Elwood A Eisler

20030091881, May 15, 2003

Oct 4, 2002

10/264547

Elwood Eisler - Albany NY, US
David Gutenmann - Clifton Park NY, US

Plug Power Inc. - Latham NY

H01M008/04
H01M008/10

429/022000, 429/023000, 429/024000, 429/026000, 429/013000, 429/032000

The invention relates to systems and associated methods of operating fuel cell systems where the rotational speed of a reactant humidification enthalpy wheel is dynamically controlled according to various process variables. In one embodiment, a method is provided for operating a fuel cell system, including the following steps: (1) rotating a porous desiccant material about a rotational axis; (2) flowing air through the desiccant material in a direction parallel to the rotational axis to a cathode inlet of a fuel cell; (3) flowing cathode exhaust from the fuel cell through the desiccant material; (4) monitoring a process performance variable; (5) detecting a change in a value of the process performance variable; and (6) varying a rotational speed of the desiccant material in response to the detected change in the value of the process performance variable.

20050129993, Jun 16, 2005

Dec 16, 2003

10/737621

Elwood Eisler - Albany NY, US
Steven Shufon - Troy NY, US
David Marshall - Valley Falls NY, US

H01M008/04
H01M008/10
H01M008/12
H01M002/14
H01M008/18
H01M008/00

429017000, 429013000, 429019000, 429022000, 429023000, 429032000, 429025000, 429038000, 429039000

A technique that is usable with a fuel cell system includes establishing a path to route an anode exhaust from the fuel cell system back to an anode inlet port of the stack. The technique includes diverting part of a first flow otherwise flowing through the path to produce a diverted flow and combining the diverted flow with a flow that is associated with a cathode of the stack.