Chemistry: electrical current producing apparatus – product – and – With pressure equalizing means for liquid immersion operation
Reexamination Certificate
2006-02-28
2008-08-26
Kalafut, Stephen J. (Department: 1795)
Chemistry: electrical current producing apparatus, product, and
With pressure equalizing means for liquid immersion operation
C429S006000
Reexamination Certificate
active
07416800
ABSTRACT:
Fuel cell systems and associated methods of operation are provided whereby application of a fuel cell is coordinated with a fuel processor and a hydrogen separator. One such method includes the following steps: (1) operating a fuel processor to convert a hydrocarbon to reformate; (2) reacting the reformate in a fuel cell to generate electrical power; (3) supplying the electrical power to an electrical load, wherein the electrical load has a power requirement threshold; (4) determining whether the electrical power from the fuel cell is below the power requirement threshold; (5) increasing a flow of reformate from the fuel processor to the fuel cell when the electrical power from the fuel cell is below the power requirement threshold; (6) flowing a portion of the reformate from the fuel processor to a hydrogen separator; (7) storing hydrogen from the hydrogen separator in a hydrogen storage vessel; (8) monitoring an amount of hydrogen stored in the hydrogen storage vessel; and (9) adjusting a proportional valve upstream from the fuel cell toward a closed position when the amount of hydrogen in the hydrogen storage tank is below a predetermined threshold to increase a proportion of the reformate from the fuel processor that is flowed to the hydrogen separator.
REFERENCES:
patent: 6383670 (2002-05-01), Edlund et al.
patent: 6495277 (2002-12-01), Edlund et al.
patent: 6641944 (2003-11-01), Kawasumi et al.
patent: 6861168 (2005-03-01), Shimada et al.
patent: 7011903 (2006-03-01), Benson et al.
Ballantine Arne W.
Benson Glen E.
Parks John W.
Sinuc Robert A.
White Eric T.
Kalafut Stephen J.
Plug Power Inc.
Trop Pruner & Hu P.C.
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