Rodney L Borup

US Patent:

6372376, Apr 16, 2002

Filed:

Dec 7, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/456478

Inventors:

Matthew Howard Fronk - Honeoye Falls NY
Rodney Lynn Borup - East Rochester NY
Jay S. Hulett - Rochester NY
Brian K. Brady - North Chili NY
Kevin M. Cunningham - Romeo MI

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

H01M 486

US Classification:

429 41, 429 30, 429 38, 429 44

Abstract:

A PEM fuel cell having electrical contact elements comprising a corrosion-susceptible substrate metal coated with an electrically conductive, corrosion-resistant polymer containing a plurality of electrically conductive, corrosion-resistant filler particles. The substrate may have an oxidizable metal first layer (e. g. , stainless steel) underlying the polymer coating.

US Patent:

6432568, Aug 13, 2002

Filed:

Aug 3, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/632184

Inventors:

John P. Salvador - Rochester NY
Rodney Lynn Borup - Los Alamos NM
William Henry Pettit - Rochester NY

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

H01M 804

US Classification:

429 19, 429 24, 429 26, 429 34, 180 653

Abstract:

An electrochemical engine for a vehicle comprises a fuel processor operating to process liquid fuel to hydrogen gas reformate, a combustor to generate heat for the fuel processor, and a fuel cell stack to generate electricity from the hydrogen gas reformate and producing water vapor by-product. A water management system of the engine comprises a condenser to reclaim liquid water from the water vapor by-product and a water tank for storing the reclaimed water. A water pump circulates water from the water tank to the fuel processor. A drainage valve is operable to open to release water from the water tank to a freeze tank to avoid freezing water in the water tank.

US Patent:

6485853, Nov 26, 2002

Filed:

Jun 27, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/604151

Inventors:

William Henry Pettit - Rochester NY
Rodney Lynn Borup - Los Alamos NM

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

H01M 804

US Classification:

429 17, 429 13, 429 26

Abstract:

A fuel cell system having a thermally integrated isothermal CO-cleansing subsystem including a water-gas-shift reactor, a preferential oxidation reactor, at least one system heat exchanger, and a closed-loop heat transfer circuit dedicated to that subsystem. The heat transfer circuit utilizes a heat transfer medium which has a high specific heat and is circulated through the circuit at a sufficiently high rate as to thermally dominate the gas stream components communicating with the circuit.

US Patent:

6521204, Feb 18, 2003

Filed:

Jul 27, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/626553

Inventors:

Rodney L. Borup - Los Alamos NM
William H. Pettit - Rochester NY

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

H01M 804

US Classification:

423652, 423651, 429 17

Abstract:

In one aspect, the present invention provides a method for operating a fuel cell system. The system comprises a reactor having one or more catalytic beds and is fed a hydrocarbon fuel along with air and steam. Where more than one catalytic bed is present, such catalytic beds are preferably arranged sequentially such that the outlet from one bed enters the inlet of the next bed. The catalytic beds are the regions where reactions among the hydrocarbon, air, and steam are catalyzed within the reactor. The method comprises supplying a stream of a fuel and air mixture to the reactor which is lean. The mixture is lean in that it has an excess amount of oxygen relative to the stoichiometric amount required for reaction with the fuel. The reactions occurring with the lean mixture heat the reactor. When there is more than one catalytic bed, the hot gases generated from one catalytic bed can be used to heat other catalytic beds.

US Patent:

6824904, Nov 30, 2004

Filed:

Apr 26, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/133840

Inventors:

Mark A. Brundage - Pittsford NY
William H. Pettit - Rochester NY
Rodney L. Borup - Los Alamos NM

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

H01M 804

US Classification:

429 20, 429 24, 422190, 422194, 422193, 422198, 4234372

Abstract:

A preferential oxidation reactor is provided including a plurality of reactor sections. The reactor sections are individually optimized for operating at a preferred reaction temperature. In one embodiment, each reactor subsection includes a respective coolant flow for manipulating the operating temperature of the respective subsection. In another embodiment, a first section includes a lower temperature catalyst substrate, a second reactor section includes a higher temperature (i. e. normal) catalyst substrate and a third reactor section includes a lower temperature catalyst substrate. Yet another embodiment includes modifying the catalyst substrates of the respective subsections through the inclusion of promoters. Still another embodiment includes varying a density of the catalyst substrate across the reactor sections. Each of the embodiments enable quick light-off of the reactor, while limiting a reverse water-gas shift reaction.

US Patent:

6936238, Aug 30, 2005

Filed:

Sep 6, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/236828

Inventors:

Mohammed E. H. Sennoun - Rochester NY, US
William H. Pettit - Rochester NY, US
Rodney L. Borup - Los Alamos NM, US
Gerald E. Voecks - Fairport NY, US

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

C01B003/26

US Classification:

423652, 422190, 422198, 422211

Abstract:

A compact autothermal (partial oxidation and steam reforming) fuel reactor is provided for implementation with a fuel cell system. The reactor includes a premixing chamber for premixing a volume of air, steam and fuel into an effluent, a thermal POX reactor, a first stage reforming segment, a post-premix chamber, and a second stage reforming segment. Further provided are a water/fuel vaporizer for supplying steam and fuel as a gas to the premix chamber and an airflow cavity disposed about the reactor for pre-heating air supplied to the premix chamber. The thermal POX segment operates during an initial start-up period for pre-heating the other components of the reactor. Once the other components achieve an operation temperature, the first and second stage reforming segments catalytically reform the effluent. The premix and post-premix chambers enable variance in the O/C and S/C ratios to be achieved as the effluent is reformed through the multiple stages.

US Patent:

7270901, Sep 18, 2007

Filed:

Sep 17, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/666052

Inventors:

William H Pettit - Rochester NY, US
Gerald Voecks - Fairport NY, US
Rodney L Borup - Los Alamos NM, US

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

H01M 8/06
H01M 8/04
B01J 8/00

US Classification:

429 19, 429 20, 429 22, 422105, 422188, 422196

Abstract:

A fuel processor system includes first and second reactors each having an inlet that receives fuel from a fuel supply and an outlet that discharges a reformate containing hydrogen. The reactors are operable to reform the fuel to form the reformates. The second reactor is coupled in parallel with the first reactor with the reformates produced by each combining to form a reformate flow. The first reactor can be an autothermal reforming reactor and the second reactor can be a steam reforming reactor. The first and second reactors are controlled differently to provide quick startup and transient capability while providing improved overall efficiency under normal operation.

US Patent:

RE42434, Jun 7, 2011

Filed:

Nov 21, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/720005

Inventors:

Matthew Howard Fronk - Honeoye Falls NY, US
Rodney Lynn Borup - East Rochester NY, US
Jay S. Hulett - Rochester NY, US
Brian K. Brady - North Chili NY, US
Kevin M. Cunningham - Romeo MI, US

Assignee:

GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Detroit MI

International Classification:

H01M 4/86
H01M 2/14

US Classification:

429529, 429522, 429530, 429532, 429479

Abstract:

A PEM fuel cell having electrical contact elements comprising a corrosion-susceptible substrate metal coated with an electrically conductive, corrosion-resistant polymer containing a plurality of electrically conductive, corrosion-resistant filler particles. The substrate may have an oxidizable metal first layer (e. g. , stainless steel) underlying the polymer coating.