Fuel cell humidification
AssigneeNissan Motor Co., Ltd.
InventorsJianbo Zhang, Atsushi Miyazawa
Life of this patent
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Abstract
One end of an air passage (32) facing a cathode (33B) of a fuel cell (36) forming a fuel cell stack (6) is connected to a first manifold (1A), and the other end is connected to a second manifold (1B). A water-absorbing material (30) is disposed at a position in contact with an air flow in the first manifold (1A) and second manifold (1B). The air is made to circulate according to a humidity state by changing over between a first air flow direction wherein air flows from the first manifold (1A) to the second manifold (1B) via the air passage (32), and a second air flow direction wherein air flows from the second manifold (1B) to the first manifold (1A) via the air passage (32), so a membrane electrolyte is efficiently humidified.
Claims19
A fuel cell power plant, comprising:
- a fuel cell stack wherein plural fuel cells are stacked in series, each of the fuel cells comprising a membrane electrolyte, an electrode in contact with the membrane electrolyte, and a gas passage formed facing the electrode, the power plant generating power by a chemical reaction of a gas flowing in the gas passage at the electrode;
- a first manifold communicating with an end of each of the gas passages, the first manifold comprising a water-absorbing material facing a flow of the gas;
- and
- a second manifold communicating with the other end of each of the gas passages, the second manifold comprising a water-absorbing material facing a flow of the gas;
- and
- a gas supply mechanism for selectively changing over between a first gas supply direction wherein the gas is made to flow from the first manifold to the second manifold via the gas passages, and a second gas supply direction wherein the gas is made to flow from the second manifold to the first manifold via the gas passages, so as to supply the gas to the fuel cells.
A fuel cell power plant, comprising:
- a fuel cell stack wherein plural fuel cells are stacked in series, each of the fuel cells comprising a membrane electrolyte, an electrode in contact with the membrane electrolyte, and a gas passage formed facing the electrode, the power plant generating power by a chemical reaction of a gas flowing in the gas passage at the electrode;
- a first manifold communicating with an end of each of the gas passages, the first manifold comprising a water-absorbing material facing a flow of the gas;
- and
- a second manifold communicating with the other end of each of the gas passages, the second manifold comprising a water-absorbing material facing a flow of the gas;
- and
- gas supply means for selectively changing over between a first gas supply direction wherein the gas is made to flow from the first manifold to the second manifold via the gas passages, and a second gas supply direction wherein the gas is made to flow from the second manifold to the first manifold via the gas passages, so as to supply the gas to the fuel cells;
- means for detecting a parameter relating to a humidity in the gas passages;
- means for determining whether or not the parameter satisfies a predetermined condition;
- and
- means for controlling the gas supply means to change over the gas supply direction when the parameter does not satisfy the predetermined condition.
A gas supply direction control method for a fuel cell power plant, the power plant comprising a fuel cell stack wherein plural fuel cells are stacked in series, each of the fuel cells comprising a membrane electrolyte, an electrode in contact with the membrane electrolyte, and a gas passage formed facing the electrode, the power plant generating power by a chemical reaction of a gas flowing in the gas passage at the electrode, a first manifold communicating with an end of each of the gas passages, the first manifold comprising a water-absorbing material facing a flow of the gas, a second manifold communicating with the other end of each of the gas passages, the second manifold comprising a water-absorbing material facing a flow of the gas, and a gas supply mechanism for selectively changing over between a first gas supply direction wherein the gas is made to flow from the first manifold to the second manifold via the gas passages, and a second gas supply direction wherein the gas is made to flow from the second manifold to the first manifold via the gas passages, so as to supply the gas to the fuel cells, the method comprising:
- detecting a parameter relating to a humidity in the gas passages;
- determining a parameter relating to a humidity in the gas passages;
- and
- controlling the gas supply mechanism to change over the gas supply direction when the parameter does not satisfy the predetermined condition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.