US 10,374,241 B2 · Fuel cell system

Abstract

The present invention comprises a plurality of fuel cells connected to each other in series, and a reformer configured to reform raw fuel, wherein reformed fuel by the reformer is supplied to a first stage of the plurality of fuel cells, and the fuel cell on the first stage is provided with a methane reaction suppressing function which suppresses reaction of methane included in the reformed fuel to a larger extent than at least one fuel cell on a second and later stages. Suppressing temperature drop due to endothermic reaction in the fuel cell on the first stage can improve the efficiency of electric power generation of the fuel cell system having the plurality of fuel cells arranged in series.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A fuel cell system, comprising:

a plurality of fuel cells connected to each other in series;
and
a reformer configured to reform raw fuel, wherein
reformed fuel by the reformer is supplied to a first stage of the plurality of fuel cells,
at least one fuel cell in the first stage is provided with a methane reaction suppressing function which suppresses reaction of methane included in the reformed fuel more than at least one fuel cell in a second stage, and
the at least one fuel cell in the first stage has an electrode with a smaller area in which fuel and oxidizer react than that of the at least one fuel cell in the second stage.

3 more elements

A fuel cell system, comprising:

a plurality of fuel cells connected to each other in series;
and
a reformer configured to reform raw fuel, wherein
reformed fuel by the reformer is supplied to a first stage of the plurality of fuel cells,
at least one fuel cell in the first stage is provided with a methane reaction suppressing function which suppresses reaction of methane included in the reformed fuel more than at least one fuel cell in a second stage,
each of the at least one fuel cell in the first stage and the at least one fuel cell in the second stage includes fuel poles configured to form a three-phase interface, and
a thickness of the fuel poles of the at least one fuel cell in the first stage is less than a thickness of the fuel poles of the at least one fuel cell in the second stage such that the methane reaction suppressing function of the at least one fuel cell in the first stage suppresses reaction of methane included in the reformed fuel more than the at least one fuel cell in the second stage.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fuel cell system

Life of this patent

Fuel cell system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18