Patent classifications
Y02E60/50
Method of making a fuel cell and treating a component thereof
Herein disclosed is a method of treating a component of a fuel cell, which includes the step of exposing the component of the fuel cell to a source of electromagnetic radiation (EMR). The component comprises a first material. The EMR has a wavelength ranging from 10 to 1500 nm and the EMR has a minimum energy density of 0.1 Joule/cm2. Preferably, the treatment process has one or more of the following effects: heating, drying, curing, sintering, annealing, sealing, alloying, evaporating, restructuring, foaming. In an embodiment, the substrate is a component in a fuel cell. Such component comprises an anode, a cathode, an electrolyte, a catalyst, a barrier layer, a interconnect, a reformer, or reformer catalyst. In an embodiment, the substrate is a layer in a fuel cell or a portion of a layer in a fuel cell or a combination of layers in a fuel cell or a combination of partial layers in a fuel cell.
Electrode assembly and flow battery with improved electrolyte distribution
An electrode assembly for a flow battery is disclosed comprising a porous electrode material, a frame surrounding the porous electrode material, at least a distributor tube embedded in the porous electrode material having an inlet for supplying electrolyte to the porous electrode material and at least another distributor tube embedded in the porous electrode material having an outlet for discharging electrolyte out of the porous material. The walls of the distributor tubes are preferably provided with holes or pores for allowing a uniform distribution of the electrolyte within the electrode material. The distributor tubes provide the required electrolyte flow path length within the electrode material to minimize shunt current flowing between the flow cells in the battery stack.
Fuel cell energy supply system and energy regulation method based on same
An energy regulation method for a fuel cell energy supply system including a plurality of fuel cell power generation modules, a plurality of power conversion modules, and a communication control module connected to the plurality of power conversion modules includes: calculating a parameter average value based on an energy state parameter of the fuel cell power generation module; calculating a compensation factor depending on the energy state parameter and the parameter average value; calculating a control parameter reference value of each of the power conversion modules based on a droop algorithm, and multiplying the control parameter reference value by the corresponding compensation factor to obtain a control parameter set value of the power conversion module; and regulating the corresponding fuel cell power generation modules depending on the control parameter set value.
Electrochemical cells for hydrogen gas production and electricity generation, and related systems and methods
An electrochemical cell comprises a first electrode, a second electrode, and a proton-conducting membrane between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrode comprises Pr(Co.sub.1-x-y-z, Ni.sub.x, Mn.sub.y, Fe.sub.z)O.sub.3-δ, wherein 0≤x≤0.9, 0≤y≤0.9, 0≤z≤0.9, and δ is an oxygen deficit. The second electrode comprises a cermet material including at least one metal and at least one perovskite. Related structures, apparatuses, systems, and methods are also described.
Metal separator
A metal separator is applied to a fuel cell. A method of producing the metal separator involves performing a plate processing step of forming a bead base, and a rubber seal forming step of providing a rubber seal by screen printing for the bead base formed in the plate processing step. The rubber seal forming step includes a first protrusion forming step of forming a first protrusion at the central part in the width direction of a top portion of the bead base, in a cross sectional view taken along a thickness direction of the rubber seal, and a second protrusion forming step of forming a second protrusion configured to cover the first protrusion after the first protrusion forming step.
Method of limiting current of fuel cell stack
A current limiting method of a fuel cell stack is capable of preventing current of the fuel cell stack from rapidly dropping to prevent jerking or shock from occurring while a vehicle travels. The method includes: determining whether performance deterioration of a unit cell of the fuel cell stack has occurred, employing a feed forward control type current limiting logic of the fuel cell stack before an output of the fuel cell vehicle is lowered, decreasing the current of the fuel cell stack to a predetermined level by the feed forward control type current limiting logic, and gradually restoring the current of the fuel cell stack to a maximum current usage value from a point in time when the current of a load is used.
Molding process for making fuel cell components
An illustrative method of making a fuel cell component includes obtaining at least one blank plate including graphite and a polymer; establishing a temperature of the blank that is sufficient to maintain the polymer in an at least partially molten state; and applying a compression molding force to the blank until the polymer is essentially solidified to form a plate including a plurality of channels on at least one side of the plate. The blank plate has a central area having a first thickness. The blank plate also has two generally parallel edges on opposite sides of the central area. The edges have a second thickness that is greater than the first thickness.
Fuel cell metal separator and power generation cell
A first metal separator includes a seal bead protruding from a base plate. The seal bead includes a curved section having a curved shape in a plan view of the first metal separator. The combination of the radius of curvature and the angle of the curved section is set within a specific zone where variation in a seal surface pressure in a direction in which the seal bead extends is suppressed.
Fuel battery system
A fuel battery system includes: a plurality of fuel tanks configured to store fuel; a fuel battery stack configured to generate electricity using the fuel supplied from each of the plurality of fuel tanks; a filling unit configured to fill each of the plurality of fuel tanks with the fuel; and a control device configured to control the fuel battery stack to maintain generating of electricity by continuously supplying fuel from at least any one of the plurality of fuel tanks other than the fuel tank filled with the fuel from the filling unit to the fuel battery stack when at least one of the plurality of fuel tanks is filled with the fuel from the filling unit.
Fuel cell assembly and cell unit for a fuel cell stack
A fuel cell arrangement with a membrane electrode assembly is provided which comprises a cathode, an anode and a membrane arranged between the cathode and the anode, with an active area essentially predetermined by the membrane electrode assembly, and with a sealing structure laterally assigned to the membrane electrode assembly. The sealing structure comprises a sealing tongue extending into or over an edge region outside the active area for axially covering in a gas-tight manner a media channel formed in an adjacent bipolar plate and located in the edge region. A unit cell for a fuel cell stack with such a fuel cell arrangement is also provided.