MTI MicroFuel Cells, Inc. Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20140234740 | DIRECT OXIDATION FUEL CELL SYSTEM WITH UNIFORM VAPOR DELIVERY OF FUEL - In one embodiment, a membrane electrode assembly of a fuel cell has an anode aspect and a cathode aspect. A fuel distribution structure is disposed adjacent to the anode aspect. The fuel distribution structure has a fuel feed port configured to receive and inject liquid fuel to a flow field plate. The flow field plate has flow channels formed therein that split and spread from the fuel feed port to exit ports. The flow channels are configured to convey heat to fuel passing there through to substantially convert the liquid fuel to vaporous fuel within the flow channels. The exit ports are configured to deliver the resulting vaporous fuel to the anode aspect to substantially uniformly distribute fuel across the anode aspect. Further, an enthalpy exchanger and heat spreader assembly is in thermal contact with the fuel distribution structure and configured to provide to it heat from fuel cell operation. | 08-21-2014 |
20100124689 | SYSTEM TO RESERVOIR CONNECTOR - A system-to-reservoir connector is disclosed in which a system-side-sub-connector and a reservoir-side-sub-connector provide for a fluid connection that is resilient to external forces, is substantially leak-proof upon insertion and retraction, and is orientation independent. | 05-20-2010 |
20100124683 | HEAT SPREADER ASSEMBLY FOR USE WITH A DIRECT OXIDATION FUEL CELL - A heat spreader assembly that provides electrical, thermal and structural functions to the fuel cell. The heat spreader assembly comprises two bulk composite material layers, and a heat spreader element. The heat spreader element includes a copper layer sandwiched between two stainless steel layers. The stainless steel layers are bonded to the bulk composite layers by a conductive thermal set adhesive. The lamination applied to the stainless steel layers enables heat and electricity to flow from the cathode while maintaining low resistance among other layers of the fuel cell. The copper layer diffuses heat across the layer and functions as cathode current collector for a fuel cell. The bulk composite material layers function as a cold side of an enthalpy exchanger system and a cathode flow field. Further the composite material includes flow channels formed throughout the material to evenly distribute incoming air over the enthalpy exchanger membrane and to the cathode of the MEA. | 05-20-2010 |
20100124679 | METHOD FOR INCREASING THE DURABILITY OF DIRECT OXIDATION FUEL CELLS - Methods for increasing the durability of direct oxidation fuel cells are disclosed. In one instance, the method for increasing durability of a vapor fed direct oxidation fuel cell includes reducing fluctuations in output power, provided by the vapor fed direct oxidation fuel cell, to a load. The reduction of the fluctuations in output power can include, in one instance, utilizing a mass flow controller or an electro-osmotive pump to supply fuel to the vapor fed direct oxidation fuel cell. | 05-20-2010 |
20100124678 | FUEL CELL FEED SYSTEMS - Fuel feed systems capable of providing substantially consistent flow of fuel to a fuel cell and also capable of tolerating varying pressures from a reservoir (also referred to as fuel supply or fuel cell cartridge) and the fuel cell while maintaining substantially consistent control flow to the fuel cell are disclosed. | 05-20-2010 |
20100122733 | PRESSURE BIASED MICRO-FLUIDIC VALVE - Embodiments of a valve are disclosed that allow for the control and adjustment of a fluid flow between a valve inlet port and a valve output port as a function of the pressure at the valve inlet port, a pressure at a first pressure input port, and a reference pressure. | 05-20-2010 |