Timothy M Patterson

US Patent:

20110117469, May 19, 2011

Filed:

Jul 9, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/736955

Inventors:

Sridhar V. Kanuri - Milford CT, US
Timothy W. Patterson - East Hartford CT, US

International Classification:

H01M 8/04
H01M 8/24

US Classification:

429444, 429455

Abstract:

The oxidant inlets of the reactant gas flow field grooves () of a fuel cell () which suffers a crossover between the fuel and oxidant flow fields, due to a leak in the seals, the maxtrix or the membrane of the fuel cell, are blocked with a liquid () which cures in place, hot glue, two-part epoxy, or fluoroelastomers. This prevents heating as a result of combusting fuel with oxygen near the site, which avoids excessive heating and damaging of successive fuel cells. As a result, a fuel cell power plant () can continue to operate with only a minor loss of voltage and power, thereby avoiding the need to tear down the stack by loosening the tie-bolts. Voltage and hydrogen levels may be used to detect the crossover. The particular cell () with the leak can be determined by voltage or hydrogen monitoring, or by immersing the stack in a liquid while applying gas to the fuel inlet of the stack.