Robin C Guthrie

US Patent:

7875397, Jan 25, 2011

Filed:

Dec 15, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/736945

Inventors:

James R. Geschwindt - Lynchburg VA, US
Robin J. Guthrie - East Hartford CT, US
Jeremy P. Meyers - Austin TX, US
Carl A. Reiser - Stonington CT, US
Javier Resto - Jacksonville FL, US
Yu Wang - Avon IN, US
John H. Whiton - South Windsor CT, US
Leslie L. Van Dine - Manchester CT, US
Elizabeth A. Allen - Tempe AZ, US
Deliang Yang - Torrance CA, US

Assignee:

UTC Power Corporation - South Windsor CT

International Classification:

H01M 8/06
H01M 8/04

US Classification:

429415, 429512, 429428

Abstract:

An inlet fuel distributor (-) has a permeable baffle () between a fuel supply pipe () and a fuel inlet manifold () causing fuel to be uniformly distributed along the length of the fuel inlet manifold. A surface () may cause impinging fuel to turn and flow substantially omnidirectionally improving its uniformity. Recycle fuel may be provided () into the flow downstream of the fuel inlet distributor. During startup, fuel or inert gas within the inlet fuel distributor and the fuel inlet manifold may be vented through an exhaust valve () in response to a controller () so as to present a uniform fuel front to the inlets of the fuel flow fields ().