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US 6,682,844 B2Granted
Release valve and method for venting a system
AssigneePlug Power Inc.
InventorSuat Genc
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A release valve is disclosed which in one embodiment includes a housing having a passageway extending therethrough and defining an inlet and an outlet, and a membrane extending across the passageway between the inlet and the outlet. The membrane is operable to permit passage through the passageway of gas at a first pressure, inhibit passage through the passageway of liquid at the first pressure, and permit passage of liquid at a second pressure greater than the first pressure. The release valve may also include a check valve for inhibiting passage of gas from the outlet to the inlet. The release valve is suitably employed in fuel cell systems such as in a cooling system thereof.
Claims57
A release valve comprising:
- a housing comprising a passageway extending therethrough and defining an inlet and an outlet;
- a membrane extending across the passageway between said inlet and said outlet, said membrane operable to permit passage through said passageway of gas at a first pressure, inhibit passage through said passageway of liquid at said first pressure, and permit passage of liquid at a second pressure greater than said first pressure;
- and
- wherein said membrane comprises micropores having a pore size between about 0.2 micrometers and about 10.0 micrometers.
1 more element
A portion of a system through which a fluid is flowable, said portion of the system comprising:
- a conduit having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a passageway through which the fluid is flowable and an opening extending through said conduit from said outer surface to said inner surface;
- a membrane extending across said opening, said membrane operable to permit passage through said opening of gas at a first pressure, inhibit passage through said opening of liquid at said first pressure, and permit passage of liquid through said opening at a second pressure greater than said first pressure;
- and
- wherein said membrane comprises micropores having a pore size between about 0.2 micrometers and about 10.0 micrometers.
1 more element
A cooling system through which a coolant is flowable, said cooling system comprising:
- a conduit through which the coolant is flowable;
- and
- a release valve comprising:
- a housing comprising a passageway extending therethrough and defining an inlet and an outlet, said outlet operably connected to said conduit and in communication with the coolant;
- a membrane extending across the passageway between said inlet and said outlet, said membrane operable to permit passage through said passageway of gas at a first pressure, inhibit passage through said passageway of liquid at said first pressure, and permit passage of liquid at a second pressure greater than said first pressure;
- and
- wherein said release valve is disposed at the highest elevation of said cooling system.
4 more elements
A method for venting a system through which a fluid is flowable, the method comprising:
- providing a membrane across an opening to the system, the membrane operable to permit passage of gas at a first pressure and inhibit passage of liquid at the first pressure;
- and
- wherein the membrane comprises micropores having a pore size between about 0.2 micrometers and about 10.0 micrometers.
A method for relieving a predetermined pressure in a system through which a gas and a liquid are flowable, the method comprising:
- selecting a membrane operable to permit passage of gas at a first pressure and inhibit passage of liquid at the first pressure, and the membrane operable to permit passage of liquid at the predetermined pressure;
- providing the membrane across an opening to the system;
- and
- positioning the opening at the highest portion of the system.
1 more element
A release valve comprising:
- a housing comprising a passageway extending therethrough and defining an inlet and an outlet;
- a membrane extending across the passageway between said inlet and said outlet, said membrane operable to permit passage through said passageway of gas at a first pressure, inhibit passage through said passageway of liquid at said first pressure, and permit passage of liquid at a second pressure greater than said first pressure;
- and
- a first perforated member disposed across a first surface of said membrane and a second perforated member disposed across a second surface of said membrane.
1 more element
A release valve comprising:
- a housing comprising a passageway extending therethrough and defining an inlet and an outlet;
- a membrane extending across the passageway between said inlet and said outlet, said membrane operable to permit passage through said passageway of gas at a first pressure, inhibit passage through said passageway of liquid at said first pressure, and permit passage of liquid at a second pressure greater than said first pressure;
- said passageway comprising a first cross-section and a second cross-section defining therebetween a stop upon which rests said membrane;
- and
- an O-ring disposed between said stop and said membrane.
2 more elements
A release valve comprising:
- a housing comprising a passageway extending therethrough and defining an inlet and an outlet;
- a membrane extending across the passageway between said inlet and said outlet, said membrane operable to permit passage through said passageway of gas at a first pressure, inhibit passage through said passageway of liquid at said first pressure, and permit passage of liquid at a second pressure greater than said first pressure;
- said passageway comprising a first cross-section and a second cross-section defining therebetween a stop upon which rests said membrane;
- and
- a sleeve, and wherein said membrane is disposed between said sleeve and said stop.
2 more elements
A release valve comprising:
- a housing comprising a passageway extending therethrough and defining an inlet and an outlet;
- a membrane extending across the passageway between said inlet and said outlet, said membrane operable to permit passage through said passageway of gas at a first pressure, inhibit passage through said passageway of liquid at said first pressure, and permit passage of liquid at a second pressure greater than said first pressure;
- and
- a cap extending across said outlet, said cap comprising an aperture extending therethrough.
1 more element
A portion of a system through which a fluid is flowable, said portion of the system comprising:
- a conduit having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a passageway through which the fluid is flowable and an opening extending through said conduit from said outer surface to said inner surface;
- a membrane extending across said opening, said membrane operable to permit passage through said opening of gas at a first pressure, inhibit passage through said opening of liquid at said first pressure, and permit passage of liquid through said opening at a second pressure greater than said first pressure;
- and
- a generally perforated member disposed across said opening, and wherein said membrane is sandwiched between said perforated member and said conduit.
1 more element
A cooling system through which a coolant is flowable, said cooling system comprising:
- a conduit through which the coolant is flowable;
- and
- a release valve comprising:
- a housing comprising a passageway extending therethrough and defining an inlet and an outlet, said outlet operably connected to said conduit and in communication with the coolant;
- a membrane extending across the passageway between said inlet and said outlet, said membrane operable to permit passage through said passageway of gas at a first pressure, inhibit passage through said passageway of liquid at said first pressure, and permit passage of liquid at a second pressure greater than said first pressure;
- and
- wherein said membrane comprises micropores having a pore size between about 0.2 micrometers and about 10.0 micrometers.
4 more elements
A release valve comprising:
- a housing comprising a passageway extending therethrough and defining an inlet and an outlet;
- a membrane extending across the passageway between said inlet and said outlet, said membrane operable to permit passage through said passageway of gas at a first pressure, inhibit passage through said passageway of liquid at said first pressure, and permit passage of liquid at a second pressure greater than said first pressure;
- and
- a check valve for inhibiting passage of gas from said outlet to said inlet.
1 more element
A portion of a system through which a fluid is flowable, said portion of the system comprising:
- a conduit having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a passageway through which the fluid is flowable and an opening extending through said conduit from said outer surface to said inner surface;
- a membrane extending across said opening, said membrane operable to permit passage through said opening of gas at a first pressure, inhibit passage through said opening of liquid at said first pressure, and permit passage of liquid through said opening at a second pressure greater than said first pressure;
- and
- a check valve for inhibiting passage of gas into said passageway.
1 more element
A cooling system through which a coolant is flowable, said cooling system comprising:
- a conduit through which the coolant is flowable;
- and
- a release valve comprising:
- a housing comprising a passageway extending therethrough and defining an inlet and an outlet, said outlet operably connected to said conduit and in communication with the coolant;
- a membrane extending across the passageway between said inlet and said outlet, said membrane operable to permit passage through said passageway of gas at a first pressure, inhibit passage through said passageway of liquid at said first pressure, and permit passage of liquid at a second pressure greater than said first pressure;
- and
- a check valve for inhibiting passage of gas from said outlet to said inlet.
4 more elements
A method for venting a system through which a fluid is flowable, the method comprising:
- providing a membrane across an opening to the system, the membrane operable to permit passage of gas at a first pressure and inhibit passage of liquid at the first pressure;
- and
- providing a check valve to inhibit passage of gas across the opening.
A method for relieving a predetermined pressure in a system through which a gas and a liquid are flowable, the method comprising:
- selecting a membrane operable to permit passage of gas at a first pressure and inhibit passage of liquid at the first pressure, and the membrane operable to permit passage of liquid at the predetermined pressure;
- providing the membrane across an opening to the system;
- selecting a check valve;
- and
- providing the check valve across the opening to inhibit passage of gas across the opening.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.