# US 2013/0157154 A1 · Fuel Cell System Having an Integral Turbine/Compressor Unit > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0157154 A1 - Document ID: US20130157154A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/819,230 - Filed: 2011-08-16 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2010-08-30 - Assignees: Daimler AG - Inventors: Philipp Hausmann; Andreas Knoop - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130157154A1 ## CPC - H01M 8/04097: {with recycling of the reactants (H01M8/04119, H01M8/04104 take precedence)} - F01D 1/026: {Impact turbines with buckets, i.e. impulse turbines, e.g. Pelton turbines (F01D1/16, F01D1/34 take precedence)} - F04D 23/008: {Regenerative pumps (for liquids or for liquids and elastic fluids F04D5/002)} - F04D 25/045: {the pump wheel carrying the fluid driving means, e.g. turbine blades} - F04D 25/0653: {the motor having a plane air gap, e.g. disc-type} - H01M 8/04111: using a compressor turbine assembly - H01M 8/04164: {by condensers, gas-liquid separators or filters} - H01M 8/04014: Heat exchange using gaseous fluids; Heat exchange by combustion of reactants - H01M 8/04201: {Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes} - H01M 2008/1095: {Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes} - Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D) - F04D: NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS (engine fuel-injection pumps F02M; ion pumps H01J41/12; electrodynamic pumps H02K44/02) - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A fuel cell system includes at least one fuel cell having an anode chamber, a cathode chamber, a hydrogen pressure reservoir, a recirculation line connecting an outlet of the anode chamber to an inlet of the anode chamber, a recirculation conveyor with a compressor wheel in the region of the recirculation line, and a turbine for expanding the hydrogen that is under pressure before entry into the anode chamber. The recirculation conveyor is driven at least partially by the turbine. The turbine and the compressor wheel are formed in one component. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-20. (canceled) ### Claim 21 A fuel cell system, comprising: at least one fuel cell, which includes an anode chamber and a cathode chamber; a hydrogen pressure reservoir; a recirculation line that connects an outlet of the anode chamber to an inlet of the anode chamber; a recirculation conveyor with a compressor wheel in a region of the recirculation line and a turbine configured to expand hydrogen under pressure before entry into the anode chamber, the recirculation conveyor is configured to be at least partially driven by the turbine, wherein the turbine and the compressor wheel are a single component. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 21, wherein the hydrogen flows onto the turbine via a nozzle having a nozzle needle, the throughflow of hydrogen being adjustable by a relative movement of the nozzle relative to the nozzle needle. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 21, wherein the turbine is a Pelton turbine. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 21, wherein the compressor wheel is a fluid-flow machine. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 21, wherein the compressor wheel is a side channel compressor. ### Claim 26 (depends on 21) The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 21, wherein the compressor wheel is a radial compressor. ### Claim 27 (depends on 21) The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 21, wherein the single component has channels connecting a region of the turbine and a region of the compressor wheel together. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 27, wherein the channels are formed, starting from the region of the turbine, such that hydrogen flowing through the channels flows into the region of the compressor wheel in a same direction as a flow of the exhaust gas in the compressor wheel. ### Claim 29 (depends on 21) The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 21, wherein the single component is configured to be driven by a pancake electric drive motor. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 29, wherein a stator of the pancake electric motor is arranged above the single component, and the single component includes magnetic elements forming a rotor of the electric pancake motor. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 30, wherein the rotor is arranged in a space that is sealed off relative to the stator. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 31, wherein the space is an interior of a water separator in the recirculation line. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 32, wherein the circulation conveyor forms a hydrogen-tight cover of the water separator. ### Claim 34 (depends on 29) The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 29, wherein the pancake electric drive motor is a low voltage motor. ### Claim 35 (depends on 21) The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 21, wherein at least one axial bearing of the single component is formed by a bearing tip. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 35, wherein the bearing tip is formed as a spherical surface that runs on a spherical counter surface. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 36, wherein the bearing tip is pre-stressed relative to the spherical counter surface by means of an axially acting spring element. ### Claim 38 A method for driving a recirculation conveying means in a fuel cell system at least one fuel cell, which includes an anode chamber and a cathode chamber, a hydrogen pressure reservoir, a recirculation line that connects an outlet of the anode chamber to an inlet of the anode chamber, a recirculation conveyor with a compressor wheel in a region of the recirculation line and a turbine configured to expand hydrogen under pressure before entry into the anode chamber, the recirculation conveyor is configured to be at least partially driven by the turbine, wherein the turbine and the compressor wheel are a single component, the method comprising: cooling, using the hydrogen, electrical components, magnetic components, or bearings in a region of the recirculation conveyor. ### Claim 39 A method for driving a recirculation conveying means in a fuel cell system at least one fuel cell, which includes an anode chamber and a cathode chamber, a hydrogen pressure reservoir, a recirculation line that connects an outlet of the anode chamber to an inlet of the anode chamber, a recirculation conveyor with a compressor wheel in a region of the recirculation line and a turbine configured to expand hydrogen under pressure before entry into the anode chamber, the recirculation conveyor is configured to be at least partially driven by the turbine, wherein the turbine and the compressor wheel are a single component, wherein the hydrogen flows onto the turbine via a nozzle having a nozzle needle, the throughflow of hydrogen being adjustable by a relative movement of the nozzle relative to the nozzle needle, the method comprising: setting the throughflow of the hydrogen through the nozzle such that a speed of the hydrogen upon entry into the turbine in a range from 0.8-1.05 of a speed of sound (Mach 1) of the hydrogen occurs. ### Claim 40 A method for driving a recirculation conveying means in a fuel cell system at least one fuel cell, which includes an anode chamber and a cathode chamber, a hydrogen pressure reservoir, a recirculation line that connects an outlet of the anode chamber to an inlet of the anode chamber, a recirculation conveyor with a compressor wheel in a region of the recirculation line and a turbine configured to expand hydrogen under pressure before entry into the anode chamber, the recirculation conveyor is configured to be at least partially driven by the turbine, wherein the turbine and the compressor wheel are a single component, wherein the hydrogen flows onto the turbine via a nozzle having a nozzle needle, wherein the single component is configured to be driven by a pancake electric drive motor, the method comprising: operating the pancake electric drive motor at a constant operating point.