PEM cells/stacks with Converting hydrocarbons

adhesively bonded layers Applicant: Arthur D. Little, USA

Applicant: Ballard Power Systems, (now Nuvera)

Canada This apparatus for converting

This improved PEM fuel cell uses an hydrocarbon fuel into hydrogen

adhesive bonding agent between gas and CO, can use fuels such as

individual cell components and/or gasoline, JP-8, methanol and

between adjacent cells in a stack. It ethanol, possibly in vehicles. The

provides a simplified cell and stack partial oxidation reaction zone

design with reduced part count, and allows the fuel to partially burn

associated manufacturing and cost while not forming soot, and while

benefits. Sealing is generally more providing heat to the steam

reliable, and this approach may reforming zone and other reactor

permit easier stack disassembly, sections.

testing, repair and maintenance. Patent number: US GO83425

Patent number: US GO80503

Electrodeposition of

Stacks for ultra-high

efficiency systems

catalytic metals Applicant: Ztek Corporation, USA

Applicant: Faraday Technology, This patent describes fuel cells

USA and their use with gas turbines,

Here a gas diffusion electrode for a steam turbines, and heating,

PEM fuel cell is prepared by ventilation and air conditioning

electrodeposition of a catalytic metal (HVAC) systems, and specifically

in nanocrystalline form on a high-performance hybrid power

substrate. This continuous process systems using such devices. The

provides adequate power density with system includes an assembly of

economical catalyst loading. stacks that operate at different

Patent number: US 6080504 temperatures, between about

20°C and 2000°C. The stack can

have multiple temperature regions

Stand-by energy supply formed axially, or multiple

App~~&an~ H Power, Canada separate stacks can be employed

This fuel cell stand-by energy to heat a reactant from its input

supply system comprises a micro- temperature.

controller connected to a detector Patent number: US 6083636

capable of detecting power failure.

The microcontroller operates a Fuel cell power generation switch to connect the fuel cell DC Applicant: DaimlerChrysler,

supply directly to the DC device, or GelllXllly

to a voltage-conditioning circuit to The invention provides a fuel cell

produce an AC supply. The energy generating system which

microcontroller monitors and reacts very rapidly to disturbances

manages the load in relation to the in the provision of reformate, and

fueI cell power, and also performs prevents disturbances from

an autodi~nostic of the fuel cell. causing damage to the fuel cell

Patent number: WO 00138260 system.

Patent number: US GO83637

MEA and its production Applicant: David Systems Current collector Technology, Spain Applicant: Sanyo Electric, Japan

The patent describes a membrane- This novel current collector for a

electrode assembly consisting of a PEM fuel cell includes a thin

cation-exchange membrane which porous substrate and a hydrophilic

contains fluorine and porous layers of material, provided to holes of the

electrode electrocatalyst material, substrate so that hydrophilic areas

inactive electroconductor material formed by this material

and fluoropolymer agglutinating successively pass through the

material on both membrane surfaces. substrate. Water does not stay on

Patent number: WO 00138261 the electrode/current collector

interface, so the reaction gas is not

hampered. Water is reliably

supplied through the hydrophilic

areas to a polymer electrolyte

membrane, so that it is effectively

humidified.

in strong acids, and improved

proton conductivity of membranes.

Patent number: WO 00139202

Desulfurising gasoline

or diesel Patent number: US 6083638

TiC bipolar plate Appkcant: US Government

(Gmer Inc)

A corrosion-resistant, electrically

conductive, non-porous bipolar

plate is made from titanium

carbide. Titanium carbide powder

is blended with a suitable binder

material, and moulded at elevated

temperature and pressure. These

plates have long-term mechanical

and thermodynamic stability in

acidic media at high anodic

potentials, and good electrical

conductivity. The moulding

process is economically attractive,

allowing more flexible plate

design.

Patent number: US 6083641

Applicant: IFC, USA

This fuel processing system

removes almost ail of the sulfur in

gasoline or diesel fuel. The fuel is

passed through a nickel reactant

desulfuriser bed in which the sulfur

in organic compounds in the fuel

combines with the nickel reactant,

and is converted to nickel sulfide.

The system can operate at ambient

or elevated pressures, with liquids

or vapours.

Patent number: WO 00139252

Storing compressed gas Applicant: Vernon, Germany

The patent describes a device for

storing compressed hydrogen in a

solid filling of carbon nano-

structures, which are connected to

form greater conglomerates.

Patent number: WO 00139499

Treatment of methanol

reforming catalyst Applicants: dbb fuel cell engines;

BASF, Germany

In this method for the treatment of

a methanol reforming catalyst,

perhaps for automotive use, the

catalyst is pre-aged by baking it out

in a dry atmosphere to complete its

inherent initial loss of volume

before the start of the methanol

reforming reaction.

Patent number: US 6083863

Producing polyelectrolyte membranes Apphkant: Axiva GmbH,

Germany

A method is described for

producing a polymer electrolyte

membrane, including immersing a

basic polymer such as a poly-

benzimidazole in a strong acid with

sufficient concentration to impreg-

nate the basic polymer with six or

more strong acid molecules per

polymer repeating unit of the basic

polymer at 30°C or more for up to

5 h, as well as a fuel cell with this

membrane. This gives shorter

immersion times for basic polymers

Fuel Cells Bulletin No. 29