| UTC POWER CORPORATION Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20120058417 | CARBIDE STABILIZED CATALYST STRUCTURES AND METHOD OF MAKING - A catalyst structure for an electrochemical cell includes a catalyst support structure, catalyst particles and an outer carbide film The catalyst particles are deposited on the catalyst support structure. The outer carbide film is formed on the catalyst support structure. The outer carbide film surrounds the catalyst particles. | 03-08-2012 |
| 20120045701 | SOLID OXIDE FUEL SYSTEM - A system and method satisfies temperature and pressure requirements of solid oxide fuel cell system | 02-23-2012 |
| 20120021310 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM CONDENSING HEAT EXCHANGER - A fuel cell system is disclosed that includes a heat exchanger having first and second heat exchanger portions arranged in a fluid flow passage. The second heat exchanger portion is arranged downstream from the first heat exchanger portion. The first and second heat exchanger portions include a coolant flow passage and are configured to transfer heat between the fluid flow and coolant flow passages. The first heat exchanger portion includes a first corrosion-resistant material and the second heat exchanger portion includes a second corrosion-resistant material that is less corrosion-resistant than the first corrosion-resistant material. A collector, which includes a tray and/or a mist trap, is configured to collect acid in the first heat exchanger portion from a gas stream in the fluid flow passage. Collected acid can be sprayed into a gas stream upstream from a flow field of the fuel cell. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120021306 | ACID FUEL CELL CONDENSING HEAT EXCHANGER - A heat exchanger for a fuel cell includes first and second heat exchanger portions that provide a fluid flow passage. The second heat exchanger portion is arranged downstream from the first heat exchanger portion. The first and second heat exchanger portions include a coolant flow passage, which is provided by tubes in one example. The first and second heat exchanger portions are configured to transfer heat between the fluid flow and coolant flow passages. The first heat exchanger portion is configured to provide a first heat transfer rate capacity. The second heat exchanger portion includes a second heat transfer rate capacity that is greater than the first heat transfer rate capacity. In one example, the first heat exchanger portion includes tubes and does not include any fins, and the second heat exchanger includes spaced apart fins supporting the tubes. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120015284 | BORON-DOPED DIAMOND COATED CARBON CATALYST SUPPORT - A catalyst support for an electrochemical system includes a high surface area carbon core structure and a surface modifier modifying the surface of the carbon core structure. The surface modifier includes boron-doped diamond (BDD) and a high surface area refractory material. The high surface area refractory material includes metal oxides, metal phosphates, metal borides, metal nitrides, metal silicides, metal carbides and combinations thereof. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120003562 | FUEL CELL - A fuel cell | 01-05-2012 |
| 20110311904 | BORON-DOPED DIAMOND COATED CATALYST SUPPORT - A catalyst support for an electrochemical system includes a high surface area refractory material core structure and boron-doped diamond. The BDD modifies the high surface area refractory material core structure. | 12-22-2011 |
| 20110294026 | Method and apparatus for controlling the operation of a fuel cell - A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a controller, a resistance sensor, and a regulator. The fuel cell has a cathode plate, an anode plate, and an ion-exchange membrane interposed between the cathode plate and the anode plate. The controller is for controlling a gas flow rate to the anode plate. The resistance sensor is coupled to the fuel cell for measuring a resistance of the fuel cell. The regulator is coupled to the controller and coupled to the anode plate for regulating the gas flow to the anode plate. The controller receives a signal from the resistance sensor and is configured to control the regulator to adjust the gas flow to the anode plate based on the signal from the resistance sensor. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110281187 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REDUCING FUEL CELL POWER PLANT EMISSIONS - A system and method for operating fuel cell power plant | 11-17-2011 |
| 20110275000 | FUEL CELL SYSTEMS AND RELATED ARRANGEMENTS FOR LIMITING RELATIVE MOTION BETWEEN FUEL CELLS - Fuel cell systems ( | 11-10-2011 |
| 20110269055 | MULTIPLE TRANSITION FLOW FIELD AND METHOD - A reactant flow field ( | 11-03-2011 |
| 20110250514 | CORROSION RESISTANT MEMBRANE CONDENSER FOR RECOVERY OF FUEL CELL ELECTROLYTE - A system and method for recovering and separating water vapor and electrolyte vapor from an exhaust stream ( | 10-13-2011 |
| 20110244340 | MEMBRANE ELECTRODE ASSEMBLIES WITH HYDROGEN PEROXIDE DECOMPOSITION CATALYST - A membrane electrode assembly includes an anode including a hydrogen oxidation catalyst; a cathode; a membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode; and a peroxide decomposition catalyst positioned in at least one position selected from the group consisting of a layer between the anode and the membrane and a layer between the cathode and the membrane wherein the peroxide decomposition catalyst has selectivity when exposed to hydrogen peroxide toward reactions which form benign products from the hydrogen peroxide. The peroxide decomposition catalyst can also be positioned within the membrane. Also disclosed is a power-generating fuel cell system including such a membrane electrode assembly, and a process for operating such a fuel cell system. The assembly components contain ionomer material which can be perfluorinated or non-perfluorinated, high temperature, hydrocarbon, and the like. | 10-06-2011 |
| 20110223495 | PREVENTING AIR INTRUSION INTO HYDROGEN-STABILIZED FUEL CELLS DURING SHUTDOWN - During a process of shutting down a fuel cell power plant ( | 09-15-2011 |
| 20110189570 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PASSIVATING A FUEL CELL POWER PLANT - A system and method for passivating a fuel cell power plant | 08-04-2011 |
| 20110183238 | FUEL CELL - The present invention provides a fuel cell which is capable of improving electric power generation efficiency at a time of high-temperature operation. The fuel cell | 07-28-2011 |
| 20110177415 | VOLTAGE-BASED FLUID SENSOR FOR A FUEL CELL STACK ASSEMBLY - A fluid detection system and method is disclosed having sensor elements | 07-21-2011 |
| 20110143934 | STABILIZED PLATINUM CATALYST - A stabilized platinum nanoparticle has a core portion surrounded by a plurality of outer surfaces. The outer surfaces include terrace regions formed of platinum atoms, and edge and corner regions formed of atoms from a second metal. The stabilized nanoparticle may be formed by combining a platinum nanoparticle with a metal salt in a solution. Ions of the second metal react with platinum and replace platinum atoms on the nanoparticle. Platinum atoms from the edge and corner regions react with the second metal ions quicker than surface atoms from the terraces, due to a greater difference in electrode potential between the platinum atoms at the edge and corner regions, as compared to the second metal in the solution. The platinum nanoparticle may include surface defects, such as steps and kinks, which may also be replaced with atoms of the second metal. In an exemplary embodiment, the platinum nanoparticle is a cathode catalyst in an electro-chemical cell. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110129747 | FUEL CELL DEVICE HAVING A LIQUID SOAK UP REGION - The fuel cell device includes an electrode assembly. A gas diffusion layer is on each side of the electrode assembly. A solid, non-porous plate is adjacent each of the gas diffusion layers. A hydrophilic soak up region is near an inlet portion of at least one of the gas diffusion layers. The hydrophilic soak up region is configured to absorb liquid water from the electrode assembly when the fuel cell device is shutdown. | 06-02-2011 |
| 20110042948 | DUMMY LOAD FOR A COMBINED HEAT AND POWER (CHP) SYSTEM - A method of operating a system for combined heat and power (CHP) includes generating electricity using a prime mover having a mechanical drive system. The method further includes distributing a variable amount of electricity from the prime mover to an electrical load and distributing a variable amount of electricity from the prime mover to a dummy load. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20110020727 | Protective and Precipitation Layers for PEM Fuel Cell - A membrane electrode assembly is provided which includes an anode; a cathode; a membrane between the anode and the cathode; and a protective layer between the membrane and at least one electrode of the anode and the cathode, the protective layer having a layer of ionomer material containing a catalyst, the layer having a porosity of between 0 and 10%, an ionomer content of between 50 and 80% vol., a catalyst content of between 10 and 50% vol., and an electrical connectivity between catalyst particles of between 35 and 75%. A configuration using a precipitation layer to prevent migration of catalyst ions is also provided. | 01-27-2011 |
| 20110020723 | FUEL CELL PLATE HAVING MULTI-DIRECTIONAL FLOW FIELD - An exemplary fuel cell plate includes a plurality of first flow field channels that have an inlet near one end and an outlet near an opposite end. The first flow field channels establish a plurality of first fluid flow paths from a corresponding inlet to the corresponding outlet. A plurality of second flow field channels have an inlet near one end and an outlet near an opposite end for establishing a plurality of second fluid flow paths from the inlet to the outlet. The direction of fluid flow in the first fluid flow paths is opposite to a direction of fluid flow in the second fluid flow paths. At least some of the second flow field channels are between two of the first flow field channels. | 01-27-2011 |
| 20110005237 | OIL REMOVAL FROM A TURBINE OF AN ORGANIC RANKINE CYCLE (ORC) SYSTEM - A method and system for removing oil in an organic rankine cycle (ORC) system ( | 01-13-2011 |
| 20110003222 | HYDROGEN PASSIVATION SHUT DOWN SYSTEM FOR A FUEL CELL POWER PLANT - The invention is a hydrogen passivation shut down system for a fuel cell power plant ( | 01-06-2011 |
| 20100316930 | FUEL CELL HAVING A STABILIZED CATHODE CATALYST - A fuel cell ( | 12-16-2010 |
| 20100227239 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPERATING A FUEL CELL IN COMBINATION WITH AN ABSORPTION CHILLER - A standard phosphoric acid fuel cell power plant ( | 09-09-2010 |
| 20100209805 | MEMBRANE ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY HAVING PROTECTIVE BARRIER LAYER AND METHOD FOR MITIGATING MEMBRANE DECAY - A membrane electrode assembly ( | 08-19-2010 |
| 20100187319 | RANKINE CYCLE POWER PLANT HEAT SOURCE CONTROL - Provision is made in an organic rankine cycle power plant for modulating the flow of hot gases from a thermal source to the evaporator. The modulation device may be a blower on the downstream side of the evaporator or a valve on the upstream side thereof. The modulation device is controlled by generation of a digital signal to enable or disenable the modulation device and an analog signal for adjusting the position of the modulation device. | 07-29-2010 |
| 20100186410 | OIL RECOVERY FROM AN EVAPORATOR OF AN ORGANIC RANKINE CYCLE (ORC) SYSTEM - A method and system for recovering oil is used in an organic rankine cycle (ORC) system to recover oil from an evaporator of the ORC system and return the oil to an oil sump. The ORC system includes an evaporator, a turbine, a condenser and a pump, and is configured to circulate a refrigerant through the ORC system. The oil recovery system includes a recovery line configured to remove a mixture of oil and refrigerant from the evaporator. The mixture of oil and refrigerant passes through a heat exchanger in order to vaporize liquid refrigerant in the mixture and produce a mixture of oil and vaporized refrigerant. A delivery line is configured to deliver the mixture of oil and vaporized refrigerant to the turbine, at which point the oil may be separated from the vaporized refrigerant and recycled back to the oil sump. | 07-29-2010 |
| 20100129731 | MULTI-WIRE, LONG-LIFE INTERCONNECTS FOR FUEL CELL STACKS - An interconnect assembly for a solid oxide fuel cell includes a porous interconnect comprising a plurality of first wires of a first material and at least one second material combined to form a first portion defining a separator plate contact zone and a second portion defining an electrode contact zone. Various wire weave shapes and pre-buckled architectures are shown such as FIG. | 05-27-2010 |
| 20100092815 | MEMBRANE ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY HAVING CATALYST DIFFUSION BARRIER LAYER - A membrane electrode assembly includes an anode; a cathode; a membrane between the anode and the cathode and having a thickness defined between the anode and the cathode; and a catalyst diffusion barrier layer in a location bounded on one side by an interface between the membrane and the cathode, and bounded on the other side by a plane approximately 50% of the thickness of the membrane from the cathode. A method of manufacture is also provided. | 04-15-2010 |
| 20100047631 | MEMBRANE ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY HAVING PROTECTIVE LAYER AND METHOD FOR MITIGATING MEMBRANE DECAY - A membrane electrode assembly includes an anode; a cathode; a membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode; and a protective layer positioned between the membrane and the cathode, the protective layer having a first side and a second side and being adapted to restrict migration of oxygen at the first side and to restrict the migration of hydrogen at the second side and thereby maintain a plane of potential change between the anode and the cathode within the protective layer. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100021791 | ASYMMETRIC DOVETAIL INTERCONNECT FOR SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL - An interconnect for a solid oxide fuel cell includes a conductive structure having first portions defining a first contact zone, second portions defining a second contact zone which is spaced from the first contact zone, and intermediate portions extending between the first and second portions, wherein the intermediate portions are joined to the first portions through first corners, and wherein the intermediate portions are joined to the second portions through second corners, and wherein the first corners have a smaller radius than the second corners. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20100005969 | Pd Menbrane Having Improved H2-Permeance, and Method of Making | 01-14-2010 |
| 20090211253 | Organic Rankine Cycle Mechanically and Thermally Coupled to an Engine Driving a Common Load - The shaft ( | 08-27-2009 |
| 20090098422 | FUEL CELL POWER PLANT USED AS REFORMATE GENERATOR - A method for operating a fuel cell power plant to provide end-use electricity, end-use heat and end-use reformate includes the steps of providing a fuel cell power plant that consumes reformate to provide electricity and heat, said fuel cell power plant having a nominal reformate flow rate and including a fuel processor system for generating reformate from a hydrocarbon fuel; operating the fuel processor system so as to provide a reformate flow at a rate greater than the nominal reformate flow rate; operating the fuel cell power plant using a first portion of the reformate flow to generate the electricity and the heat, the first portion being less than or equal to the nominal reformate flow rate; and providing a second portion of the reformate flow as the end-use reformate. | 04-16-2009 |
| 20080299422 | Hydrogen Sensor Cell For Detecting Contaminants - A fuel cell stack includes at least one fuel cell having a fuel inlet for directing a hydrogen fuel to the fuel cell to generate electric current; a sensor cell having an anode, a cathode and a membrane between the anode and the cathode, the anode being communicated with the fuel inlet to receive a portion of fuel from the fuel inlet, the sensor cell being connected across the stack to carry the electric current whereby hydrogen from the portion of fuel is electrochemically pumped to the cathode of the sensor cell; and a sensor communicated with the sensor cell to receive a signal corresponding to evolution of hydrogen from the anode to the cathode of the sensor cell and adapted to detect contaminants in the fuel based upon the signal. | 12-04-2008 |
| 20080286616 | Alloy Catalysts for Extending Life of Fuel Cell Membranes and Ionomer - A membrane electrode assembly includes an anode, a cathode, a membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode, wherein at least one of the anode, cathode and membrane contains a hydrocarbon ionomer, and an electrode catalyst disposed in at least one of the anode and the cathode, wherein the catalyst is a metal alloy catalyst. | 11-20-2008 |
