FUEL CELL SYSTEMS WITH MAINTENANCE HYDRATION
First Claim
1. A fuel cell system with maintenance hydration during periods of inactivity, the fuel cell system comprising:
- at least one fuel cell including an anode region, a cathode region, and an electrolytic barrier that permits selective movement of positive charge between the anode region and the cathode region;
a reactant delivery system for directing a fuel and an oxidant to the at least one fuel cell, the reactant delivery system including a conduit assembly having (1) a first configuration that directs the fuel to the anode region and the oxidant to the cathode region for generation of electrical output, and (2) a second configuration that directs both the fuel and the oxidant to the anode region, to the cathode region, or both to the anode region and to the cathode region, to generate water; and
a controller operatively coupled to the reactant delivery system and adapted to control configuring of the conduit assembly into the second configuration such that the at least one fuel cell is hydrated without generation of electrical output.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Fuel cell systems, and more particularly to fuel cell systems with fuel cell hydration provided during periods of inactivity by combining a fuel and an oxidant. In some embodiments, the systems may include at least one fuel cell with an anode region and a cathode region. The at least one fuel cell may be hydrated by disposing both a fuel and an oxidant in the anode region, the cathode region, or both the anode region and the cathode region, and, optionally, without generation of electrical output. In some embodiments, the systems may include a controller that controls combined delivery of a fuel and an oxidant to the at least one fuel cell. In some embodiments, the systems may deliver a mixture of the fuel and the oxidant to the at least one fuel cell after a period of fuel cell inactivity.
102 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A fuel cell system with maintenance hydration during periods of inactivity, the fuel cell system comprising:
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at least one fuel cell including an anode region, a cathode region, and an electrolytic barrier that permits selective movement of positive charge between the anode region and the cathode region; a reactant delivery system for directing a fuel and an oxidant to the at least one fuel cell, the reactant delivery system including a conduit assembly having (1) a first configuration that directs the fuel to the anode region and the oxidant to the cathode region for generation of electrical output, and (2) a second configuration that directs both the fuel and the oxidant to the anode region, to the cathode region, or both to the anode region and to the cathode region, to generate water; and a controller operatively coupled to the reactant delivery system and adapted to control configuring of the conduit assembly into the second configuration such that the at least one fuel cell is hydrated without generation of electrical output. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of hydrating a fuel cell system including at least one fuel cell having an anode region, a cathode region, and an electrolytic barrier that permits selective movement of positive charge between the anode region and the cathode region for generation of electrical output, the method comprising:
delivering both a fuel and an oxidant to the anode region, the cathode region, or both to the anode region and to the cathode region, such that the fuel and the oxidant are in contact with each other and react to increase hydration of the at least one fuel cell without generating electrical output. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method of operating a fuel cell system having at least one fuel cell with an anode region, a cathode region, and an electrolytic barrier that permits selective movement of positive charge between the anode region and the cathode region for generation of electrical output, the method comprising:
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generating electrical output by disposing a fuel in the anode region and an oxidant in the cathode region; and hydrating the at least one fuel cell by (1) mixing the fuel and the oxidant to form a mixture, and (2) disposing the mixture in the cathode region, in the anode region, or both in the cathode region and in the anode region, to produce water. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification