U.S. patents available from 1976 to present.
U.S. patent applications available from 2005 to present.

System and method for early detection of contaminants in a fuel processing system

Patent 6451464 Issued on September 17, 2002. Estimated Expiration Date: Icon_subject January 3, 2020. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Patent References

3469944

3524819

3765946

3857735

Hydrogen rich gas generator
Patent #: 3955941
Issued on: 05/11/1976
Inventor: Houseman ,   et al.

Fuel cell fuel control system
Patent #: 4098959
Issued on: 07/04/1978
Inventor: Fanciullo

Fuel cell fuel control system
Patent #: 4098960
Issued on: 07/04/1978
Inventor: Gagnon

Method and apparatus for electrochemical energy production
Patent #: 4349613
Issued on: 09/14/1982
Inventor: Winsel

Process for removing electrolyte vapor from fuel cell exhaust gas
Patent #: 4533607
Issued on: 08/06/1985
Inventor: Sederquist

Reformer reaction control apparatus for a fuel cell
Patent #: 4642273
Issued on: 02/10/1987
Inventor: Sasaki

More ...

Inventors

Application

No. 477128 filed on 01/03/2000

US Classes:

429/19, Having means for active material generation or regeneration429/17, Generating, regenerating or recycling reactant429/22Automatic control means

Examiners

Primary: Chaney, Carol
Assistant: Dove, Tracy

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Foreign Patent References

  • 0434562 EP. 06/13/1991
  • 1065741 EP. 01/13/2012
  • WO 97/43796 WO. 11/13/1997
  • WO99/65097 WO. 12/13/1999
  • WO00/02282 WO. 01/13/2012
  • WO 00/04600 WO. 01/13/2012

International Classes

H01M 008/04
H01M 008/06
H01M 008/18

Abstract

A system and method for preventing damage to a fuel cell stack resulting from impurities in the product stream from a fuel processor, such as may occur should the separation region of the fuel processor fail. The system and method include detecting the concentration of at least one component of the product stream and isolating the fuel cell stack should this concentration exceed an acceptable threshold level. Examples of impurities in the product stream include; carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, methane and water.

Other References

  • English language abstract of Japanes Patent No. 6176779, Jun. 1994
  • English language abstract of Japanese Patent No. 7057758, Mar. 1995
  • English language abstract of Japanese Patent No. 828793, 1996. (no month)
  • English language abstract of Great Britain Patent No. 2,305,186, 1997 (no month)
  • English language abstract of German language PCT Patent Application Ser. No. WO 97/43796, Nov. 1997
  • English language abstract of German language PCT Patent Application Ser. No. WO 00/04600, Jan. 2000
  • Amphlett, J. C., et al., "On Board Hydrogen Purification for Steam Reformer/PEM Fuel Cell Vehicle Power Plants," Energy Progress X, Proceedings of the 10th World Hydrogen Energy Conference, Cocoa Beach, Florida, U.S.A., vol. 3, pp. 1681-1690 (Jun. 1994)
  • Emonts, B., et al., "Compact Methanol Reformer Test for Fuel-Cell Powered Light-Duty Vehicles," Fifth Grove Fuel Cell Symposium, Commonwealth Institute, London, U.K., p. 42 (Sep. 22-25, 1997)
  • Oertel, Michael, et al., "Steam Reforming of Natural Gas with Integrated Hydrogen Separation for Hydrogen Production," Chemical Engineering Technology, vol. 10, pp. 248-255 (1987). No Month
  • Privette et al., "Status of SOFCo SOFC Technology Development," presented at the 1996 Fuel Cell Seminar held in Orlando, Florida, pp. 206-209. Nov. 199
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