Fuel Cell System Having a Pump and Related Method
AssigneeLilliputian Systems, Inc.
InventorsAlan P. Ludwiszewski, Samuel B. Schaevitz, John A. Rule
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Abstract
A portable fuel cell system and related method are disclosed. The system includes a fuel cell having an anode port through which passes an anode gas, a cathode port through which passes a cathode gas, and an exhaust port through which passes an exhaust gas. The system further includes a pump having a pump inlet and a pump outlet, wherein the pump inlet is coupled to the exhaust port of the fuel cell. The pump is configured to draw the anode gas into the anode port, to draw the cathode gas into the cathode port, and to draw the exhaust gas out of the exhaust port.
Claims27
A portable fuel cell system comprising:
- a fuel cell comprising an anode port through which passes an anode gas, a cathode port through which passes a cathode gas, and an exhaust port through which passes an exhaust gas;
- and
- a pump, having a pump inlet and a pump outlet, wherein the pump inlet is coupled to the exhaust port, and configured to draw the anode gas into the anode port, to draw the cathode gas into the cathode port, and to draw the exhaust gas out of the exhaust port.
A method for operating a fuel cell system, said method comprising:
- providing a fuel cell with an anode port, a cathode port and an exhaust port, and a pump with a pump inlet and a pump outlet, the pump inlet coupled to the exhaust port;
- and
- operating the pump to create a reduced pressure at the exhaust port, thereby drawing the exhaust gas out of the exhaust port, the anode gas into the anode port, and the cathode gas into the cathode port.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.