# US 10,483,565 B2 · Fuel cell device, automobile with a fuel cell device and method for operating a fuel cell device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,483,565 B2 - Document ID: US10483565B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/817,590 - Filed: 2017-11-20 - Published: 2018-05-24 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2016-11-21 - Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Motors Corporation - Applicants: Hyundai Motor Company; KIA Motors Corporation - Inventors: Thorsten Rau; Andreas Kapp - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10483565B2 ## CPC - H01M 8/04201: {Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes} - B60L 50/72: Constructional details of fuel cells specially adapted for electric vehicles - B60L 58/40: for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells - H01M 8/04753: {of fuel cell reactants} - H01M 16/006: {of fuel cells with rechargeable batteries} - H01M 2250/20: Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane - H01M 2250/402: Combination of fuel cell with other electric generators - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells - Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries - Y02T 90/40: Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract The disclosure provides a fuel device for an automobile, an automobile with the fuel cell device and a method for operating the fuel cell device. The fuel cell device comprises a first pipe, a second pipe, and a pressure regulator. The first pipe connects a gas tank to a fuel cell. The second pipe connects the fuel cell with an open end of the second pipe. The fuel cell is arranged to be driven by evaporated liquefied gas contained the gas tank. The pressure regulator is arranged to control the evaporation of the liquefied gas. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fuel cell device for an automobile comprising: a first pipe, wherein the first pipe connects a gas tank to a fuel cell, the gas tank configured to store liquefied gas; a second pipe having an open end and connected to the fuel cell; and a pressure regulator, wherein the fuel cell is arranged to be driven by evaporated liquefied gas from the gas tank, and wherein the pressure regulator is arranged to control the evaporation of the liquefied gas, and wherein, at a parking mode or an idle mode, the pressure regulator is configured to supply the evaporated liquefied gas from the gas tank to the fuel cell when a pressure of the evaporated liquefied gas in the gas tank is higher than or equal to a predetermined pressure value, and not to supply the evaporated liquefied gas from the gas tank to the fuel cell when the pressure of the evaporated liquefied gas in the gas tank is lower than the predetermined pressure value. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fuel cell device according to claim 1, wherein the pressure regulator detects an overpressure within the gas tank. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The fuel cell device according to claim 1, wherein the pressure regulator is arranged between the gas tank and the fuel cell. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The fuel cell device according to claim 1, wherein the first pipe comprises a first valve that is arranged between the fuel cell and the pressure regulator. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The fuel cell device according to claim 4, wherein the second pipe comprises a compressor and a second valve, wherein the compressor is arranged between the open end of the second pipe and the second valve. ### Claim 6 A fuel cell device for an automobile comprising: a first pipe, wherein the first pipe connects a gas tank to a fuel cell, the gas tank configured to store liquefied gas; a second pipe having an open end and connected to the fuel cell; and a pressure regulator; wherein the first pipe includes a first valve that is arranged between the fuel cell and the pressure regulator; wherein the second pipe includes a compressor and a second valve, wherein the compressor is arranged between the open end of the second pipe and the second valve; wherein the first pipe further includes a further compressor or a further regulator arranged between the first valve and the pressure regulator; and wherein the fuel cell is arranged to be driven by evaporated liquefied gas from the gas tank, and wherein the pressure regulator is arranged to control the evaporation of the liquefied gas. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The fuel cell device according to claim 6, wherein the first valve, the second valve, the compressor, the further compressor or the further regulator is connected to a battery control unit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The fuel cell device according to claim 1, wherein the gas tank is connected to a combustion engine via a third pipe. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The fuel cell device according to claim 1, wherein the fuel cell is connected to an electrical energy storage. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The fuel cell device of claim 9, wherein the fuel cell is a fuel cell stack. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) An automobile having a fuel cell device according to claim 1, wherein the gas tank is connected to a combustion engine via a third pipe. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The automobile according to claim 11, wherein the fuel cell device operates during the parking mode, stand-by mode or driving mode of the automobile. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A method for operating the fuel cell device according to claim 1.