Catalytic combustors keeping contained medium warm in response to hydrostatic valve
US7410619B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 29, 2004 |
| Grant date | Aug 12, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 13, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/50
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The medium (9), such as water, of a container (10), such as a fuel cell accumulator, is kept above freezing by a hydrogen/oxygen catalytic combustor (13) fed hydrogen from a source comprising a mechanical thermostatic valve (25) in thermal communication (26) with the container (10) and connected to a hydrogen supply (28). The combustor may comprise an ejector (32) having hydrogen through its primary inlet (31) drawing air through a secondary inlet (33). The combustor may comprise a diffusion combustor having a catalyst (38) spaced from a heating surface (30) and a diffusion control plate (40) low partial pressure of oxygen at the catalyst causing diffusion through the barrier. Water vapor from combustion condenses on a surface (146) and is led by hydrophilic woven carbon paper (126) to wicking material (133), which has smaller pores than the carbon paper, which leads the water downwardly, through a disk (140) and plugs (147) to atmospheric air. The noble metal catalyst mixture includes TEFLON® to permit water generated by combustion to flow by gravity out of the catalyst.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.