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US 2008/0174644 A1Published application
Liquid container, fuel cell system and method for controlling fuel cell system
AssigneeKabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
InventorsTakuya Hongo, Norihiro Tomimatsu, Takahiro Suzuki
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A liquid container includes a hollow body; a tubular suction port coupled to the hollow body; a first porous member disposed in the hollow body; a second porous member disposed in the suction port and being in contact with the first porous member, the second porous member having a liquid suction capability higher than that of the first porous member, wherein at least one of the first and second porous members has a recess so as to establish an air bubble collector.
Claims17
A liquid container, comprising:
- a hollow body;
- a tubular suction port coupled to the hollow body so as to form a closed receptacle;
- a first porous member disposed in the hollow body;
- a second porous member disposed in the suction port and being in contact with the first porous member, the second porous member having a liquid suction capability higher than that of the first porous member,
- wherein at least one of the first and second porous members has a recess so as to establish an air bubble collector, the recess is defined by the suction port, by the first porous member, and by the second porous member.
2 more elements
A fuel cell system comprising:
- a fuel cell unit;
- a liquid container configured to store fuel to be delivered to the fuel cell unit, the liquid container including:
- a hollow body;
- a tubular suction port coupled to the hollow body so as to form a closed receptacle;
- a first porous member disposed in the hollow body;
- and
- a second porous member disposed in the suction port and being in contact with the first porous member, the second porous member having a liquid suction capability higher than that of the first porous member, at least one of the first and second porous members has a recess so as to establish an air bubble collector, the recess is defined by the suction port, by the first porous member, and by the second porous member;
- a detector configured to detect an air bubble within air bubble collector;
- and
- a controller configured to control a delivery flow rate of fuel from the liquid container based on a detection result of the air bubble.
7 more elements
A method of controlling a fuel cell system comprising:
- operating the fuel cell system, the fuel cell system including a liquid container including a hollow body, a tubular suction port coupled to the hollow body so as to form a closed receptacle, a first porous member disposed in the hollow body, and a second porous member disposed in the suction port and being in contact with the first porous member, the second porous member having a liquid suction capability higher than that of the first porous member, at least one of the first and second porous members has a recess so as to establish an air bubble collector, the recess is defined by the suction port, by the first porous member, and by the second porous member;
- detecting an air bubble within the air bubble collector;
- and
- controlling a delivery flow rate of fuel from the liquid container based on a detection result of the air bubble.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.