1-Method for improving fuel cell performance -The Regents of the University of California
  2-Fuel cell system and method-Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
  3-Electrochemical device and method for operation thereof-Sony Corporation
  4-Fuel cell system-Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
  5-Planar solid oxide fuel cell with staged indirect-internal-The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
  6-Fuel Cell System Which Is Provided For Mobile Use And Which Has A Latent Heat Storage, And Method For Thermally Insulating The Same-Seimens
  7-Fuel Cell System -Seimens
  8-Hydrogen Purification Device And Fuel Cell Power Generation-Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
  9-Polymer Electrolyte Film And Method For Preparation Of The Same, And Solid Polymer Type Fuel Cell Using The Same-Toray Industries Inc.
10-Gas generation system and fuel cell -Hewlett-Packard Company 
11-Catalyst Compostion For Cell, Gas Diffusion Layer, And Fuel Cell Comprising The Same-Showa Denko K.K.
12-Integrated Fuel Pack, Reformer And Gas Purification Device For Fuel Cell Power Generation System -Casio Computer Co., Ltd. 

Publication date:19-October-2003 

October 24, 2003 
U.S. Patent

Patent Number 6635369

Issue Date 2003 10 21

Assignee The Regents of the University of California

Inventor(s) Uribe, Francisco A., Zawodzinski, Thomas

State/Country NM

Title Method for improving fuel cell performance

Abstract A method is provided for operating a fuel cell at high voltage for sustained periods of time. The cathode is switched to an output load effective to reduce the cell voltage at a pulse width effective to reverse performance degradation from OH adsorption onto cathode catalyst surfaces. The voltage is stepped to a value of less than about 0.6 V to obtain the improved and sustained performance.

Exmp. Claim 1
Ex Claim text A method for operating a fuel cell at high voltage for sustained periods including the step of switching the cathode to an output load effective to reduce the cell voltage at a pulse width effective to reverse performance degradation from OH adsorption on cathode catalyst surfaces. 

October 24, 2003 
U.S. Patent

Patent Number 6635373

Issue Date 2003 10 21

Assignee Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

Inventor(s) Kobayashi, Katsuya

State/Country JPX

Title Fuel cell system and method

Abstract A fuel cell system provided with a secondary battery supplying electric power to an outer load and a fuel cell supplying power at least to the secondary battery is controlled such that, by calculating charge allowance amount level in the secondary battery and calculating an excess amount of electric power that can be generated by an excess amount of fuel gas produced in the fuel cell system when operation of the fuel cell is stopped, the charge allowance amount level in the secondary battery is equal to or higher than the excess amount of electric power.

Exmp. Claim 1
Ex Claim text A fuel cell system, comprising: a secondary battery configured to supply electric power to an outer load; a fuel cell configured to supply electric power to the secondary battery and the outer load; a charge allowance amount calculator for calculating charge allowance amount level in the secondary battery; an excess electric power calculator for calculating an excess amount of electric power that can be generated by an excess fuel gas remaining in the fuel cell system when a supply of electric power from the fuel cell system to the outer load is stopped; and a controller connected to the charge allowance amount calculator and the excess electric power calculator. 

October 24, 2003 
U.S. Patent

Patent Number 6635377

Issue Date 2003 10 21

Assignee Sony Corporation

Inventor(s) Hinokuma, Koichiro

State/Country JPX

Title Electrochemical device and method for operation thereof

Abstract An electrochemical device (or a fuel cell) which comprises a negative electrode, a positive electrode, and a proton conducting portion held between these two electrodes, said proton conducting portion being a fullerenol electrolyte, said negative electrode having a fuel supply port through which methanol and water are fed. The electrochemical device is based on combination of the solid electrolyte and the direct methanol method (in which methanol is directly
oxidized with water). It generates a high electric power without cross-over, it achieves improved fuel efficiency, and it permits selection from a broad range of electrode catalysts.

Exmp. Claim 1
Ex Claim text An electrochemical device comprising: a first electrode, a second electrode, and a proton conducting material held between these two electrodes, said proton conducting material containing as a major component a fullerene derivative having proton-dissociating groups introduced into the carbon atoms of fullerene, and said first electrode permitting reaction between methanol and water for proton generation. 

October 22, 2003 
U.S. Patent

Patent Number EP1354365

Issue Date 2003 10 22

Assignee SIEMENS

Inventor(s) POPPINGER, Manfred; GROSSE, Joachim; BRÜCK, Rolf; REIZIG, Meike

State/Country Germany

Title Fuel cell system

Abstract :N/A

Exmp. Claim 1
Ex Claim text A fuel cell system, comprising: a fuel tank for storing fuel; an evaporator for evaporating said fuel to generate fuel gas; a reforming reactor for generating reformed gas containing hydrogen from said fuel gas; a combustor for burning one of said fuel in said fuel tank and said reformed gas to supply heat to said evaporator; a fuel cell for generating electricity by use of said hydrogen contained in said reformed gas generated in said reforming reactor;
a boiling point temperature estimation portion for estimating a boiling point temperature of said fuel in said evaporator based on an operation pressure of said
evaporator; a vapor temperature measuring portion for measuring a vapor temperature of fuel gas in said evaporator; and a flow rate control portion for increasing a flow rate of one of fuel and reformed gas burnt in said combustor when a value obtained by subtracting said boiling point temperature from said vapor temperature becomes below a predetermined value. 

5-Planar solid oxide fuel cell with staged indirect-internal

October 24, 2003 
U.S. Patent

Patent Number 6635375

Issue Date 2003 10 21

Assignee The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy

Inventor(s) Geisbrecht, Rodney A., Williams, Mark C.

State/Country PA

Title Planar solid oxide fuel cell with staged indirect-internal air and fuel preheating and reformation

Abstract A solid oxide fuel cell arrangement and method of use that provides internal preheating of both fuel and air in order to maintain the optimum operating temperature for the production of energy. The internal preheat passes are created by the addition of two plates, one on either side of the bipolar plate, such that these plates create additional passes through the fuel cell. This internal preheat fuel cell configuration and method reduce the requirements for
external heat exchanger units and air compressors. Air or fuel may be added to the fuel cell as required to maintain the optimum operating temperature through a cathode control valve or an anode control valve, respectively. A control loop comprises a temperature sensing means within the preheat air and fuel passes, a means to compare the measured temperature to a set point temperature and a determination based on the comparison as to whether the control valves should allow additional air or fuel into the preheat or bypass manifolds of the fuel cell.

Exmp. Claim 1
Ex Claim text A solid oxide fuel cell, comprising: a symmetric hollow frame supporting a first membrane electrode assembly (MEA) and a second MEA;
said first and said second MEAs having a cathode layer positioned such that a cathode side of said MEA is exposed within the fuel cell and an anode layer positioned such that an anode side of said MEA is exposed within the fuel cell, said cathode and said anode layers are horizontally separated by an electrolyte layer; said first and said second MEAs are separated by a bipolar plate (BPP); a cathode separator plate separates said first MEA on said
cathode side from said BPP; an anode separator plate separates said second MEA on said anode side from said BPP; and where said cathode separator plate, said BPP, and said anode separator plate are arranged between said first and said second MEAs to define an air preheat pass, a reactive air pass, a fuel preheat pass, and a fuel reactive pass; a means for determining an air temperature located at an exit end of said air preheat pass; a means for comparing and controlling said air temperature to a set point air temperature; a cathode control valve to add air into said reactive air pass from an air bypass flow; a means for determining a fuel temperature located at an exit end of said fuel preheat pass; a means for comparing and controlling said fuel temperature to a set point fuel temperature; and an anode control valve to add fuel into said reactive fuel pass from a fuel bypass flow. 

October 24, 2003 
European Patent

Pub. Number EP1354367A1

Appl. Data H01M 8/04; H01M 8/02; B60L 11/18; 

Applicant SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT 

Inventor(s) POPPINGER, Manfred; GROSSE, Joachim; BRÜCK, Rolf; REIZIG, Meike;

Title Fuel Cell System Which Is Provided For Mobile Use And Which Has A Latent Heat Storage, And Method For Thermally Insulating The Same

Abstract : N/A

October 24, 2003 6:08pm
European Patent

Pub. Number EP1354365 

Appl. Data  EP20010991662 20011221

Applicant SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT 

Inventor(s) POPPINGER MANFRED (DE); GROSSE JOACHIM (DE); BRUECK ROLF (DE); REIZIG MEIKE (DE)

Title Fuel Cell System

Abstract A fuel cell system, comprising: a fuel tank for storing fuel; an evaporator for evaporating said fuel to generate fuel gas; a reforming reactor for generating reformed gas containing hydrogen from said fuel gas; a combustor for burning one of said fuel in said fuel tank and said reformed gas to supply heat to said evaporator; a fuel cell for generating electricity by use of said hydrogen contained in said reformed gas generated in said reforming reactor;
a boiling point temperature estimation portion for estimating a boiling point temperature of said fuel in said evaporator based on an operation pressure of said
evaporator; a vapor temperature measuring portion for measuring a vapor temperature of fuel gas in said evaporator; and a flow rate control portion for increasing a flow rate of one of fuel and reformed gas burnt in said combustor when a value obtained by subtracting said boiling point temperature from said vapor temperature becomes below a predetermined value. 

October 22, 2003 
European Patent

Pub. Number EP1354853 

Appl. Data EP2002000710339

Applicant MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD

Inventor(s) TAGUCHI, Kiyoshi; UKAI, Kunihiro; FUJIWARA, Seiji; TOMIZAWA, Takeshi; WAKITA, Hidenobu; 

Title Hydrogen Purification Device And Fuel Cell Power Generation

Abstract Conventional hydrogen purification apparatuses cannot be used satisfactorily for applications in which much time is required for startup of the apparatus, and the apparatus is repeatedly started and stopped at frequent intervals because of complicated handling.In a hydrogen purification apparatus comprising at least a catalysis body 1 removing carbon monoxide from a reformed gas containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide and steam, the catalyst body 1 is constituted by a carrier comprised of a complex oxide in which at least one of Mo, W and Re is compounded with Zr, or comprised of an oxide of one of Mo, W, Re and Zr, and at least one of Pt, Pd, Rh and Ru carried on the surface of the carrier.

October 22, 2003 
European Patent

Pub. Number EP1355370

Appl. Data EP2002000716345

Applicant TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC. 

Inventor(s) KIDAI, Masayuki; KONO, Shunji; YOKURA, Miyoshi; UETE, Takao; 

Title POLYMER ELECTROLYTE FILM AND METHOD FOR PREPARATION OF THE SAME, AND SOLID POLYMER TYPE FUEL CELL USING THE SAME

Abstract The polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) of the present invention charged with a proton conductor in the collimated pores of a polymer film that is equipped with a plurality of such collimated pores in the direction of the film thickness is characterized with a relative standard deviation (LVar/LAve) equal to or below 0.3 wherein LAve and LVar represent an average value of L, distances between centers of the adjacent collimated pores and the standard deviation thereof, respectively.In addition, the PEM of the present invention can be prepared by installing a plurality of pores in the polymer film in the direction of the film thickness using photolithography and, subsequently, charging the above collimated pores with a proton conductor.Such constitution of the present invention can provide PEM with a small size, and improved performance and productivity; and also improvement of cell performance by inhibiting methanol permeation of DMFC that uses methanol as its fuel. 

October 22, 2003 
European Patent

Patent Number 6632270

Assignee Hewlett-Packard Company 

Inventor(s) Prasad, Ravi; Devos, John A.; Harding, Philip; Tsang, Jospeh W.; 

Title Gas generation system and fuel cell

Abstract A gas generation system includes a chemical reactor integrated with a liquid/gas separator. The reactor is configured to receive a continuous stream of aqueous solution and to generate hydrogen produced in the reaction of water and a metal hydride. The gas/liquid separator comprises a hydrophobic membrane (46) which is wrapped around a catalyst (40) and hydrophilic membranes (42,44) which cover inlet (36) and outlet (38) of the chemical reactor. The gas generation system can be directly connected to a or integrated in a fuel cell. 

October 22, 2003 
European Patent 

Patent Number EP1354366 

Issue Date 2003 10 22

Assignee SHOWA DENKO K.K. 

Inventor(s) YOSHIDA, T., c/o PROD.TECHN.CENTER SHOWA DENKO KK; 
MORITA, T., c/o PROD.TECHN.CENTER SHOWA DENKO KK; 

Title CATALYST COMPOSITION FOR CELL, GAS DIFFUSION LAYER, AND FUEL CELL COMPRISING THE SAME

Abstract: N/A

October 22, 2003 
U.S. Patent

Patent Number   EP1354368 

Issue Date 2003 10 22

Assignee Casio Computer Co., Ltd. 

Inventor(s) SHIOYA, Masaharu;

State/Country JPX

Title  INTEGRATED FUEL PACK, REFORMER AND GAS PURIFICATION DEVICE FOR FUEL CELL POWER GENERATION SYSTEM

Abstract A by-product elimination device used in a fuel cell power generation system includes a fuel pack provided with a fuel charged portion having a power generation fluid fuel containing hydrogen, and a power generation module detachably attached to the fuel pack. The module includes a reforming portion which transforms the fuel supplied fron the charged portion into a first gas containing hydrogen gas and carbon dioxide, and a fuel cell whichgenerates el ectrical energy by using the hydrogen gas. The device includes an absorbent portion which selectively absorbs carbon dioxide contained in the first gas and thus produces a second gas whose carbon dioxide concentration is lower, thereby increasing the efficiency of the fuel cell.