# US 10,122,038 B2 · Hydrogen generator and fuel cell system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,122,038 B2 - Document ID: US10122038B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/371,851 - Filed: 2016-12-07 - Published: 2017-06-15 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-12-14 - Assignees: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Jun Yoshida; Akinori Yukimasa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10122038B2 ## CPC - H01M 8/0631: {Reactor construction specially adapted for combination reactor/fuel cell (hydrogen C01B3/00; reactors for physicochemical processes B01J19/00)} - C01B 3/384: with external heating of the catalyst - H01M 8/04029: Heat exchange using liquids - H01M 8/04067: {Heat exchange or temperature measuring elements, thermal insulation, e.g. heat pipes, heat pumps, fins} - H01M 8/04164: {by condensers, gas-liquid separators or filters} - H01M 8/04291: Arrangements for managing water in solid electrolyte fuel cell systems (H01M8/04119 takes precedence) - H01M 8/0618: {Reforming processes, e.g. autothermal, partial oxidation or steam reforming} - H01M 8/0687: {Reactant purification by the use of membranes or filters} - C01B 2203/0233: the reforming step being a steam reforming step - C01B 2203/0244: the reforming step being an autothermal reforming step, e.g. secondary reforming processes - C01B 2203/0495: the impurity being water - C01B 2203/066: with fuel cells - C01B 2203/1058: Nickel catalysts - C01B 2203/1064: Platinum group metal catalysts - C01B 2203/107: Platinum catalysts - C01B 2203/1288: Evaporation of one or more of the different feed components - C01B 2203/148: involving a recycle stream to the feed of the process for making hydrogen or synthesis gas - C01B 2203/169: Controlling the feed - Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C} - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A hydrogen generator includes a reformer that generates a hydrogen-containing gas from a source gas and reforming water, a condensed water channel through which condensed water flows, a circulating water channel through which circulating water flows, an ion exchange resin filter provided to the circulating water channel and deionizing the circulating water, a reservoir tank including a first reservoir provided to the condensed water channel and a second reservoir provided to the circulating water channel, a first communicator through which the first and second reservoirs are in communication with each other, and a reforming water channel that extends from a junction of the circulating water channel and supplies the circulating water as reforming water to the reformer. The pressure in the inner space of the first reservoir is maintained to be the same as the pressure in the inner space of the second reservoir. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hydrogen generator comprising: a reformer which generates a hydrogen-containing gas from a source gas and reforming water; a condensed water channel through which condensed water flows; a circulating water channel through which circulating water flows; an ion exchange resin filter which is provided to the circulating water channel and deionizes the circulating water; a reservoir tank which includes a first reservoir provided to the condensed water channel and a second reservoir provided to the circulating water channel; a first communicator through which the first and second reservoirs are in communication with each other; and a reforming water channel which extends from a junction of the circulating water channel and supplies the circulating water as reforming water to the reformer, wherein the first reservoir has a first inlet from which the condensed water flows into the first reservoir and a first outlet from which the condensed water overflows to the outside of the reservoir tank, the second reservoir has a second inlet from which the circulating water flows into the second reservoir and a second outlet of which the circulating water flows out of the second reservoir, the condensed water channel is connected only to the first reservoir out of the first and second reservoirs, the first communicator is provided below the first outlet, and the reservoir tank is configured such that the pressure in the inner space of the first reservoir is maintained to be the same as the pressure in the inner space of the second reservoir. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The hydrogen generator according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir tank is configured such that the circulating water in the second reservoir flows through the circulating water channel without overflowing to the outside of the reservoir tank. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The hydrogen generator according to claim 1, wherein each of the second inlet and the second outlet is connected to the circulating water channel without being connected to the condensed water channel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The hydrogen generator according to claim 1, further comprising: a first pump provided to the circulating water channel; and a second pump provided to the reforming water channel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The hydrogen generator according to claim 1, wherein the junction is disposed at part of the circulating water channel which is downstream of the ion exchange resin filter and upstream of the second reservoir in the flow direction of the circulating water. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The hydrogen generator according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir tank further includes a second communicator, provided above the first outlet, through which the first reservoir and the second reservoir are in communication with each other. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The hydrogen generator according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir tank is configured such that the inner space of each of the first reservoir and the second reservoir is open to atmospheric air. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The hydrogen generator according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir tank has a partition which divides the inside of the reservoir tank into the first reservoir and the second reservoir, and the first communicator is a hole formed in the partition. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The hydrogen generator according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir tank has a partition that divides the inside of the reservoir tank into the first reservoir and the second reservoir, the first communicator includes a check valve provided to the partition, and the check valve blocks the flow of water from the second reservoir to the first reservoir. ### Claim 10 A fuel cell system comprising: a reformer which generates a hydrogen-containing gas from a source gas and reforming water; a fuel cell which generates power from the hydrogen-containing gas and an oxidant gas; an exhaust gas channel through which an exhaust gas emitted from the fuel cell flows; a condensed water channel through which condensed water generated by cooling of the exhaust gas flows; a circulating water channel through which circulating water flows; an ion exchange resin filter which is provided to the circulating water channel and deionizes the circulating water; a reservoir tank which includes a first reservoir provided to the condensed water channel and a second reservoir provided to the circulating water channel; a first communicator through which the first and second reservoirs are in communication with each other; and a reforming water channel which extends from a junction of the circulating water channel and supplies the circulating water as reforming water to the reformer, wherein the first reservoir has a first inlet from which the condensed water flows into the first reservoir and a first outlet from which the condensed water overflows to the outside of the reservoir tank, the second reservoir has a second inlet from which the circulating water flows into the second reservoir and a second outlet of which the circulating water flows out of the second reservoir, the condensed water channel is connected only to the first reservoir out of the first and second reservoirs, the first communicator is provided below the first outlet, and the reservoir tank is configured such that the pressure in the inner space of the first reservoir is maintained to be the same as the pressure in the inner space of the second reservoir. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The fuel cell system according to claim 10, further comprising: a heater provided to the circulating water channel and heating the circulating water; and a cooler provided to the circulating water channel and cooling the circulating water. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The fuel cell system according to claim 11, wherein the heater is a cell stack of the fuel cell. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The fuel cell system according to claim 11, wherein the heater is a first heat exchanger in which the circulating water and the exhaust gas exchange heat. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The fuel cell system according to claim 13, wherein the cooler includes a second heat exchanger in which the circulating water and stored water held in a hot water storage tank exchange heat. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The fuel cell system according to claim 10, wherein the circulating water in the circulating water channel flows through the second reservoir, a cooler, the ion exchange resin filter, the junction, and a heater in this sequence. ### Claim 16 A fuel cell system comprising: a reformer which generates a hydrogen-containing gas from a source gas and reforming water; a solid oxide fuel cell which generates power from the hydrogen-containing gas and an oxidant gas; an exhaust gas channel through which an exhaust gas emitted from the solid oxide fuel cell flows; a condensed water channel through which condensed water generated by cooling of the exhaust gas flows; a circulating water channel through which circulating water flows; a first heat exchanger which is provided to the exhaust gas channel and the circulating water channel and in which the exhaust gas and the circulating water exchange heat; an ion exchange resin filter which is provided to the circulating water channel and deionizes the circulating water; a second heat exchanger which is provided to the circulating water channel and in which the circulating water and stored water exchange heat; a reservoir tank which includes a first reservoir provided to the condensed water channel and a second reservoir provided to the circulating water channel; a first communicator through which the first and second reservoirs are in communication with each other; and a reforming water channel which extends from a junction of the circulating water channel and supplies the circulating water as reforming water to the reformer, wherein the first reservoir has a first inlet from which the condensed water flows into the first reservoir and a first outlet from which the condensed water overflows to the outside of the reservoir tank, the second reservoir has a second inlet from which the circulating water flows into the second reservoir and a second outlet of which the circulating water flows out of the second reservoir, the first communicator is provided below the first outlet, and the reservoir tank is configured such that the pressure in the inner space of the first reservoir is maintained to be the same as the pressure in the inner space of the second reservoir.