FuelCell Energy. has been granted a patent for a humidity transfer assembly designed to enhance fuel cell systems. The assembly includes a pressure vessel and a humidity transfer device that transfers steam from anode exhaust to feed gas, optimizing the system’s efficiency and performance. GlobalData’s report on FuelCell Energy gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on FuelCell Energy, Hydrogen fuel cells was a key innovation area identified from patents. FuelCell Energy's grant share as of July 2024 was 59%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Humidity transfer assembly for fuel cell systems
The granted patent US12027734B2 describes a novel fuel cell system designed to enhance the efficiency of hydrogen production and management. The system comprises several key components, including a pressure vessel, a shift reactor, and an electrochemical hydrogen separator with an anode and a cathode. A humidity transfer device is integrated within the pressure vessel, which plays a crucial role in processing shifted exhaust from the shift reactor. This device is responsible for outputting dehumidified exhaust to the anode of the electrochemical hydrogen separator, receiving feed gas from a fuel supply, and transferring steam from the shifted exhaust to the feed gas to create a partially-humidified feed gas. This feed gas is then supplied to the pressure vessel to maintain its pressure.
Further claims detail the functionalities of the electrochemical hydrogen separator, including the output of purified hydrogen from the cathode and anode exhaust directed back to the shift reactor. The patent also outlines the configuration options for the humidity transfer device, which can be designed as either a shell-and-tube or a planar stack. Additionally, the system may incorporate a polymer-electrolyte membrane to facilitate steam transfer between the shifted and dehumidified exhaust. The shift reactor is described as having a shell with a water-gas shift catalyst, and it includes passages for efficient gas flow. Overall, the patent presents a comprehensive method for optimizing hydrogen production and management within a fuel cell system.
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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
