Abstract:
Enabling and disabling login access to a web-based application by examining automatic number identification (ANI) information from a received telephone call, associating the ANI information with a user account, determining a current state of login access to a web-based application for the user account, the state of login access being one of enabled and disabled, and notifying the web-based application to change the state of login access to the other of enabled and disabled depending on the then-current state of login access. The methodology may further include examining dialed number identification service (DNIS) information of the received call to determine which of the enabling or disabling actions to take, and/or to determine which of a plurality of accounts is to be effected by the desired change in state of login access.
Abstract:
Enabling and disabling login access to a web-based application by examining automatic number identification (ANI) information from a received telephone call, associating the ANI information with a user account, determining a current state of login access to a web-based application for the user account, the state of login access being one of enabled and disabled, and notifying the web-based application to change the state of login access to the other of enabled and disabled depending on the then-current state of login access. The methodology may further include examining dialed number identification service (DNIS) information of the received call to determine which of the enabling or disabling actions to take, and/or to determine which of a plurality of accounts is to be effected by the desired change in state of login access.
Abstract:
A fuel cell assembly is disclosed, the fuel cell assembly including a pair of terminal plates, one terminal plate disposed at each end of the fuel cell assembly, a fuel cell disposed between a pair of end fuel cells and the terminal plates, and a thermally insulating, electrically conductive layer formed between the fuel cell and one of the terminal plates adapted to mitigate thermal losses from the end plate, and fluid condensation and ice formation in an end fuel cell. The end fuel cells of the fuel cell assembly have a membrane and/or a cathode having a thickness greater than an average thickness of a membrane and/or a cathode disposed in the fuel cell that may be used in conjunction with, or instead of, the insulating layer to further mitigate thermal losses from the end plate, and fluid condensation and ice formation in the end fuel cells.
Abstract:
A diffusion medium for use in a PEM fuel cell comprising a thin perforated layer having variable size and frequency of perforation patterns incorporated into a microporous layer on a first side of a porous substrate layer, wherein the diffusion medium is adapted to improve water management and performance of the fuel cell.
Abstract:
A fuel cell stack that includes an actuating device or devices for selectively providing interdigitated reactant gas flow and straight reactant gas flow through reactant gas flow channels to reduce water accumulation in the diffusing media layers of the stack. In one embodiment, the fuel cell stack employs internal actuators that selectively close the inlet end of every other flow channel and the outlet end of every other opposite flow channel to provide the interdigitated flow. In another embodiment, the interdigitated flow is provided by external actuation where two inlet manifolds and two outlet manifolds are provided. One input manifold is closed to close the input ends of every other flow channel and one outlet manifold is closed to close the output ends of every other opposite flow channel.
Abstract:
Specially prepared gas diffusion media improve the performance of PEM fuel cells. The media are made by first dipping an electrically conductive porous material such as carbon fiber paper into a suspension of hydrophobic polymer and drying the paper to create a desired deposition pattern of hydrophobic polymer on the substrate. Then a paste containing a fluorocarbon polymer and carbon particles is applied to a desired side of the substrate, and thereafter the paste and hydrophobic polymer are sintered together at high temperature on the paper. In particular, nonionic surfactants remain on the carbon fiber paper after the initial hydrophobic polymer is applied to the electrically conductive porous material. When the paste is coated on the dried paper, the paste is in contact with a hydrophilic surface.
Abstract:
A fuel cell system with a proton exchange membrane. There is a cathode catalyst layer overlying the first face of the proton exchange membrane, and a cathode diffusion layer overlying the cathode catalyst layer. There is an anode catalyst layer overlying the second face of the proton exchange membrane, and an anode diffusion layer overlying the anode catalyst layer. The cathode diffusion layer has a water vapor permeance of less than about 3×10−4 g/(Pa s m2) at 80° C. and 1 atmosphere. The invention also relates to cathode diffusion layers for fuel cell systems.
Abstract:
An electrically conductive fluid distribution element for use in a fuel cell having a conductive metal substrate and a layer of conductive non-metallic porous media. The conductive non-metallic porous media has an electrically conductive metal deposited along a surface in one or more metallized regions. The metallized regions improve electrical conductance at contact regions between the metal substrate and the fluid distribution media.
Abstract:
Favorable performance of diffusion media in fuel cells has found to be correlated to a parameter (the C/F ratio) that relates to a spatial and thickness distribution of the hydrophobic fluoropolymer on the carbon fiber substrate structure of the medium. Suitable diffusion media may be chosen from among commercially coated diffusion media by measuring the C/F ratio by means of energy dispersive spectroscopy, and choosing the diffusion media if the value of the C/F ratio is within the preferred range. Alternatively, the diffusion media may be manufactured with an improved process that consistently yields values of C/F ratio in the desired range.
Abstract:
Enabling and disabling login access to a web-based application by examining automatic number identification (ANI) information from a received telephone call, associating the ANI information with a user account, determining a current state of login access to a web-based application for the user account, the state of login access being one of enabled and disabled, and notifying the web-based application to change the state of login access to the other of enabled and disabled depending on the then-current state of login access. The methodology may further include examining dialed number identification service (DNIS) information of the received call to determine which of the enabling or disabling actions to take, and/or to determine which of a plurality of accounts is to be effected by the desired change in state of login access.