IdaTech (Bend, OR) announced its fifth fuel cell patent, which protects the company from unauthorized use or manufacture of IdaTech's system of optimizing the purging excess water from fuel cell stacks. Newly granted US Patent No. 6,242,120 covers the mechanism that synchronizes the purging of the fuel cell stack with the rate at which water is produced.
"Our optimized purge cycle helps maximize the fuel cell's use of the hydrogen fuel," said Dr. David Edlund, IdaTech's senior vice president and CTO. "Our optimization method is done automatically and responds precisely to the load placed on the fuel cell system. That responsiveness that ensures optimal performance occurs over a wide range of operating conditions."
