Publication date:16-November-2003 

November 11, 2003 
European Patent

Pub. Number EP 1359298

Appl. Data EP 03005226 2003 04 15

Applicant Caterpillar Inc.

Inventor(s) Hiltner, Joel D., c/o Caterpillar Inc.; Willi, Martin L., c/o Caterpillar Inc.

Title Method and apparatus for providing a hydrogen enriched fuel to a combustion prechamber

Abstract A method and apparatus 100 for providing a hydrogen enriched fuel to a combustion prechamber 104. The method and apparatus 100 includes reforming a quantity of fuel to produce a hydrogen enriched fuel, delivering the reformed fuel to the combustion prechamber 104, and combining the
hydrogen enriched fuel with a fuel/air mixture to less than stoichiometric.

November 11, 2003 
U.S. Patent

Pub. NumberUS6646418

Appl. Data US2002000202594

Applicant Motorola, Inc.

Inventor(s) Xie, Chenggang;  Jerald A.; Gilbert

Title Method and apparatus for fuel cell protection

Abstract A fuel cell system is protected by monitoring at least one fuel cell parameter, comparing the parameter to a preset level, and disconnecting or reconnecting a main load in response to the fuel cell parameter. For example, a fuel cell system (300) is provided with a protection circuit (304, 308) that prevents operation of the fuel cells in the negative dP/dI region. System (300) includes a stack of fuel cells (302) connected in series and coupled to a main load (310). A controller (304) provides a control signal (314) based on the individual fuel cell voltage levels falling above or below a preset level. Control signal (314)is used to control a load switch (308)coupled between the stack of fuel cells (302) and the main load (310). The load switch (308) disconnects the main load (310) in order to prevent operation of the fuel cell cells in the negative dP/dI region. 

November 11, 2003 
U.S. Patent

Pub. Number  US6646413 

Appl. Data  US2001000987444

Applicant DaimlerChrysler AG

Inventor(s) Autenrieth, Rainer; Grossbottwar, Germany
Konrad, Gerhard; Ulm, Germany
Ledwig, Karsten; Waldsolms, Germany
Niehues, Michael; Ulm, Germany
Walter, Markus; Metzingen, Germany 

Title Fuel cell system and method for operating the fuel cell system
 

Abstract A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell unit having an anode side and a cathode side, anode-side feeding and outflow lines for the supply of fuel and removal of anode-side exhaust, and cathode-side feeding and outflow lines for the supply of oxygen and removal of cathode-side exhaust. The fuel cell system also includes means for electrically switching the fuel cell unit on and off depending on the available quantity of fuel. 

November 11, 2003 
U.S. Patent

Pub. Number  US6645659

Appl. Data US2001000907804

Applicant Toyota

Inventor(s) Bisaka, Toru; Kariya, Japan
Nishiumi, Hiroaki; Toyota, Japan
Tanaka, Hideyuki; Kariya, Japan 

Title Fuel Cell Apparatus

Abstract A fuel cell apparatus includes a stack of fuel cells, first and second end plates disposed at opposite ends of the stack of fuel cells to press the stack of fuel cells and being connected by a fastening member, and a pressure plate disposed inboard of the first end plate. A concave portion is formed at an inboard surface of the first end plate and a convex portion is formed at an outboard surface of the pressure plate. The convex portion contacts the concave portion. The first and second end plates are coupled to the fastening member (or, a tension plate) by a serration and a bolt. An adjusting portion is formed in the first end plate, and the concave portion is formed in the adjusting portion. A load variance decreasing mechanism is disposed in series with the contact portion of the convex portion and the concave portion. A recess is formed in an electrical insulator disposed inboard of the pressure plate, and the pressure plate is disposed in the recess. The convex portion may include a spherical surface or a cylindrical surface. The load variance decreasing mechanism may include a plurality of sets of coned disk springs disposed in series with each other. The fuel cell apparatus may include an attaching member constituting a portion of the fuel cell apparatus and attaching the fuel cell apparatus to a vehicle. 

5-Thin film solid oxide fuel cell and method for forming

November 11, 2003 
U.S. Patent

Pub. Number  US6645656

Appl. Data US2000000534385

Applicant University of Houston

Inventor(s) Chen, Xin; Houston, TX
Wu, Naijuan; Houston, TX
Ignatiev, Alex; Houston, TX 

Title Thin film solid oxide fuel cell and method for forming 

Abstract A thin film solid oxide fuel cell (TFSOFC) having a porous metallic anode and a porous cathode is provided. The fuel cell is formed by using a continuous metal foil as a substrate to epitaxially deposit a thin film electrolyte on one surface of the foil. The metal foil may then be made porous by photolithographically patterning and etching the other surface of the foil to form holes extending through the foil to the electrolyte/foil interface. The cathode is then formed on the electrolyte by depositing a second thin film using known film deposition techniques. Further processing may be used to increase the porosity of the electrodes. The metal foil may be treated before film deposition to have an atomically ordered surface, which makes possible an atomically ordered thin film electrolyte. 

November 11, 2003 
U.S. Patent

Pub. Number US6645655

Appl. Data US2000000717754

Applicant MTI MicroFuel Cells Inc.

Inventor(s) McNamee, George C.; Loudonville, NY
Acker, William P.; Rexford, NY 

Title Passively pumped liquid feed fuel cell system 

Abstract A direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) system is provided with a pump for pumping methanol into the cell. The pump is driven by carbon dioxide produced by the electrochemical reaction at the anode of the fuel cell. Because the amount of CO2 generated is proportional to the power generated by the cell, and thus the amount of fuel demanded by the cell, the pump is self-regulating. The system may be integrated using microelectromechanical system fabrication techniques. 

November 11, 2003 
U.S. Patent

Pub. Number  US6645654

Appl. Data US2001000865467

Applicant Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

Inventor(s) Yagi, Youichi; Kanagawa-ken, Japan 

Title Fuel cell system

Abstract Residual hydrogen can be consumed until the output voltage substantially becomes 0 volts and miniaturization and weight saving of the fuel cell system can be achieved without carrying a substance such as an inert gas which does not directly relate to a fuel cell electrical generation. By cutting fuel supply to a fuel cell 1 at a time of a system halt and connecting the fuel cell output with the discharging resistor 10 of a low ohmic value in a water tank 7, and by switching the connection to a discharging resistor 11 of a high ohmic value in which merely a minute current flows in that state by means of a power switching device 9 when the fuel cell output becomes a fixed value or below, discharging is performed until the output voltage becomes substantially 0 volts without causing damage to the fuel cell to consume residual hydrogen. 

November 11, 2003 
U.S. Patent

Pub. Number  US6645653

Appl. Data US2001000863354

Applicant Nissan Motor Company

Inventor(s)Kashiwagi, Naoto; Kanagawa-ken, Japan 

Title Fuel cell system, controller thereof and method 

Abstract A fuel cell system 10 has a fuel cell 16 and a battery 24. An external load 30 is supplied with output power produced by the fuel cell and output power discharged from the battery. The fuel cell system includes a battery charge level monitoring unit 26 which monitors and detects a battery charge level, an accelerator' displacement sensor 32 which detects an accelerator's displacement value and a control unit 11 which calculates demand power to be produced by the fuel cell and varying rate of the displacement value. The control unit corrects the demand power by using a control map having a power correction pattern that is in response to a varying rate of the displacement value and the charge level of the battery. 

November 11, 2003 
U.S. Patent

Pub. Number  US6645650

Appl. Data US2001000975601

Applicant UTC Fuel Cells, LLC

Inventor(s) Meyer, Alfred P.; West Simsbury, CT
Callaghan, Vincent M.; West Granby, CT 

Title Procedure for purging a fuel cell system with inert gas made from organic fuel 

Abstract  A procedure for purging a fuel cell system at start-up or shutdown comprises directing the organic fuel, along with air, into a burner to produce a gas that is essentially inert to the fuel cell, such as a gas of nitrogen, carbon dioxide and water vapor. That inert gas is passed through either or both the fuel cell and fuel processing system components, such as a reformer and shift converter, to purge those components of undesirable gases. In the case of shutdown, after the cell has been disconnected from the primary load, the inert gas produced in the burner is passed either in series or in parallel through the fuel cell and fuel processing system. 

November 11, 2003 
U.S. Patent

Pub. Number  US6645651

Appl. Data JP 0304482 2003 04 09

Applicant Energy Related Devices for Manhattan Scientifics

Inventor(s) Hockaday, Robert G.; Los Alamos, NM 87544
Turner, Patrick S.; Los Alamos, NM 87544
Bradford, Zachary R.; Los Alamos, NM 87544
DeJohn, Marc D.; Los Alamos, NM 87544
Navas, Carlos J.; Los Alamos, NM 87544
Uhrich, F. Wade; Los Alamos, NM 87544
Vaz, Heathcliff L.; Los Alamos, NM 87544
Vazul, L. Luke; Los Alamos, NM 87544 

Title Fuel generator with diffusion ampoules for fuel cells

Abstract A system of two fuel ampoules that can deliver a reactant by diffusion through one of the ampoule walls to the other, such that when said reactant enters the second ampoule, it reacts with another reactant in said second ampoule, making hydrogen gas as a product. Both ampoules are stored in a fuel impermeable container. These ampoules used with small low power fuel cells which need a steady controlled uniform delivery of vaporous fuel such hydrogen and alcohols. This fueling system provides a simple safe fuel interactive system for small hydrogen fuel cells that prevents inadvertent hydrogen production by any single ampoule being exposed to water or typical consumer environments.