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Proton-exchange membrane fuel cells
Humidification for PEM fuel cells
synthesis gas is contacted with a membrane which Konstantin, J.Shertok, Y. Yang separates the synthesis gas into a hydrogen- Publication date: 23 November 2000 Applicant: De Nora Fuel Cells, Italy A humidification device for polymeric mem- enriched permeate and a hydrogen-depleted nonbrane fuel-cell stacks fed with gaseous reactants permeate. The permeate is then conveyed to a Plasma-annealed membrane for is described. The gases supplied to the stack are carbon dioxide absorber. This, in turn, removes protein separation previously fed in admixture with a stream of carbon dioxide using a solvent. The solvent, Applicant: University of Minnesota, USA liquid water to a chamber which is filled with a which is rich in carbon dioxide from the absorber, Improved porous polymeric membranes, which reticulated material, whose highly subdivided ' is heated before being sent to a gas-liquid are made by a process of plasma-annealing, are geometry provides an extended exchange surface contactor, where the solvent is regenerated by used in separation and concentration favouring the saturation of gas. The company i nitrogen stripping. A small recycle stream of a applications for solutions or suspensions behind the development claims that the device is regenerating gas (i.e. hydrogen) is subsequently containing proteinaceous substances. The more efficient and compact than those which contacted with the solvent, stripping entrained porous membranes were treated by exposure to a and dissolved nitrogen from the solvent. This glow-discharge through a gas mixture are presently known. stripping gas and/or the regenerating gas containing an alkane (such as methane) in Patent number: W O 00/70698 (preferably both) are then mixed with the non- combination with oxygen, air or a hydrophilic Inventors: G. Mazzucchelli, M. Brambilla, G.P. permeate for combustion in a combustion unsaturated organic monomer, and exhibit Fleba, A. Maggiore turbine. greatly improved flux towards proteinPublication date: 23 November 2000 Patent number: W O 00/69774 containing fluids, and reduced protein fouling and loss by adsorption on membrane surfaces. High-temperature membrane fuel cell Inventors: ES. Wallace, K.A. Johnson, J.L. Kasbaum These membranes are useful in the fractionation Applicant: Siemens AG, Germany and separation of protein-containing fluids. The invention presented relates to a high Publication date: 23 November 2000 Patent number: WO 00/69548 temperature membrane (HTM) fuel cell, and a Mixed ionic and electronic Publication date: 23 November 2000 method for operating a high temperature membrane fuel cell. It also covers an H T M fuel- conducting ceramic membranes Proton-exchange membranefuel cells cell battery. According to the invention, the Applicant: Ehron Research Inc, USA electrolytes are prevented from being flushed This invention describes mixed-phase materials Applicant: Tulane Educational Fund, USA out when starting the battery because the for the preparation of catalytic membranes This sulfonated poly-phosphazene-based product water does not condense inside the fuel- which exhibit ionic and electronic conduction, cation-exchange membrane is for use in procell unit. This is because the unit can be heated and which also exhibit improved mechanical ton-exchange membrane fuel cells. The polyin a locally limited manner in order to evaporate strength, in comparison with single-phase ionic = phosphazene is cross-linked, non-cross-linked, and electronic-conducting materials. The suitably blended with one or more additionthe water which is produced. mixed-phase materials are useful for forming al polymers, and/or impregnated into the Patent number."W O 00/70693 gas-impermeable membranes, either as dense void volume of an inert micro-porous Inventors: M. Baldauf, U. Gebhardt ceramic membranes, or as dense thin-films membrane support and where the membranes Publication date: 23 November 2000 coated onto porous substrates. The membranes operate in a hydrated state which is and materials of this invention are found to be characterised by a high proton conductance and Thermoplastic-filled membranes Applicant: Exxon Chemical Patents Inc, USA useful in catalytic membrane reactors (CMRs) low water and methanol permeation rates. In The invention relates to a thermoplastic ' i n a variety of applications, including the particular, this invention relates to the use of membrane which is formed from a blend of a production of synthesis gas. One or more poly[bis(3-methylphenoxy)phosphazene] as the first polymer component (FPC), which crystalline second phases are present in the base polymer, with sulfonated ion-exchange comprises a propylene-ethylene co-polymer mixed-phase material, at a level sufficient to groups, for direct liquid-feed methanol fuel containing 80-93 wt% of units derived from enhance the mechanical strength of the mixture, cells. propylene, and with a melting point derived in order to provide membranes for practical Patent number: W O 00/72395 from stereo-regular polypropylene sequences, as application in CMRs. Inventors: EN. Pintauro, H. Tang determined by differential scanning calorimetry Patent number."W O 00/69556 Publication date: 30 November 2000 (DSC), in the range of 25-70 °C, and a heat of Inventors: E Van Calcar, R. Mackay, A.E Sammells fusion of 2-25 J/g. Also included is an inorganic Publication date: 23 November 2000 Active membranes for fuel cells filler, a processing oil and, optionally, a second Applicant: Microcoating Technologies Inc, USA polymer component (SPC), which is a stereo- Charged membrane The materials and processes for forming fuel-cell regular polypropylene containing less than 7 Applicant:Pall Corporation, USA electrodes can include substrates of co-deposited , , This patent provides details of a hydrophilic' i wt% of units derived from ethylene or alpnamaterials including an electrically conductive olefin monomer, containing 4-8 carbon atoms i charged micro-porous membrane. This i material such as graphite, a polymer film such as and with a melting point (as determined' by i invention comprises a porous hydrophobic i a proton-exchange membrane, and a catalytic DSC) greater than 130°C and a heat of fusion ~ suhstrate and a coating which is composed of a i material such as platinum. The material may be greater than 80 Jig. charge-providing agent. It also describes a{ applied to a polymer film by combustion hydrophilic, charged membrane which Patent number: W O 00/69965 chemical vapour deposition (CCVD) to comprises a porous hydrophobic substrate and a Inventors: N.R. Dharmarajan, M.C. Bulawa, S. produce a layered membrane, or the polymer hydrophilic charge-providing agent distributed Datta, A.H. Tsou may be deposited simultaneously with the within the substrate. Also described is a filter Publication date: 23 November 2000 catalytic coating to produce a membrane where and a filter device which uses the hydrophilic, the layers are intermingled. Proton-exchange Hydrogen recycling and acid-gas charged membrane, and a process for treating a membranes prepared by this method are useful fluid which contains bacterial contaminants removal in the manufacture of fuel cells. such as endotoxins. Applicant: Texaco Development Corp., USA Patent number: WO 00/72391 This process recovers a high-purity, high-pressure Patent number: W O 00/69549 Inventor: A.T. Hunt hydrogen gas-stream from synthesis gas. The Inventors:X. Wu, J.L. Kinsey Jr, M. Ishee, E Publication date: 30 November 2000
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MembraneTechnologyNo.132
synthesis gas is contacted with a membrane which Konstantin, J.Shertok, Y. Yang separates the synthesis gas into a hydrogen- Publication date: 23 November 2000 Applicant: De Nora Fuel Cells, Italy A humidification device for polymeric mem- enriched permeate and a hydrogen-depleted nonbrane fuel-cell stacks fed with gaseous reactants permeate. The permeate is then conveyed to a Plasma-annealed membrane for is described. The gases supplied to the stack are carbon dioxide absorber. This, in turn, removes protein separation previously fed in admixture with a stream of carbon dioxide using a solvent. The solvent, Applicant: University of Minnesota, USA liquid water to a chamber which is filled with a which is rich in carbon dioxide from the absorber, Improved porous polymeric membranes, which reticulated material, whose highly subdivided ' is heated before being sent to a gas-liquid are made by a process of plasma-annealing, are geometry provides an extended exchange surface contactor, where the solvent is regenerated by used in separation and concentration favouring the saturation of gas. The company i nitrogen stripping. A small recycle stream of a applications for solutions or suspensions behind the development claims that the device is regenerating gas (i.e. hydrogen) is subsequently containing proteinaceous substances. The more efficient and compact than those which contacted with the solvent, stripping entrained porous membranes were treated by exposure to a and dissolved nitrogen from the solvent. This glow-discharge through a gas mixture are presently known. stripping gas and/or the regenerating gas containing an alkane (such as methane) in Patent number: W O 00/70698 (preferably both) are then mixed with the non- combination with oxygen, air or a hydrophilic Inventors: G. Mazzucchelli, M. Brambilla, G.P. permeate for combustion in a combustion unsaturated organic monomer, and exhibit Fleba, A. Maggiore turbine. greatly improved flux towards proteinPublication date: 23 November 2000 Patent number: W O 00/69774 containing fluids, and reduced protein fouling and loss by adsorption on membrane surfaces. High-temperature membrane fuel cell Inventors: ES. Wallace, K.A. Johnson, J.L. Kasbaum These membranes are useful in the fractionation Applicant: Siemens AG, Germany and separation of protein-containing fluids. The invention presented relates to a high Publication date: 23 November 2000 Patent number: WO 00/69548 temperature membrane (HTM) fuel cell, and a Mixed ionic and electronic Publication date: 23 November 2000 method for operating a high temperature membrane fuel cell. It also covers an H T M fuel- conducting ceramic membranes Proton-exchange membranefuel cells cell battery. According to the invention, the Applicant: Ehron Research Inc, USA electrolytes are prevented from being flushed This invention describes mixed-phase materials Applicant: Tulane Educational Fund, USA out when starting the battery because the for the preparation of catalytic membranes This sulfonated poly-phosphazene-based product water does not condense inside the fuel- which exhibit ionic and electronic conduction, cation-exchange membrane is for use in procell unit. This is because the unit can be heated and which also exhibit improved mechanical ton-exchange membrane fuel cells. The polyin a locally limited manner in order to evaporate strength, in comparison with single-phase ionic = phosphazene is cross-linked, non-cross-linked, and electronic-conducting materials. The suitably blended with one or more additionthe water which is produced. mixed-phase materials are useful for forming al polymers, and/or impregnated into the Patent number."W O 00/70693 gas-impermeable membranes, either as dense void volume of an inert micro-porous Inventors: M. Baldauf, U. Gebhardt ceramic membranes, or as dense thin-films membrane support and where the membranes Publication date: 23 November 2000 coated onto porous substrates. The membranes operate in a hydrated state which is and materials of this invention are found to be characterised by a high proton conductance and Thermoplastic-filled membranes Applicant: Exxon Chemical Patents Inc, USA useful in catalytic membrane reactors (CMRs) low water and methanol permeation rates. In The invention relates to a thermoplastic ' i n a variety of applications, including the particular, this invention relates to the use of membrane which is formed from a blend of a production of synthesis gas. One or more poly[bis(3-methylphenoxy)phosphazene] as the first polymer component (FPC), which crystalline second phases are present in the base polymer, with sulfonated ion-exchange comprises a propylene-ethylene co-polymer mixed-phase material, at a level sufficient to groups, for direct liquid-feed methanol fuel containing 80-93 wt% of units derived from enhance the mechanical strength of the mixture, cells. propylene, and with a melting point derived in order to provide membranes for practical Patent number: W O 00/72395 from stereo-regular polypropylene sequences, as application in CMRs. Inventors: EN. Pintauro, H. Tang determined by differential scanning calorimetry Patent number."W O 00/69556 Publication date: 30 November 2000 (DSC), in the range of 25-70 °C, and a heat of Inventors: E Van Calcar, R. Mackay, A.E Sammells fusion of 2-25 J/g. Also included is an inorganic Publication date: 23 November 2000 Active membranes for fuel cells filler, a processing oil and, optionally, a second Applicant: Microcoating Technologies Inc, USA polymer component (SPC), which is a stereo- Charged membrane The materials and processes for forming fuel-cell regular polypropylene containing less than 7 Applicant:Pall Corporation, USA electrodes can include substrates of co-deposited , , This patent provides details of a hydrophilic' i wt% of units derived from ethylene or alpnamaterials including an electrically conductive olefin monomer, containing 4-8 carbon atoms i charged micro-porous membrane. This i material such as graphite, a polymer film such as and with a melting point (as determined' by i invention comprises a porous hydrophobic i a proton-exchange membrane, and a catalytic DSC) greater than 130°C and a heat of fusion ~ suhstrate and a coating which is composed of a i material such as platinum. The material may be greater than 80 Jig. charge-providing agent. It also describes a{ applied to a polymer film by combustion hydrophilic, charged membrane which Patent number: W O 00/69965 chemical vapour deposition (CCVD) to comprises a porous hydrophobic substrate and a Inventors: N.R. Dharmarajan, M.C. Bulawa, S. produce a layered membrane, or the polymer hydrophilic charge-providing agent distributed Datta, A.H. Tsou may be deposited simultaneously with the within the substrate. Also described is a filter Publication date: 23 November 2000 catalytic coating to produce a membrane where and a filter device which uses the hydrophilic, the layers are intermingled. Proton-exchange Hydrogen recycling and acid-gas charged membrane, and a process for treating a membranes prepared by this method are useful fluid which contains bacterial contaminants removal in the manufacture of fuel cells. such as endotoxins. Applicant: Texaco Development Corp., USA Patent number: WO 00/72391 This process recovers a high-purity, high-pressure Patent number: W O 00/69549 Inventor: A.T. Hunt hydrogen gas-stream from synthesis gas. The Inventors:X. Wu, J.L. Kinsey Jr, M. Ishee, E Publication date: 30 November 2000
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MembraneTechnologyNo.132