Calvin L Bushnell

US Patent:

41360591, Jan 23, 1979

Filed:

Dec 12, 1977

Appl. No.:

5/859334

Inventors:

Vinod M. Jalan - Manchester CT
Calvin L. Bushnell - Glastonbury CT

Assignee:

United Technologies Corporation - Hartford CT

International Classification:

B01J 2118
B01J 2342

US Classification:

252447

Abstract:

Method for the production of highly dispersed electrochemically active platinum particles having an average diameter below about 50 A for use in electrodes for fuel cells. Platinum particles are formed by mixing chloroplatinic acid and sodium dithionite in water to provide a platinum containing colloidal dispersion which may be absorbed on a support material. Hydrogen peroxide can be mixed with the chloroplatinic acid and sodium dithionite to improve the stability of the platinum containing colloidal dispersion.

US Patent:

59725303, Oct 26, 1999

Filed:

Jan 13, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/006374

Inventors:

Alexander B. Shelekhin - Acton MA
Calvin L. Bushnell - Glastonbury CT
Michael S. Pien - Acton MA

Assignee:

ElectroChem, Inc. - Woburn MA

International Classification:

H01M 804

US Classification:

429 26

Abstract:

An air-cooled, hydrogen-air solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) fuel cell with a membrane electrode assembly operatively associated with a fluid flow plate having at least one plate cooling channel extending through the plate and at least one air distribution hole extending from a surface of the cathode flow field into the plate cooling channel.

US Patent:

40643220, Dec 20, 1977

Filed:

Sep 1, 1976

Appl. No.:

5/719876

Inventors:

Calvin L. Bushnell - Glastonbury CT
Harold Russell Kunz - Vernon CT

Assignee:

United Technologies Corporation - Hartford CT

International Classification:

H01M 802

US Classification:

429 41

Abstract:

An electrolyte reservoir layer disposed behind and adjacent one of the catalyst layers of a fuel cell is porous and hydrophilic to the electrolyte. In one embodiment the reservoir layer includes impregnations of hydrophobic material on the catalyst facing surface thereof and holes leading from the other surface to the impregnations for providing reactant gas passages through the reservoir layer to the catalyst layer. The impregnations of hydrophobic material are designed to provide good distribution of the reactant gas into the catalyst layer without consuming a large volume of the reservoir. In a preferred embodiment the reservoir is also the electrode substrate whereby the catalyst layer is bonded to the surface thereof.

US Patent:

41373731, Jan 30, 1979

Filed:

Nov 23, 1977

Appl. No.:

5/854285

Inventors:

Vinod M. Jalan - Manchester CT
Calvin L. Bushnell - Glastonbury CT

Assignee:

United Technologies Corporation - Hartford CT

International Classification:

B01J 2118
B01J 2342

US Classification:

429 44

Abstract:

The rate of platinum recrystallization of a platinum supported on carbon catalyst is reduced and the activity of the catalyst is increased by depositing porous carbon on and around the supported platinum crystallites and then heating the catalyst in an inert atmosphere or vacuum at a high temperature.

US Patent:

50717170, Dec 10, 1991

Filed:

Sep 8, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/243194

Inventors:

Calvin L. Bushnell - Glastonbury CT

Assignee:

International Fuel Cells Corporation - South Windsor CT

International Classification:

H01M 814
H01M 802

US Classification:

429 13

Abstract:

Gaps occurring between a cathode substrate and a gas housing in a fuel cell interfere with electron transfer in the cell causing high cell internal resistance. To reduce the high resistance gaps are closed by coating the substrate with metal powder that expands during oxidation closing the gaps.

US Patent:

41373723, Jan 30, 1979

Filed:

Nov 23, 1977

Appl. No.:

5/854284

Inventors:

Vinod M. Jalan - Manchester CT
Calvin L. Bushnell - Glastonbury CT

Assignee:

United Technologies Corporation - Hartford CT

International Classification:

B01J 2118
B01J 2342

US Classification:

429 44

Abstract:

The rate of platinum recrystallization of a platinum supported on carbon catalyst is reduced by depositing porous carbon on and around the supported platinum crystallites. The reduced rate of platinum recrystallization results in higher platinum surface areas over a period of time and therefore improves the performance of the catalyst. The porous carbon can be deposited by any suitable technique, a preferred method being to heat the supported platinum in the presence of carbon monoxide to decompose the carbon monoxide thereby depositing carbon on and around the platinum crystallites.

US Patent:

43224822, Mar 30, 1982

Filed:

Jun 9, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/158019

Inventors:

Calvin L. Bushnell - Glastonbury CT
Lawrence J. Bregoli - Southwick MA
Craig R. Schroll - West Hartford CT

Assignee:

United Technologies Corporation - Hartford CT

International Classification:

H01M 486

US Classification:

429 41

Abstract:

Thru-cracks in the electrolyte retaining matrix of a molten carbonate fuel cell caused by thermal cycling of the cell between operating and room temperature are prevented by an improved matrix comprising a major proportion of submicron support particles and a minor proportion, perhaps only a few percent, of much larger crack attenuator particles. In one embodiment wherein the electrolyte is to be a binary lithium-potassium carbonates composition, the matrix comprises 90 volume percent submicron lithium aluminate support particles and 10 volume percent alumina crack attenuator particles with an average size of 100 microns.

US Patent:

58404147, Nov 24, 1998

Filed:

Nov 15, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/751543

Inventors:

John A. S. Bett - Hamden CT
Douglas J. Wheeler - Tolland CT
Calvin Bushnell - Glastonbury CT

Assignee:

International Fuel Cells, Inc. - S. Windsor CT

International Classification:

B32B 326
H01M 216

US Classification:

4283077

Abstract:

Solid polymer membrane fuel cell product water which forms on the oxidant side of the membrane is removed from the active area of the cells in a fuel cell power plant by being absorbed into and wicked away from the active area by a porous carbon body which contacts the membrane. The carbon body may be an oxidant reactant flow field plate. The pores in the carbon body are partially filled with metal oxide granules which impart increased wettability and water absorption capacity to the carbon body.