Abstract:
A cooling apparatus of a fuel cell system includes a housing for providing a space for receiving an electricity generating unit and a cooling medium supply unit connected to the housing to supply the cooling medium to the electricity generating unit. The housing has a body having a space for receiving the electricity generating unit. A guide section is connected to the body to collect the cooling medium passing through electricity generating unit. An exhaust unit is connected to the guide section to exhaust the cooling medium to outside of the housing.
Abstract:
In an apparatus and method for automatically correcting a design pattern in view of different process defects, defect characteristic functions that indicate frequencies of each process defect independent from one another are generated, and a normalization factor that indicates relationships between the defect characteristic functions is determined. A general defect characteristic function indicating a frequency of general defects is generated using the defect characteristic functions and the normalization factor. The general defect causes the same process failure as caused by each of the process defects. The design pattern is modified using the general defect characteristic function in such a manner that the frequency of the general defects is minimized when at least one portion of the design pattern corresponding to the model pattern is transcribed on the substrate. Accordingly, the whole design pattern may be automatically corrected based on the general defect characteristic function.
Abstract:
A separator for a fuel cell includes a main separator and a sub separator. A plurality of intake manifolds and exhaust manifolds are perforated on both end portions of the main separator and the sub separator. A plurality of channels are formed on an upper surface of the main separator so that fuel is supplied through the different intake manifolds and is exhausted through the different exhaust manifolds. Auxiliary channels are formed on a lower surface of the main separator and an upper surface and a lower surface of the sub separator so as to connect the intake manifolds and the exhaust manifolds to the channels. A connecting channel is formed on a lower surface of the main separator so as to communicate with the channels, and connect the channels and the auxiliary channels.
Abstract:
A series type air supply system for fuel cell-powered vehicles wherein a low speed air supplier and a high speed air supplier are connected in a series for performance of a multi-staged pressurization to variably operate the air suppliers of high efficiency according to an output value of a fuel cell stack and to improve the work efficiency of a fuel cell system under all driving modes of fuel cell-powered vehicles. Air is pressurized by a 2-staged compression of the low and high speed air suppliers under an accelerated driving mode to reduce the work load of compression and to increase the overall efficiency of the fuel cell system.
Abstract:
A stack for a fuel cell system which can include a simplified fastening structure and a fuel cell system having the stack are shown. The stack includes at least one electricity generator, a housing, and a cover. The electricity generator includes a MEA and separators located on both surfaces of the MEA. The housing has an internal space in which the electricity generator is positioned, and a cover coupled to the housing to fix the electricity generator in place. A number of various mechanisms are shown for holding the housing and the cover together and for fixing the stacks in place. A number of reinforcing elements and structural shapes are also shown that yield a stronger housing and cover assembly that resists buckling and other forms of stress.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a fuel cell system wherein the flow of fuel and oxygen is optimized thereby improving the thermal efficiency of the entire system. The fuel cell system comprises at least one stack for generating electrical energy by an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen gas and oxygen, a fuel supply portion for supplying fuel to the stack, and an oxygen supply portion for supplying oxygen to the stack. The stack is formed in a stacked configuration with MEAs and separators. The separators are positioned on either surface of the MEAs. The separators have a plurality of ribs proximate to the MEAs which define a plurality of channels wherein the ratio of a width of the channels to the width of the ribs is from about 0.8 to 1.5.
Abstract:
A fuel cell system optimizing the ratio of width of a channel to a width of a rib forming a passage for supplying fuel and air, the ratio of width thereof to a height of a channel, and the number of passages, thereby improving the fuel diffusing performance and reducing a pressure drop therein is provided. The fuel cell system includes at least one stack for generating electrical energy by an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, a fuel supply portion for supplying fuel to the stack, and an oxygen supply portion for supplying oxygen to the stack. The stack is formed into a stacked configuration having a plurality of membrane electrode assemblies separated by separators. The separators have ribs which closely contact the adjacent membrane electrode assemblies and form channels through which the oxygen and hydrogen flow. The ratio of the width of a channel to the height of the same is between about 0.6 and about 0.8.
Abstract:
A fuel cell system includes at least one electricity generating unit for generating electric energy through an electrochemical reaction between oxygen and hydrogen, a reformer for reforming fuel to generate hydrogen gas to be supplied to the electricity generating unit, a fuel supply apparatus for absorbing a liquid fuel stored in a fuel reservoir and supplying the fuel to the reformer and an oxygen supply source for supplying oxygen to the electricity generating unit. The fuel supply apparatus employs an absorber with capillary channels in which osmotic pressure is produced due to a concentration differential caused by thermal energy. The osmotic pressure allows the fuel to flow.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a method for purifying of a nucleic acid from a biological sample. The method involves contacting a biological sample containing a nucleic acid with a hydrophilic polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane which contains pores having an average diameter less than about 0.45 &mgr;m and recovering the nucleic acid. The method can further include adding silica beads to the biological sample prior to the contacting step.