Source: http://www.patentgenius.com/patent/8043757.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 04:25:52
Document Index: 258128910

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 200480024524', 'Application No. 200480024524', 'Application No. 200480024524', 'Application No. 200480024523', 'Application No. 013', 'Application No. 200480024524', 'Application No. 04756161']

Efficient micro fuel cell systems and methods - Patent # 8043757 - PatentGenius
8043757 Efficient micro fuel cell systems and methods
Application: 12/344,077
Inventors: Kaye; Ian W. (Livermore, CA)
Tucker; Gerry (Pleasanton, CA)
Assignee: UltraCell Acquisition Company, L.L.C. (Commack, NY)
U.S. Class: 429/436; 429/430; 429/433; 429/434; 429/441; 429/442
Field Of Search: 429/429; 429/436; 429/441; 429/433; 429/434; 429/430; 429/442
Foreign Patent Documents: 44 46 841; 19841993; 002405744; 62 066578; 02 139871; WO 00/45457; WO 02/059993; WO 02/093665; WO 02/103832; WO 02/103878; WO 2004/030805
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Abstract: Fuel cell systems and methods are described. A method for generating electrical energy in a fuel cell receives hydrogen from a fuel processor configured to process a fuel source to produce the hydrogen, includes transporting a heating medium from the fuel processor to the fuel cell when electrical energy output by the fuel cell includes less than an electrical threshold or when temperature of a component in the fuel cell is less than a temperature threshold, heating a portion of the fuel cell, transporting hydrogen from the fuel processor to the fuel cell, detecting temperature of the component or electrical output of the fuel cell, and generating electrical energy in the fuel cell when the temperature of the component is about equal to or greater than the threshold temperature or when electrical energy output by the fuel cell is about equal to or greater than an electrical threshold.
1. A method for generating electrical energy in a fuel cell that receives hydrogen from a fuel processor configured to process a fuel source to produce the hydrogen, themethod comprising: providing the fuel source to the fuel processor; monitoring both a temperature and an electrical energy output to determine whether a temperature threshold or an electrical threshold is reached; transporting a heating medium from thefuel processor to the fuel cell when one of the electrical threshold and the temperature threshold is reached, wherein the electrical threshold is reached when electrical energy output by the fuel cell includes less than an electrical threshold and thetemperature threshold is reached when temperature of a component in the fuel cell is less than a temperature threshold, and wherein the heating medium comprises exhaust of a burner in the fuel processor; heating a portion of the fuel cell; transportinghydrogen from the fuel processor to the fuel cell; detecting temperature of the component or electrical output of the fuel cell; and generating electrical energy in the fuel cell when one of the electrical and temperature thresholds is reached, whereinthe temperature threshold is reached when the temperature of the component is about equal to or greater than the threshold temperature and the electrical threshold is reached when electrical energy output by the fuel cell is about equal to or greaterthan an electrical threshold.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the heating medium is transported to a heat transfer appendage included in the fuel cell, wherein the heat transfer appendage a) includes a portion arranged external to a fuel cell stack included in the fuelcell and b) is in conductive thermal communication with an internal portion of the fuel cell stack.
13. A method for generating electrical energy in a fuel cell that receives hydrogen from a fuel processor configured to process a fuel source to produce the hydrogen, the method comprising: providing the fuel source to the fuel processor; monitoring both a temperature and an electrical energy output to determine whether a temperature threshold or an electrical threshold is reached; transporting a heating medium from the fuel processor to the fuel cell when one of the electrical thresholdand the temperature threshold is reached, wherein the electrical threshold is reached when electrical energy output by the fuel cell includes less than an electrical threshold and the temperature threshold is reached when temperature of a component inthe fuel cell is less than a temperature threshold; heating a portion of the fuel cell; transporting hydrogen from the fuel processor to the fuel cell; detecting temperature of the component or electrical output of the fuel cell; and generatingelectrical energy in the fuel cell when one of the electrical and temperature thresholds is reached, wherein the temperature threshold is reached when the temperature of the component is about equal to or greater than the threshold temperature and theelectrical threshold is reached when electrical energy output by the fuel cell is about equal to or greater than an electrical threshold; and discontinuing transportation of the heating medium from the fuel processor to the heat transfer appendage whenthe temperature of the component is less than the threshold temperature.
16. The method of claim 13, wherein the heating medium is transported to a heat transfer appendage included in the fuel cell, wherein the heat transfer appendage a) includes a portion arranged external to a fuel cell stack included in the fuelcell and b) is in conductive thermal communication with an internal portion of the fuel cell stack.
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