Gary M Robb

US Patent:

6743410, Jun 1, 2004

Filed:

Aug 2, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/211845

Inventors:

Gary M. Robb - Lima NY

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

C01B 326

US Classification:

423651, 252373, 422110, 422111, 422211

Abstract:

A method is provided to inject liquid water into the normal stream of fuel, superheated air and superheated steam entering a primary reactor of a fuel processor. The injection location is in the steam supply line where superheated steam vaporizes a majority of the liquid water, preferably prior to injection into the primary reactor. Steam supplied by a vaporizer may temporarily lag desired steam production due to system up-power transients or startup conditions, coupled with vaporizer thermal lag time. Injection of liquid water overcomes this temporary deficit of steam. Additional air is also supplied as needed to improve reactance for a given steam volume/temperature. Injection rate or volume of the liquid water and air may also be based on one or more measured variables of the primary reactor.

US Patent:

6794080, Sep 21, 2004

Filed:

Dec 10, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/732499

Inventors:

Mohammed E. Sennoun - Pittsford NY
Gerald E. Voecks - Fairport NY
Gerald W. Fly - Geneseo NY
Gary M. Robb - Lima NY

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

H01M 486

US Classification:

429 40, 429 41, 429 44, 429 38, 429 39, 361502

Abstract:

Various devices and methods for achieving electrochemical energy conversion are presented. In accordance with one embodiment, an energy conversion cell is configured to enable the first and second reactant supplies to communicate selectively with first and second catalytic electrodes of the cell. The selective communication of the first and second reactant supplies with the first and second catalytic electrodes may be attributable to alteration of the reactant supply flow paths or to movement of the first and second catalytic electrodes.

US Patent:

6846585, Jan 25, 2005

Filed:

Mar 8, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/093560

Inventors:

Gary M. Robb - Lima NY, US
William H. Pettit - Rochester NY, US

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

H01M 818

US Classification:

429 20, 429 17, 429 24, 429 26, 429 19, 429 13

Abstract:

The present invention relates to controlled staged rich combustion throughout a fuel processing system in order to improve start up performance. Multiple stages of air injection are used to burn rich combustion products within each component to provide direct heating thereof. During the start up cycle, the fluid temperature entering each reactor is increased and each component is heated to its operating temperature in parallel. The controlled staged rich combustion eliminates the load imposed upon a combustor within the system during the start up cycle. Thus, each of the components within the fuel processing system may be optimized for an operational mode rather than a start up mode.

US Patent:

7172638, Feb 6, 2007

Filed:

Apr 29, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/134992

Inventors:

Gary M. Robb - Lima NY, US

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

C10J 3/00
B01J 8/02

US Classification:

48214A, 48214 R, 48215, 481279, 422220, 422222

Abstract:

An autothermal reformer according to the principles of the present invention comprises a first stage that selectively receives a fuel flow, a first oxidant flow, and a steam flow. The first stage has a first portion of a catalyst bed. The fluids within the first stage are routed through the first portion of the catalyst bed and react. There is a second stage downstream from and communicating with the first stage. The second stage receives the fluids from the first stage and also selectively receives a second oxidant flow. The second oxidant flow and the fluids received from the first stage flow through a second portion of a catalyst bed and further react.

US Patent:

7517372, Apr 14, 2009

Filed:

Feb 26, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/788155

Inventors:

Mohammed E Sennoun - Pittsford NY, US
Gerald E Voecks - Fairport NY, US
Gary M Robb - Lima NY, US
William H Pettit - Rochester NY, US
Steven G Goebel - Victor NY, US

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B01J 8/00

US Classification:

481279, 422211, 422191, 431 7, 431 5, 431 10, 431350, 431351, 431352, 431353, 60290, 60 39, 60700

Abstract:

The present invention includes an integrated fuel processor subsystem incorporating a thermal combustor, a catalytic combustor, a quasi-autothermal reactor (QATR) and a air-fuel-steam (AFS) mixer to provide a range of operating modes exhibiting performance between that of a pure steam reformer and a pure autothermal reformer to increase the flexibility of the fuel processor to handle transient system demands such as cold starts, suppress emissions and carbon formation and improve efficiency.

US Patent:

7807308, Oct 5, 2010

Filed:

Sep 21, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/858974

Inventors:

Gary M. Robb - Honeoye Falls NY, US
Balasubramanian Lakshmanan - Pittsford NY, US

Assignee:

GM Global Technology Operations, Inc. - Detroit MI

International Classification:

H01M 8/04

US Classification:

429446, 429443, 429428, 429429, 429456, 429 50

Abstract:

A fuel cell system including a fuel cell stack having a plurality of fuel cells is provided. An anode supply manifold and an anode exhaust manifold are in fluid communication with the anodes of the plurality of fuel cells. A first valve is in fluid communication with the anode supply manifold and a second valve is in fluid communication with the anode exhaust manifold. A pressure sensor is adapted to measure an anode pressure. In operation, the first valve and the second valve are controlled in response to the anode pressure, thereby militating against an undesired exhausting of an anode supply stream.

US Patent:

8048579, Nov 1, 2011

Filed:

Apr 16, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/103953

Inventors:

Gary M. Robb - Honeoye Falls NY, US

Assignee:

GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Detroit MI

International Classification:

H01M 8/04
H01M 8/22
H01M 8/24

US Classification:

429429, 429432, 429444, 429452, 429505

Abstract:

Processes to shut down a fuel cell system are described. In one implementation (), fuel (H) and oxidizer (air) flow is halted and the system's anode region () is sealed. A load () is then engaged across the system's fuel cell stack () so as to deplete much of the fuel in the stack's sealed anode region (). The stack () is monitored to determine when the load should be disengaged. (). Once the load is disengaged, fluid communication between the system's anode and cathode regions is established. The vacuum created in the anode region () as a consequence of consuming Htherein, pulls nitrogen enriched gas from the cathode region () into the anode region (). When substantially all of the Hhas been depleted from the anode region (), no pressure difference exists between the anode and cathode regions and fluid communication between the two is severed.

US Patent:

8057942, Nov 15, 2011

Filed:

Oct 18, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/874317

Inventors:

Joe C. Machuca - Rochester NY, US
Charles Mackintosh - Victor NY, US
Gary M. Robb - Honeoye Falls NY, US
Steven G. Goebel - Victor NY, US

Assignee:

GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Detroit MI

International Classification:

H01M 8/04

US Classification:

429429, 429444, 429458

Abstract:

A fuel cell system that enables an assisted anode purge upon start-up is provided. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack having a plurality of fuel cells with anodes and cathodes. The fuel cell stack has an anode supply manifold and an anode exhaust manifold in fluid communication with the anodes. The fuel cell system further includes a suction device in fluid communication with at least one of the anode supply manifold and the anode exhaust manifold. The suction device adapted to selectively draw a partial vacuum on the fuel cell stack during a start-up of the fuel cell system. Methods for starting the fuel cell system are also provided.