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RuO2 and carbon–RuO2 composite diffusion layer for DMFCs
PATENTS
Nafion ionomer-impregnated composite membrane
RuO2 and carbon–RuO2 composite diffusion layer for DMFCs
PEMFC stacks operated with dry reactants
Composite polymer electrolyte membranes were prepared by impregnating Nafion solution into the porous expanded PTFE substrate films. Although the composite membrane’s nitrogen permeability was higher than for Nafion 112, there was minimal gas crossover to diminish cell performance, and cell performance could be improved by reducing membrane thickness. Water uptake and water flux were dependent on the substrate’s Nafion loading, and thus on membrane thickness. Water uptake and flux increased as the Nafion loading was increased, and water uptake increased more rapidly with temperature for the composite membranes than for Nafion. J. Shim, H.Y. Ha, S.-A. Hong and I.-H. Oh: J. of Power Sources 109(2) 412–417 (1 July 2002).
A RuO2 diffusion layer was examined for use in DMFCs by comparison with acetylene black and Vulcan XC-72R. In a DMFC unit cell test, the RuO2 diffusion layer was superior. The RuO2 diffusion layer displays different behaviors at the anode and cathode. This can be attributed to reduced catalyst loss in the active catalyst layer, leading to increased methanol diffusion at the anode and prevention of water flooding in the cathode. The RuO2 diffusion layer has a greater effect on cell performance at lower temperatures and during operation in air. A carbon–RuO2 composite was also evaluated as a DMFC diffusion layer material. K.-W. Park, B.-K. Kwon, J.-H. Choi, I.-S. Park, Y.-M. Kim and Y.-E. Sung: J. of Power Sources 109(2) 439–445 (1 July 2002).
In this double-path-type flow-field design with two gas inlets and outlets for PEM fuel cells, the two paths are arranged with one flow-field inlet adjacent to the other flow-field outlet and, within the electrode active area, adjacent channels have reactant flowing in opposite directions. The dry entering gas is hydrated by acquiring moisture from the exiting moist gas; and, within the active area, the drier gas in one flow-field can share the moisture in the wetter gas flowing in the other flow-field. Thus the water produced by the stack hydrates the membrane and catalyst layers. Multiple-cell stack tests showed the stack could run stably at a current density up to 0.33 A/cm2 using dry hydrogen and air. Z. Qi and A. Kaufman: J. of Power Sources 109(2) 469–476 (1 July 2002).
Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Japan Patent number: US 6413479
Flexible graphite and electrode with isotropic electrical/thermal conductivity
Patents Simplified gas- or liquid-fueled fuel cell for low-pressure operation Assignee: Lynntech, USA Patent number: US 6410180
Dual-use hydrocarbon fuel for both fuel cells and IC engines Assignee: BP, UK Patent number: WO 02/50217
Mechanically processable, corrosionresistant composite conductor plate Assignee: Siemens, Germany Patent number: WO 02/50935
Production of gas-tight electrolytic layers for SOFCs Assignee: Forschungszentrum Jülich, Germany Patent number: WO 02/50936
Water-/ion-conducting membranes of sulfonated statistical arylvinyl polymers Assignee: Dais-Analytic, USA Patent number: US 6413298
Pd/Zn alloy and ZnO catalyst for steam reforming of methanol Assignee: Degussa-Hüls, Germany Patent number: US 6413449
Integrated, miniaturized reformer for making co-reduced reformate
October 2002
High-efficiency POX/steam reforming reactor while keeping outer wall cool Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation, Japan Patent number: US 6413491
Improved combustor operation during startup/transition to running mode Assignee: General Motors, USA Patent number: US 6413661
Fuel cell system shutdown with anode pressure control/venting Assignee: General Motors, USA Patent number: US 6413662
Permeable flexible graphite fuel cell electrode and MEA Assignee: Graftech, USA Patent number: US 6413663
Separator plate with discrete fluid distribution isolated from inlets/outlets Assignee: Ballard Power Systems, Canada Patent number: US 6413664
Assignee: Graftech, USA Patent number: US 6413671
Fullerene as proton conductor for miniaturized and simplified devices Assignee: Sony, Japan Patent number: WO 02/051782
Cost-effective, optimised catalyst deposition for PEM fuel cell MEA Assignee: Forschungszentrum Jülich, Germany Patent number: WO 02/052663
Electrodes, components with flat and smooth or structured surface Assignee: MTU Friedrichshafen, Germany Patent number: WO 02/052665
Fuel cell with stored hydrogen for powering portable electronics Assignee: Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique, France Patent number: WO 02/052666
Spiral stacking/manifolding of unitized SOFCs for improved efficiency Assignee: Honeywell International, USA Patent number: WO 02/052667
Stack compression to reduce stack shrinkage while providing high pressure
Compression of fuel cell using resilient compression spring sheets
Assignee: FuelCell Energy, USA Patent number: US 6413665
Assignee: Ballard Power Systems, Canada Patent number: WO 02/052669
Fuel Cells Bulletin
13
Nafion ionomer-impregnated composite membrane
RuO2 and carbon–RuO2 composite diffusion layer for DMFCs
PEMFC stacks operated with dry reactants
Composite polymer electrolyte membranes were prepared by impregnating Nafion solution into the porous expanded PTFE substrate films. Although the composite membrane’s nitrogen permeability was higher than for Nafion 112, there was minimal gas crossover to diminish cell performance, and cell performance could be improved by reducing membrane thickness. Water uptake and water flux were dependent on the substrate’s Nafion loading, and thus on membrane thickness. Water uptake and flux increased as the Nafion loading was increased, and water uptake increased more rapidly with temperature for the composite membranes than for Nafion. J. Shim, H.Y. Ha, S.-A. Hong and I.-H. Oh: J. of Power Sources 109(2) 412–417 (1 July 2002).
A RuO2 diffusion layer was examined for use in DMFCs by comparison with acetylene black and Vulcan XC-72R. In a DMFC unit cell test, the RuO2 diffusion layer was superior. The RuO2 diffusion layer displays different behaviors at the anode and cathode. This can be attributed to reduced catalyst loss in the active catalyst layer, leading to increased methanol diffusion at the anode and prevention of water flooding in the cathode. The RuO2 diffusion layer has a greater effect on cell performance at lower temperatures and during operation in air. A carbon–RuO2 composite was also evaluated as a DMFC diffusion layer material. K.-W. Park, B.-K. Kwon, J.-H. Choi, I.-S. Park, Y.-M. Kim and Y.-E. Sung: J. of Power Sources 109(2) 439–445 (1 July 2002).
In this double-path-type flow-field design with two gas inlets and outlets for PEM fuel cells, the two paths are arranged with one flow-field inlet adjacent to the other flow-field outlet and, within the electrode active area, adjacent channels have reactant flowing in opposite directions. The dry entering gas is hydrated by acquiring moisture from the exiting moist gas; and, within the active area, the drier gas in one flow-field can share the moisture in the wetter gas flowing in the other flow-field. Thus the water produced by the stack hydrates the membrane and catalyst layers. Multiple-cell stack tests showed the stack could run stably at a current density up to 0.33 A/cm2 using dry hydrogen and air. Z. Qi and A. Kaufman: J. of Power Sources 109(2) 469–476 (1 July 2002).
Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Japan Patent number: US 6413479
Flexible graphite and electrode with isotropic electrical/thermal conductivity
Patents Simplified gas- or liquid-fueled fuel cell for low-pressure operation Assignee: Lynntech, USA Patent number: US 6410180
Dual-use hydrocarbon fuel for both fuel cells and IC engines Assignee: BP, UK Patent number: WO 02/50217
Mechanically processable, corrosionresistant composite conductor plate Assignee: Siemens, Germany Patent number: WO 02/50935
Production of gas-tight electrolytic layers for SOFCs Assignee: Forschungszentrum Jülich, Germany Patent number: WO 02/50936
Water-/ion-conducting membranes of sulfonated statistical arylvinyl polymers Assignee: Dais-Analytic, USA Patent number: US 6413298
Pd/Zn alloy and ZnO catalyst for steam reforming of methanol Assignee: Degussa-Hüls, Germany Patent number: US 6413449
Integrated, miniaturized reformer for making co-reduced reformate
October 2002
High-efficiency POX/steam reforming reactor while keeping outer wall cool Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation, Japan Patent number: US 6413491
Improved combustor operation during startup/transition to running mode Assignee: General Motors, USA Patent number: US 6413661
Fuel cell system shutdown with anode pressure control/venting Assignee: General Motors, USA Patent number: US 6413662
Permeable flexible graphite fuel cell electrode and MEA Assignee: Graftech, USA Patent number: US 6413663
Separator plate with discrete fluid distribution isolated from inlets/outlets Assignee: Ballard Power Systems, Canada Patent number: US 6413664
Assignee: Graftech, USA Patent number: US 6413671
Fullerene as proton conductor for miniaturized and simplified devices Assignee: Sony, Japan Patent number: WO 02/051782
Cost-effective, optimised catalyst deposition for PEM fuel cell MEA Assignee: Forschungszentrum Jülich, Germany Patent number: WO 02/052663
Electrodes, components with flat and smooth or structured surface Assignee: MTU Friedrichshafen, Germany Patent number: WO 02/052665
Fuel cell with stored hydrogen for powering portable electronics Assignee: Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique, France Patent number: WO 02/052666
Spiral stacking/manifolding of unitized SOFCs for improved efficiency Assignee: Honeywell International, USA Patent number: WO 02/052667
Stack compression to reduce stack shrinkage while providing high pressure
Compression of fuel cell using resilient compression spring sheets
Assignee: FuelCell Energy, USA Patent number: US 6413665
Assignee: Ballard Power Systems, Canada Patent number: WO 02/052669
Fuel Cells Bulletin
13