Fuel cell system
AssigneeLG Electronics Inc.
InventorsHeejoong Jang, Hyoungsuk Woo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fuel cell system may include: a reformer performing a reforming process of producing hydrogen gas from a gasified fuel; a burner supplying heat to the reformer; a stack generating electrical energy by generating an electrochemical reaction using reforming gas and air discharged from the reformer; a first supply pipe supplying external air to the burner; a second supply pipe supplying external air to the stack; a first storage tank storing a liquid fuel; a second storage tank supplying a gasified fuel to the reformer; and a fuel evaporator making a liquid fuel discharged from the first storage tank exchange heat with air flowing through the first supply pipe or air flowing through the second supply pipe, and sending a gasified gaseous fuel to the second storage tank.
Claims13
A fuel cell system comprising:
- a reformer configured to perform a reforming process that provides hydrogen gas from a gasified fuel;
- a burner configured to provide heat to the reformer;
- a stack configured to provide electrical energy based on an electrochemical reaction using a reforming gas;
- a first supply pipe configured to provide air to the burner;
- a second supply pipe configured to provide air to the stack;
- a first storage tank configured to store a liquid fuel;
- a second storage tank configured to provide the gasified fuel to the reformer;
- a reforming gas discharge pipe configured to provide the reforming gas from the reformer to the burner or to the stack;
- a first fuel evaporator configured to heat exchange the liquid fuel from the first storage tank with the air flowing through the first supply pipe;
- a second fuel evaporator configured to heat exchange the liquid fuel from the first storage tank with the air flowing through the second supply pipe;
- a first liquid gas supply pipe to connect the first storage tank and the first fuel evaporator;
- a second liquid gas supply pipe to connect the first storage tank and the second fuel evaporator;
- a first expansion valve disposed at the first liquid gas supply pipe, and configured to open or close an internal channel of the first liquid gas supply pipe or to adjust a degree of opening of the internal channel of the first liquid gas supply pipe;
- a second expansion valve disposed at the second liquid gas supply pipe, and configured to open or close an internal channel of the second liquid gas supply pipe or to adjust a degree of opening of the internal channel of the second liquid gas supply pipe;
- and
- a third fuel evaporator disposed at the reforming gas discharge pipe, the third fuel evaporator being configured to heat exchange the reforming gas from the reformer with the liquid fuel.
A fuel cell system comprising:
- a reformer configured to perform a reforming process that provides a reforming gas;
- a burner configured to provide heat to the reformer;
- a stack configured to receive the reforming gas and to perform an electrochemical reaction to the received reforming gas;
- a first supply channel configured to provide air to the burner;
- a second supply channel configured to provide air to the stack;
- a first storage tank configured to provide a liquid fuel;
- a second storage tank configured to provide a gasified fuel;
- and
- a fuel evaporator in which the liquid fuel from the first storage tank is exchanged with air from the first supply channel or with air from the second supply channel, and the fuel evaporator is to provide a gaseous fuel based on the exchange,
- wherein the fuel evaporator includes:
- a first fuel evaporator configured to perform a heat exchange of the liquid fuel from the first storage tank with the air flowing through the first supply channel;
- and
- a second fuel evaporator configured to perform a heat exchange of the liquid fuel from the first storage tank with the air flowing through the second supply channel, and
- wherein the fuel cell system further comprises:
- a first liquid gas supply channel to connect the first storage tank and the first fuel evaporator;
- a second liquid gas supply channel to connect the first storage tank and the second fuel evaporator;
- a first expansion valve disposed at the first liquid gas supply channel, and configured to open or close the first liquid gas supply channel or to adjust a degree of opening of the first liquid gas supply channel;
- and
- a second expansion valve disposed at the second liquid gas supply channel, and configured to open or close the second liquid gas supply channel or to adjust a degree of opening of the second liquid gas supply channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.