply manifold hole to the heat medium inlet header, thereby warming up the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki Matsubayashi, Mitsuo Karakane, Yasunori Yoshimoto, Akira Hamada
  • Patent number: 8148023
    Abstract: A technique includes operating an electrochemical cell as a pump, including providing a current to the cell and providing a fuel flow to an anode chamber of the cell. The technique includes communicating an anode exhaust flow from the anode chamber to an oxidizer and controlling the current to regulate a temperature of the oxidizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Schrieber, Jun Takeuchi
  • Publication number: 20120070751
    Abstract: A closed loop type fuel cell system is provided including a recirculating unit that recirculates hydrogen and oxygen discharged from a main fuel cell into the main fuel cell and a reproducing unit that removes water produced in operation of the main fuel cell and impurities contained in the circulated hydrogen and oxygen. Further, a closed loop type fuel cell is provided that makes it possible to generate electricity by using a main fuel cell and purify water and impurities by allowing a side of a recirculating unit to selectively communicate with a side of a reproducing unit. Further, a closed loop type fuel cell is provided that is precluded by being damaged by precluding reduction of efficiency of electric generation of a mina fuel cell by selectively replacing a sacrifice fuel cell in a reproducing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: KOREA INSTITUTE OF MACHINERY & MATERIALS
    Inventors: Cheol Nam Yang, Yong-Soo Jeong, Chang Rae Lee, Sung-Mo Moon
  • Publication number: 20120064417
    Abstract: A fuel cell system comprises a fuel cell unit for generating electric power using fuel gas and oxidizing gas and supplying the electric power; a condensed water tank for storing condensed water recovered from gas exhausted from the fuel cell unit; a water supply passage through which water is supplied from the condensed water tank to the fuel cell unit; and a water purifier disposed on the water supply passage to purify at least ions in the water; the water purifier including an ion-exchange resin layer, an antibacterial agent layer disposed upstream of the ion-exchange resin layer in a flow direction, an active carbon layer disposed between the ion-exchange resin layer and the antibacterial agent layer, and a first gap formed between the active carbon layer and the ion-exchange resin layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jun Oe, Hiroaki Kan, Masao Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8129054
    Abstract: A system for adding sulfur to a fuel cell stack, having a reformer adapted to reform a hydrocarbon fuel stream containing sulfur contaminants, thereby providing a reformate stream having sulfur; a sulfur trap fluidly coupled downstream of the reformer for removing sulfur from the reformate stream, thereby providing a desulfurized reformate stream; and a metering device in fluid communication with the reformate stream upstream of the sulfur trap and with the desulfurized reformate stream downstream of the sulfur trap. The metering device is adapted to bypass a portion of the reformate stream to mix with the desulfurized reformate stream, thereby producing a conditioned reformate stream having a predetermined sulfur concentration that gives an acceptable balance of minimal drop in initial power with the desired maximum stability of operation over prolonged periods for the fuel cell stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Subhasish Mukerjee, Karl J Haltiner, Jr., Jeffrey G. Weissman
  • Publication number: 20120045699
    Abstract: Methods and systems provide for the creation of power, water, and heat utilizing a fuel cell. According to embodiments described herein, fuel is provided to a fuel cell for the creation of power and a fuel byproduct. The fuel byproduct is routed to a byproduct separation phase of a power and water generation system, where water is separated from the fuel byproduct. The remaining mixture is reacted in a burner phase of the system to create additional heat that may be converted to mechanical energy and/or utilized with other processes within the system or outside of the system. According to other aspects, the separated water may be utilized within a biofuel production subsystem for the creation of biofuel to be used by the fuel cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Inventors: Shailesh Atreya, David Whelan, Marianne E. Mata, Tina R. Stoia, David Gill
  • Publication number: 20120040256
    Abstract: A hydrogen generator (100) includes: a hydrogen generating unit (1) configured to generate a hydrogen-containing gas by using a raw material gas; a hydro-desulfurizer (7) configured to remove a sulfur compound in the raw material gas supplied to the hydrogen generating unit (1); a first gas channel (5) through which the raw material gas supplied through the hydro-desulfurizer (7) to the hydrogen generating unit (1) flows; a recycle channel (10) through which the hydrogen-containing gas from the hydrogen generating unit (1) is supplied to the raw material gas in the first gas channel (5) located upstream of the hydro-desulfurizer (7); a raw material gas supply unit (6) disposed between the hydro-desulfurizer (7) and a meeting point where the first gas channel (5) and the recycle channel (10) meet; and a first on-off valve (8) disposed between the raw material gas supply unit (6) and the hydro-desulfurizer (7) to close when the hydrogen generator (100) stops.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventors: Yukimune Kani, Hidenobu Wakita, Seiji Fujihara, Tomoyuki Nakajima
  • Publication number: 20120034537
    Abstract: A fuel cell system according to the present invention includes: a deodorizing device (20) configured to remove an odor component contained in a raw material gas; a reformer (32) configured to generate a hydrogen-containing gas through reforming reaction using the raw material gas that is discharged from the deodorizing device; a fuel cell (1) configured to generate power by using the hydrogen-containing gas that is discharged from the reformer; at least one on-off valve (21a, 21b, 3a, 3b, 28, 29) provided on the combustible gas passage which is downstream from the deodorizing device and which extends through the reformer; and a stuck-state checker (13, 18, 7) configured to perform a stuck-state check on the on-off valve by supplying the raw material gas to the combustible gas passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Inventors: Yoshio Tamura, Koichi Kusumura
  • Publication number: 20120034538
    Abstract: A dual stack fuel cell system comprising a first fuel cell stack comprising a first anode side, adapted to receive fuel and to output a first anode exhaust, and a first cathode side, a second fuel cell stack comprising a second anode side, adapted to receive processed anode exhaust derived from the first anode exhaust and to output a second anode exhaust, and a second cathode side, adapted to receive oxidant gas and to output a first cathode exhaust, wherein the first cathode side receives at least the first cathode exhaust outputted from the second cathode side; and wherein the first fuel cell stack includes indirect internal reforming and the second fuel cell stack may not include any indirect internal reforming.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Inventors: FRED C. JAHNKE, Mohammad Farooque, Hossein Ghezel-Ayagh
  • Publication number: 20120034536
    Abstract: A fluidized contaminant separator and water-control loop (10) decontaminates a fuel reactant stream of a fuel cell (12). Water passes over surfaces of an ammonia dissolving media (61) within a fluidized bed (62) while the fuel reactant stream simultaneously passes over the surfaces to dissolve contaminants from the fuel reactant stream into a separated contaminant and water stream. A fuel-control heat exchanger (57) upstream from the scrubber (58) removes heat from the fuel stream. A water-control loop (78) directs flow of the separated contaminants and water stream from an accumulator (68) through an ion exchange bed (88) which removes contaminants from the stream. Decontaminated water is directed back into the scrubber (58) to flow through the fluidized bed (62). Separating contaminants from the fuel reactant stream and then isolating and concentrating the separated contaminants within the ion exchange material (88) minimizes costs and maintenance requirements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Inventors: Joshua D. Isom, Leslie L. Vandine, Derek W. Hildreth, John L. Preston, Paul R. Hanrahan, Reni Lynn
  • Publication number: 20120021305
    Abstract: A desulfurizing agent for a hydrocarbon comprises: 10 to 30 percent by mass of a porous inorganic oxide based on the total mass of the desulfurizing agent; 3 to 40 percent by mass of zinc oxide; and 45 to 75 percent by mass of a nickel atom in terms of nickel oxide, wherein the reduction degree of the nickel atom is 50 to 80 percent, and wherein the amount of hydrogen adsorption per unit desulfurizing agent mass is 3.5 to 4.6 ml/g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Nagayasu, Yoshie Miyai, Takaya Matsumoto, Kimika Ishizuki
  • Publication number: 20120015259
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a unique fuel cell system. Another embodiment is a unique desulfurization system. Yet another embodiment is a method of operating a fuel cell system. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for fuel cell systems and desulfurization systems. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Inventor: John R. Budge
  • Publication number: 20120015260
    Abstract: A fuel cell system provided with a fuel cell module, a water supply device for supplying water to the fuel cell module, a water container for supplying water to the water supply device, and a condenser for condensing water vapor in the exhaust gas which is discharged from the fuel cell module and supplying the condensed water to the water container. The water container contains therein an ion exchange device for removing impurities which are contained in the water supplied from the condenser. The water supply device is provided below and downstream of the water container. A pressure regulating device for absorbing a pulsation of the water supply device and absorbing the variation in the pressure in the fuel cell module is provided between the water supply device and the fuel cell module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuki Yoshimine, Jun Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8076041
    Abstract: A heat insulating member is sandwiched by a first separator and a second separator. The heat insulating member functions as a heat insulating layer to prevent the temperature decrease of electricity generating cells. A first impurity removal flow path is formed in the space enclosed by the grooves on the surface of the second separator and a partition plate. A second impurity removal flow path is formed in the space enclosed by the grooves on the surface of a third separator and the partition plate. The impurity removal flow paths function as filters to remove the impurities contained in the reaction gases. A terminal functions as a current collecting layer to collect the electricity generated in the electricity generating cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Chisato Kato, Koichiro Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20110300457
    Abstract: A fuel cell system comprising at least one fuel cell unit (1) to generate electrical power and at least one component, upstream and/or downstream of said fuel cell unit in the anode flow path, said component preventing, as a reoxidation barrier, reoxidation of parts of the anode sections or of the anode sections as a whole in the case that an oxidizing gas is entering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventors: Sascha Kuehn, Katrin Klein, Gerhard Buchinger
  • Publication number: 20110294023
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a closed loop type fuel cell system having a removal function for an oxidant and a reductant, which are unreacted material, including a recirculating means recirculating oxidant and reductant discharged from the main fuel cell back into the main fuel cell; and a regenerating means for removing moisture produced during the operation of the main fuel cell and impurities contained in the recirculated oxidant and reductant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials
    Inventors: Cheol Nam Yang, Chang Rae Lee
  • Publication number: 20110269034
    Abstract: There are included a gas-liquid separator (14) that performs gas-liquid separation on fuel exhaust gas exhausted from a fuel cell (11), a combustion section (13) that combusts hydrogen in the separated fuel exhaust gas, a heat exchanger (15) that performs heat exchange on combustion exhaust gas generated by the combustion, to condense moisture in the combustion exhaust gas and obtain combustion exhaust gas condensed water, and a degasifier (16) that removes carbon dioxide gas from the combustion exhaust gas condensed water and the fuel exhaust gas condensed water separated in the gas-liquid separator (14), and the degassed condensed water is stored in condensed water tank (18).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masao Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20110269033
    Abstract: A system for adding sulfur to a fuel cell stack, having a reformer adapted to reform a hydrocarbon fuel stream containing sulfur contaminants, thereby providing a reformate stream having sulfur; a sulfur trap fluidly coupled downstream of the reformer for removing sulfur from the reformate stream, thereby providing a desulfurized reformate stream; and a metering device in fluid communication with the reformate stream upstream of the sulfur trap and with the desulfurized reformate stream downstream of the sulfur trap. The metering device is adapted to bypass a portion of the reformate stream to mix with the desulfurized reformate stream, thereby producing a conditioned reformate stream having a predetermined sulfur concentration that gives an acceptable balance of minimal drop in initial power with the desired maximum stability of operation over prolonged periods for the fuel cell stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: SUBHASISH MUKERJEE, KARL JACOB HALTINER, JR., JEFFREY G. WEISSMAN
  • Patent number: 8038748
    Abstract: Combustion-based heating assemblies and hydrogen-producing fuel processing assemblies that include at least a reforming region adapted to be heated by the heating assemblies. The heating assembly may include at least one fuel chamber and at least one heating and ignition source. The at least one fuel chamber may be adapted to receive at least one fuel stream at a first temperature. The fuel stream may include a liquid, combustible, carbon-containing fuel having an ignition temperature greater than the first temperature at which the fuel stream is delivered to the fuel chamber. The at least one heating and ignition source may be adapted to heat at least a portion of the fuel chamber to raise the temperature of at least a portion of the carbon-containing fuel to a second temperature at least as great as the ignition temperature and to ignite the carbon-containing fuel. Methods of use are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Idatech, LLC
    Inventor: David J. Edlund
  • Patent number: 8029599
    Abstract: A layered structure can be formed having immobilized or segregated pH buffering groups that can be used to separate carbon dioxide or other gases. The pH buffering groups can be immobilized within a matrix, confined within a gel, or segregated by a semi-permeable membrane. The pH buffering groups can be configured to increase the efficiency of the system by maintaining a desirable pH profile within the cell and to permit the flow of the carbon-containing ions within the system while controlling diffusion of protons and/or hydroxyl ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Karl A. Littau, Francisco E. Torres
  • Publication number: 20110236775
    Abstract: A fuel cell system quickly and efficiently preheats a frozen stack. The fuel cell system includes: a reformer which generates a reformate gas by reforming a fuel and is heated by a heat source unit; a stack which generates electricity by electrochemically reacting an oxidizer with hydrogen in the reformate gas; and a fluid flow controller which moves air around the reformer into an area around the stack, and which controls airflow on the basis of a temperature change of the stack, wherein the air is heated by the surface temperature of the reformer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gi-Jang Ahn, Jun-Pyo Park, Ki-Woon Kim, Seong-Jin An, Hyun Kim
  • Publication number: 20110236729
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system that consists of a Hydrogen production device made up of a chamber (1-10) for hydrolyzing a metal hydride, separated by a thin membrane (1-1) superposed on a rigid grid (1-5) from at least one reservoir (1-3) containing a liquid solution for the reaction, with at least one hydride-based nanoscale element. This application is an extension and continuation of an alternate patent application with internal priority claim of a patent application No. 0806821, filed on Dec. 5, 2008; that is itself an extension of patent application No. 0806820 filed on Dec. 5, 2008; that is itself is an extension of patent application No. 0804598, file on Aug. 14, 2008; that is itself is an extension of a first invention patent application No. 0803019, filed on Jun. 2, 2008. The present application is therefore a continuation in part of the patent application No. FR0804598, file on Aug. 1, 2008 (PCT-FR/2009/000999, dated Aug. 12, 2009) that is a continuation in part of a first patent application No.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventor: Alex Hr Roustaei
  • Publication number: 20110229778
    Abstract: A fuel cell power generation system 100 for performing power generation using hydrogen-containing gas generated from a raw material containing a hydrocarbon component and an odorizer component includes a raw material supply section 4 for controlling a flow rate of the raw material; a water supply section 3 for supplying water; an adsorptive removal section 5 for causing the raw material to pass therethrough and adsorbing the odorizer component contained in the raw material; a reformer 1 for generating the hydrogen-containing gas by a reforming reaction of the raw material which has passed the adsorptive removal section and water supplied from the water supply section; a fuel cell 8 for performing power generation using the hydrogen-containing gas as a fuel; and an operating control section for, as an accumulated flow volume of the raw material supplied to the adsorptive removal section 5 from the raw material supply section 4 increases, decreasing the flow rate of the raw material to be supplied to the adsorp
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Inventors: Kunihiro Ukai, Yukimune Kani, Hiroaki Kaneko
  • Publication number: 20110223496
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack system is configured to uniformly supply a fuel or an electrolytic solution to each of fuel cell elements, and an electronic device using the fuel cell stack system are provided. An electrolytic solution channel allowing an electrolytic solution to flow therethrough is arranged between a fuel electrode and an oxygen electrode, and a fuel channel allowing a fuel to flow therethrough is arranged outside of the fuel electrode. The electrolytic solution channels and the fuel channels of all fuel cell elements are connected in series to one another. That is, the fuel or the electrolytic solution emitted from an outlet of the fuel channel or the electrolytic solution channel of one fuel cell element enters into an inlet of the fuel channel or the electrolytic solution channel of the next fuel cell element through a connection channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kengo Makita, Shinichi Uesaka, Yasunori Ohto
  • Publication number: 20110217601
    Abstract: A hydrogen circulation type fuel cell system equipped with an electrochemical cell executes discharging an anode off-gas with impurities being condensed toward the outside of the system at a proper timing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Sho Usami, Yasushi Araki
  • Publication number: 20110217602
    Abstract: The present invention relates to processes and apparatuses for generating electrical power from certain non-gaseous carbonaceous feedstocks through the integration of catalytic hydromethanation technology with fuel cell technology.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: GREATPOINT ENERGY, INC.
    Inventor: Avinash Sirdeshpande
  • Publication number: 20110212370
    Abstract: An air CO2 filtration assembly or system is provided that includes CO2 filters or traps designed and configured with a limited, but high capacity, volume to maximize filtration/absorption of CO2 from an air stream supplied to an alkaline fuel cell to thereby minimize the CO2 level in the air stream fed into the fuel cell cathode. The CO2 filters or traps include at least one thermally regenerative CO2 chemical filter or trap arranged in a tandem configuration with a strongly bonding CO2 chemical filter or trap. The combination of the two types of filters or traps sequentially filter/absorb CO2 from the air stream and reduce the level of CO2 in the air stream fed into the cathode. The air CO2 filtration assembly or system may be used in conjunction with electrochemical purging of the alkaline fuel cell that enables removal of CO2 from the fuel cell by anodic decomposition of accumulated carbonate ions in the fuel cell anode and release of CO2 through the anode exhaust stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Inventor: Shimshon Gottesfeld
  • Publication number: 20110207003
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for removing CO, H2 and/or CH4 from the anode waste gas of a fuel cell using mixed oxide catalysts comprising Cu, Mn and optionally at least one rare earth metal and to the use of mixed oxide catalysts comprising Cu, Mn, and optionally at least one rare earth metal for removing CO, H2 and/or CH4 from the anode waste gas of a fuel cell, and to a fuel cell arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: SUD-CHEMIE AG
    Inventors: Hans-Georg Anfang, Alberto Cremona, Sandra Reheis
  • Publication number: 20110207002
    Abstract: The present invention relates to processes and apparatuses for generating electrical power from certain non-gaseous carbonaceous feedstocks through the integration of catalytic hydromethanation technology with fuel cell technology.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: GREATPOINT ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Charles Allen Powell, Pattabhi K. Raman, Earl T. Robinson, Avinash Sirdeshpande
  • Publication number: 20110200894
    Abstract: A fuel cell system (1) having a cell stack (2) for the carrying out of electrochemical reactions is provided which is provided with inlets (3a, 3b) for an oxidant (5) and for fuel gas (6) and with outlets (4a, 4b) for exhaust gases (7a, 7b). The fuel cell system (1) additionally includes an apparatus (10) having a gas-permeable structure which contains a substance which reacts with gaseous chromium species, wherein the apparatus is in communication with at least one of the outlets to direct exhaust gases through the apparatus and to separate chromium species which are carried along by the exhaust gases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: Hexis AG
    Inventors: Andreas Mai, Dirk Haberstock, Roland Denzler, Josef Sfeir
  • Publication number: 20110195323
    Abstract: A stable, high output is obtained with an anion exchange membrane-type fuel cell that generates electricity when air is supplied. An operating method for an anion exchange membrane-type fuel cell includes an anion exchange membrane electrode assembly for which an anode is joined to one surface of a anion exchange membrane and a cathode is joined to the other surface, and air is supplied to the cathode, wherein air with a reduced carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere is supplied to the cathode by a low carbon dioxide air supply system that supplies air with the reduced carbon dioxide concentration to the cathode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: TOKUYAMA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Inoue, Shin Watanabe, Kenji Fukuta, Hiroyuki Yanagi
  • Publication number: 20110195322
    Abstract: A hydrogen generator (100) of the present invention includes: a raw material supplying device (4) configured to supply a raw material containing a sulfur constituent; a hydrogen supplying device (7) configured to generate hydrogen by electrolysis of water; a hydro-desulfurizer (5) configured to remove the sulfur constituent of the raw material by using the hydrogen generated by the hydrogen supplying device (7), the raw material being supplied from the raw material supplying device (4); and a reformer (1) configured to generate a hydrogen-containing gas by a reforming reaction of the raw material from which the sulfur constituent is removed by the hydro-desulfurizer (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Inventors: Kunihiro Ukai, Kiyoshi Taguchi, Yoshio Tamura, Seiji Fujihara, Tomonori Aso
  • Publication number: 20110189553
    Abstract: In the related invention, for different applications, the system integration of a 70-150 W functional and portable direct sodium borohydride fuel cell (DSBHFC) is realized. The system is integrated in such a way that neither the hydrogen from the sodium borohydride fuel nor the oxygen from the oxidant hydrogen peroxide affects the fuel cell performance. The 70-150 W power system consists of 4 different groups. Each group has two stacks with 7 cells. Therefore, each group has a total of 14 cells. The system altogether has 56 cells. The fuel and the oxidant pumped from the storage tanks are sent to the distributing unit through the anode and cathode lines. In the distributor, anode and cathode flows distributed to every feeding line for each stack reach the cells through the distribution lines. The fuel and oxidant solutions in the stack reach the collecting units through the collecting lines. The flows are sent back form the collecting units to the feeding tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2009
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: TUBITAK-SCIENTIFIC AND TECHONOLOGICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF TURKEY
    Inventors: Fatma Gül Boyacisan, Gamze Behmenyar, Selahattin Uysal, Betul Erdör, Fatih Genc, Sener Tansel, Emin Okumus, Osman Okur, Ismail Bican
  • Publication number: 20110189552
    Abstract: The invention relates to a draining device for a fuel cell (FC). The effluents from a hydrogen FC comprising a recirculation circuit have to be regularly drained in order to guarantee optimum operation. The draining devices of the prior art are characterized by significant variations in the hydrogen concentration of the effluents. The invention consists in incorporating the draining means in the device for separating the liquid and gas phases of the effluents. Advantageously, means for fine regulation of the draining flow rate are provided, which makes it possible to limit the losses of hydrogen the drained effluents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicants: Commissariat A L'Energie Atomique Et Aux Energies Alternatives, Peugeot Citroen Automobiles S.A.
    Inventors: Sadok Garnit, Francis Roy, Guillaume Joncquet, Jean-Philippe Poirot-Crouvezier
  • Patent number: 7985507
    Abstract: A fuel cell system (S) is provided with a fuel cell (1) supplied with hydrogen gas and oxidizing gas, a gas supply line (5) supplying the hydrogen gas to the fuel cell, a gas exhaust line (31) passing exhaust hydrogen gas expelled from the fuel cell with the exhaust hydrogen gas being able to contain nitrogen, a gas recirculation line (7) recirculating the exhaust hydrogen gas to the fuel cell at an upstream thereof, a purge valve (8) adapted to discharge the exhaust hydrogen gas, containing the nitrogen, to an outside, and a controller (100) operative to close the purge valve when judgment is made that a flow rate of the exhaust hydrogen gas passing through the purge valve during an opened state of the purge valve is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuya Kamihara
  • Publication number: 20110165477
    Abstract: A desulfurizer includes a filled chamber having a raw fuel passage through which a raw fuel flows, the filled chamber being filled with a desulfurizing agent, a supply chamber disposed upstream of the filled chamber, for uniformly supplying the raw fuel to the raw fuel passage, and a discharge chamber disposed downstream of the filled chamber, for uniformly discharging the raw fuel from the raw fuel passage. The raw fuel passage has first and second reversers for reversing the direction in which the raw fuel flows. The raw fuel passage has a cross-sectional area which is smaller in a downstream portion thereof than in an upstream portion thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jun Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20110143229
    Abstract: A simple, compact process for cleansing hydrocarbon fuel such as jet fuel is disclosed. This process involves subjecting the fuel to an oxidative desulfurization process in a desulfurization reactor followed by passing the fuel through an adsorption bed. The cleansed desulfurized fuel may then be utilized directly in generation of hydrogen for fuel cell applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Anand S. Chellappa, Donovan Pena, Zachary Wilson