Ignition system for a fuel cell hydrogen generator
AssigneeHonda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsChristopher J. Brooks, James Seaba
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An ignition system for initiating a fuel cell hydrogen production cycle on demand comprising a module having heat exchanger functions interconnected in an adjacent heater/vaporizer relationship in which a first heat exchanger section in the module is connected to a source of hydrogen enriched gas to provide an initial energy burst to begin the vaporization of liquid hydrocarbons for use in the hydrogen producing cycle; and in which, after system start up, the module section may be inactivated or integrated in the hydrogen producing cycle.
Claims25
A module for initiating the on demand start up of a of hydrogen gas producing cycle for powering a fuel cell system comprising:
- co-operatively engageable micro component heat exchangers having micro channels therein which direct laminar flow of fluid on opposite sides of a separator therein, the heat exchangers being operatively interconnected with switchable sources of hydrogen and liquid hydrocarbons in a relationship in which:
- in a start mode, a first side of a first heat exchanger is interconnected with the source of hydrogen and the second side of the first heat exchanger is interconnected with the source of liquid hydrocarbons, whereby, upon opening of the switches, hydrogen and hydrocarbons are introduced to the respective first and second sides of the heat exchanger, the first side providing instantaneous heat energy to the second side to vaporize the hydrocarbons that are introduced therein, and the second side is interconnected with the second heat exchanger in a relationship such that vaporized hydrocarbons are introduced to a first side of the second heat exchanger to provide heat energy to the second side thereof to vaporize hydrocarbons that are introduced to the second side thereof;
- the second side of the second heat exchanger being interconnected with the gas producing cycle in a relationship such that vaporized hydrocarbons exiting from the second side are introduced into the hydrogen producing cycle as an energy source for combustors therein and as a feedstock component for the production of hydrogen, whereupon, upon initiation of the gas producing cycle, the first side of the second heat exchanger is connected to off gas from the fuel cell system and the flow of hydrogen to the first side and the flow of hydrocarbons to the second side of the first heat exchanger is switched off.
A module for initiating the on demand start up of a of hydrogen gas producing cycle for powering a fuel cell system comprising:
- a micro component heat exchanger having micro channels therein which direct laminar flow of fluid on opposite sides of a separator therein operatively interconnected with switchable sources of hydrogen and liquid hydrocarbons and to the fuel cell system in a relationship in which:
- in a start mode, a first side of the heat exchanger is interconnected with the source of hydrogen and the second side of the heat exchanger is interconnected with the source of liquid hydrocarbons, whereby, upon opening of the switches, hydrogen and hydrocarbons are introduced to the respective first and second sides of the heat exchanger, the first side providing instantaneous heat energy to the second side to vaporize the hydrocarbons that are introduced therein, the second side further interconnected with the first side in a relationship such that a minor portion of the vaporized hydrocarbons are introduced to the first side of the heat exchanger to provide heat energy to the opposite side thereof and the major portion of the vaporized hydrocarbons exiting from the second side are introduced into the hydrogen producing system as an energy source for combustors therein and as a feedstock component for the production of hydrogen,
- whereupon, upon initiation of the gas producing cycle, the first side of the heat exchanger is connected to off gas from the fuel cell system and the flow of hydrogen to the first side is switched off.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.