Fuel cell system
AssigneeIntelligent Energy Limited
InventorsPaul Adcock, Peter Hood, Scott Baird
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of shutting down operation of a fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell stack, the method comprising the sequential steps of: i) ceasing a supply of fuel to the fuel cell stack; ii) closing a shut-off valve on an exhaust line in fluid communication with a cathode system of the fuel cell system, the cathode system comprising a cathode fluid flow path passing through the fuel cell stack; iii) pressurising the cathode system with an air compressor in fluid communication with a cathode air inlet port in the fuel cell stack; and iv) ejecting water from the cathode flow path.
Claims31
A method of shutting down operation of a fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell stack, the method comprising the sequential steps of:
- i) ceasing a supply of fuel to the fuel cell stack;
- ii) closing a shut-off valve on an exhaust line in fluid communication with a cathode system of the fuel cell system, the cathode system comprising a cathode fluid flow path passing through the fuel cell stack;
- iii) pressurising the cathode system with an air compressor in fluid communication with a cathode air inlet port in the fuel cell stack;
- and
- iv) ejecting water from the cathode flow path.
A fuel cell system comprising:
- a fuel cell stack;
- a cathode system having a cathode fluid flow path comprising a cathode air inlet line, a cathode volume within the fuel cell stack and a cathode exit line connected in series and configured to allow passage of air through the fuel cell stack;
- an air compressor in fluid communication with the cathode air inlet line;
- a thermally insulated containment vessel configured to receive water through a water return line from the cathode flow path,
- wherein the fuel cell system is configured to eject water from the cathode flow path into the containment vessel through the water return line upon shutting down operation of the system.
A reverse flow relief valve comprising:
- a first feed port;
- a second feed port;
- a non-return valve within a main fluid passage extending between the first and second feed ports, the non-return valve configured to allow fluid to pass from the first to the second feed ports and to block passage of fluid in the reverse direction;
- a bypass fluid passage in fluid communication with the main fluid passage;
- a sealing valve biased against an end of the bypass passage between the bypass passage and a purge port,
- wherein the sealing valve is configured to maintain a seal against the bypass passage when fluid pressure in the first feed port exceeds fluid pressure at the second feed port to prevent fluid flow from the main fluid passage to the purge port through the bypass fluid passage, and to allow fluid flow from the second feed port to the purge port through the bypass fluid passage when fluid pressure at the second feed port exceeds fluid pressure at the first feed port.
A fuel cell system comprising:
- a fuel cell stack;
- a cathode system having a cathode fluid flow path comprising a cathode air inlet line, a cathode volume within the fuel cell stack and a cathode exit line connected in series and configured to allow passage of air through the fuel cell stack;
- a heat exchanger connected in series with a water separator to the cathode exit line of the cathode fluid flow path,
- wherein a water ejection outlet line of the water separator is connected to a water containment vessel by a first water return line.
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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.