The present invention generally relates to storing energy in a form that is carbon neutral, storable and transportable, so that it can be used on demand. The present invention provides a process and system for using energy as available to produce carbon from carbon oxide, and then oxidizing the carbon to generate useful energy on demand, while effectively recycling the carbon, oxidant, and carbon oxide used in the process or system. In one embodiment, the present invention effectively stores renewable energy as carbon, transports the carbon, oxidizes the carbon to generate useful energy on demand and recycles the carbon as carbon dioxide. This invention may increase the utilization of renewable energy, especially for electrical power generation, while producing no net carbon dioxide or other air pollutants.

A fuel cell for use in downhole applications stores steam created by the chemical reaction in a desiccant like Zeolite. The fuel cell also uses ambient hydrostatic pressure to increase cell voltage and power-density.

A method of diagnosing level sensor failure in a fuel cell water trap, the method may include: determining whether a water level of a level sensor is changed in a fuel cell water trap, adding an amount of charge according to an operating time and comparing the added amount of charge with a preset threshold amount of charge, according to the result of the forcibly opening a drain valve according to determining whether a channel voltage of a specific channel is abnormal as the result of the comparison, and diagnosing a failure of the level sensor according to determining whether the channel voltage of the specific cell is recovered as a normal state when the drain valve is opened.

An electrochemical cell comprising an anode electrode, a cathode electrode and a reference electrode electronically connected to each other; a first biocatalyst comprising a consolidated bioprocessing organism (e.g., a cellulomonad or clostridium or related strains, such as Cellulomonas uda (C. uda), Clostridium lentocellum (C. lentocellum), Acetivibrio celluloyticus (A. cellulolyticus) Clostridium cellobioparum (C. cellobioparum), alcohol-tolerant C. cellobioparum, alcohol-tolerant C. uda, and combinations thereof) capable of fermenting biomass (e.g., cellulosic biomass or glycerin-containing biomass) to produce a fermentation byproduct; and a second biocatalyst comprising an electricigen (e.g., Geobacter sulfurreducens) capable of transferring substantially all the electrons in the fermentation byproduct (e.g., hydrogen, one or more organic acids, or a combination thereof) to the anode electrode to produce electricity is disclosed. Systems and methods related thereto are also disclosing a consolidated bioprocessing organism.

This power generation apparatus, power generation system, and power generation method advantageously control distributed power sources as a whole. A power generation apparatus includes a power generator that generates power to supply to a load and includes a controller that controls output of power generated by the power generator. The controller controls, when the total output of power generated by the power generation apparatus and other power generation apparatuses connected thereto exceeds the power consumption of the load, to adjust output of power generated by the power generation apparatus and the other power generation apparatuses based on at least one of information indicating the power generation efficiency and information indicating the degree of degradation of the power generation apparatus and the other power generation apparatuses.

A multi-cylindrical structure supply pipe includes at least three concentric pipes that couple a stationary fuel cell system that is stationary and an in-vehicle fuel cell system mounted on a fuel cell vehicle. The at least three concentric pipes include a hydrogen supply pipe, a liquid circulation pipe, and an electric wire pipe. The hydrogen supply pipe is configured to allow hydrogen gas to flow through the hydrogen supply pipe. The liquid circulation pipe surrounds an outer periphery of the hydrogen supply pipe. The liquid circulation pipe is configured to allow liquid to flow through the liquid circulation pipe outside the hydrogen supply pipe. The electric wire pipe surrounds an outer periphery of the liquid circulation pipe. The electric wire pipe is provided with one or more electric wires outside the liquid circulation pipe.

A method of diagnosing level sensor failure in a fuel cell water trap, the method may include: determining whether a water level of a level sensor is changed in a fuel cell water trap, adding an amount of charge according to an operating time and comparing the added amount of charge with a preset threshold amount of charge, according to the result of the, forcibly opening a drain valve according to determining whether a channel voltage of a specific channel is abnormal as the result of the comparison, and diagnosing a failure of the level sensor according to determining whether the channel voltage of the specific cell is recovered as a normal state when the drain valve is opened.

A fuel cell for use in downhole applications stores steam created by the chemical reaction in a desiccant like Zeolite. The fuel cell also uses ambient hydrostatic pressure to increase cell voltage and power-density.

The present disclosure provides for fuel cell systems, assemblies and methods. More particularly, the present disclosure provides for emergency power fuel cell systems, assemblies and methods (e.g., for aircraft or the like), with the fuel cells having indirect evaporative cooling. The present disclosure provides that a liquid-air heat exchanger that exchanges heat carried by hot coolant from a fuel cell with ambient air can be replaced by a heat exchanger that transfers heat from the fuel cell to grey water (e.g., grey water that is stored on an airplane or the like) that is allowed to evaporate. As such, this substantially eliminates the coolant fans, and can result in a smaller and/or lighter heat exchanger.

An electrode (10) includes: a first diffusion layer (1) having water repellency and oxygen permeability; and a second diffusion layer (2) that supports a catalyst (4) and is laminated on the first diffusion layer. Then, the second diffusion layer includes a carbon material having a sheet shape. A fuel cell (100) includes: an anode (20) that supports microorganisms; and a cathode (40) composed of the electrode (10). A water treatment device includes: the anode (20) that supports microorganisms purifying a liquid to be treated; and the cathode (40) composed of the electrode (10).