Nicolas Paul Defalco

US Patent:

8043750, Oct 25, 2011

Filed:

Jul 2, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/497417

Inventors:

Yang Song - Portland OR, US
Craig E. Evans - Portland OR, US
Nicolas DeFalco - Portland OR, US
Jason M. Tang - Hillsboro OR, US

Assignee:

ClearEdge Power, Inc. - Hillsboro OR

International Classification:

H01M 8/04
H01M 8/08
H01M 8/10

US Classification:

429408, 429459, 429492, 429498, 429500

Abstract:

A method for controlling an amount of a liquid electrolyte in a polymer-electrolyte membrane of a fuel cell is provided. The method comprises enriching one or more of a fuel flow and an air flow with a vapor of the liquid electrolyte, the liquid electrolyte being unreplenishable via an electrochemical reaction of the fuel cell. The method further comprises delivering the vapor of the liquid electrolyte to the fuel cell including the polymer-electrolyte membrane via one or more of the gas-permeable anode and or the gas-permeable cathode. In this manner, loss of liquid electrolyte from the PEM membrane of the fuel cell can be reduced, leading to improved fuel-cell endurance.

US Patent:

20120034535, Feb 9, 2012

Filed:

Oct 19, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/276947

Inventors:

Yang Song - Portland OR, US
Craig E. Evans - Portland OR, US
Nicolas DeFalco - Portland OR, US
Jason M. Tang - Hillsboro OR, US

Assignee:

CLEAREDGE POWER, INC. - Hillsboro OR

International Classification:

H01M 8/04

US Classification:

429408

Abstract:

A method for controlling an amount of a liquid electrolyte in a polymer-electrolyte membrane of a fuel cell is provided. The method comprises enriching one or more of a fuel flow and an air flow with a vapor of the liquid electrolyte, the liquid electrolyte being unreplenishable via an electrochemical reaction of the fuel cell. The method further comprises delivering the vapor of the liquid electrolyte to the fuel cell including the polymer-electrolyte membrane via one or more of the gas-permeable anode and or the gas-permeable cathode. In this manner, loss of liquid electrolyte from the PEM membrane of the fuel cell can be reduced, leading to improved fuel-cell endurance.