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GEI Receives US Patent

September 2008

GEI receives US patent for high power re-configurable DC-DC conveter. The US patent is the core technology for GEI's X5 scalable and adaptable Smart Fuel Cell Power System.

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Fuel Cell Overview

Fuel cells are a highly efficient, combustion-less, and virtually pollution free energy source that provides electricity to power a wide array of applications including buildings, automobiles, emergency back-up systems, laptop computers, and numerous other consumer devices. In principle, a fuel cell is an electrochemical device that operates like a battery. However, unlike a battery, a fuel cell requires re-fueling, and not recharging.

A fuel cell uses fuel — usually hydrogen extracted from natural gas, propane, or other carbon based fuels, and oxygen extracted from air — to produce electricity. Fuel cells will continue to produce energy in the form of electricity and heat as long as there is a constant fuel source. Hydrogen fuel cells work simply, have no moving parts, and operate silently with water and excess heat as the only by-products.

fuelcellprocess

Specific industries that employ fuel cell power systems are:

  • Auxiliary Power
    • Commercial Trucking
    • Recreation Vehicles and Motor Homes
    • Marine
  • Portable Power
    • Disaster Relief Emergency
  • Back-up Stationary Power
    • Consumer
    • Defense and Homeland Security
    • Data Security
    • Telecommunications

GEI 's X5 furthermore has a rather significant competitive advantage in the use of high temperature polymer exchange membrane (HT-PEM) fuel cell stacks. Although HT-PEM stacks normally have a lower power density than traditional low temperature PEM stacks, GEI’s proprietary bi-polar plate flow field designs increases power density by 25% due to efficient flow distribution and thermal management. The primary advantage of HT-PEM stacks is the increased tolerance to reformed fuel impurities, such as CO and sulfur, and results in a smaller, and less expensive overall system with higher efficiencies although individual cells have a lower power density. The higher tolerance to fuel impurities and higher operating temperatures provide the capability to reform logistic fuels, if necessary, such as low sulfur diesel, propane, methanol, ethanol, and bio-diesel fuels. The high fuel impurity tolerance also results in decreased logistics fuel processing equipment requirements and therefore decreased overall cost and increased system reliability.

Finally, due to GEI’s strong engineering background, a core strategic advantage is the area of systems integration and robust product design methodology. GEI’s strong focus on systems engineering and design optimization will help to streamline the design process, increase overall product quality and provide a product for the marketplace that is robust, adaptable, and will reduce re-engineering design cost for new markets.
 

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