Fuel cell system and method of operating a fuel cell system
AssigneePurem GmbH
InventorGerd Gaiser
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell having an anode region and a cathode region. The fuel cell defines an anode inlet to permit feeding the anode region with hydrogen and defines a cathode inlet to permit feeding the cathode region with oxygen. The fuel cell has an anode outlet and has a cathode outlet. An anode outlet conduit receives anode offgas at the anode outlet and a catalytic converter is arranged so as to permit the anode offgas in the anode outlet conduit to flow therethrough. A cathode outlet conduit is arranged for receiving cathode offgas at the cathode outlet. A cathode branch conduit connects the cathode outlet conduit to the anode outlet conduit upstream of the catalytic converter.
Claims16
A fuel cell system comprising:
- a fuel cell having an anode region and a cathode region;
- said fuel cell defining an anode inlet to permit feeding said anode region with hydrogen;
- said fuel cell defining a cathode inlet to permit feeding said cathode region with oxygen;
- said fuel cell having an anode outlet and having a cathode outlet;
- an anode outlet conduit for receiving anode offgas at said anode outlet;
- a catalytic converter arranged so as to permit said anode offgas in said anode outlet conduit to flow therethrough;
- a cathode outlet conduit arranged for receiving cathode offgas at said cathode outlet;
- and,
- a cathode branch conduit connecting said cathode outlet conduit to said anode outlet conduit upstream of said catalytic converter.
A method of operating a fuel cell system including:
- a fuel cell having an anode region and a cathode region;
- said fuel cell defining an anode inlet to permit feeding said anode region with hydrogen;
- said fuel cell defining a cathode inlet to permit feeding said cathode region with oxygen;
- said fuel cell having an anode outlet and having a cathode outlet;
- an anode outlet conduit for receiving anode offgas at said anode outlet;
- a catalytic converter arranged so as to permit said anode offgas in said anode outlet conduit to flow therethrough;
- a cathode outlet conduit arranged for receiving cathode offgas at said cathode outlet;
- and, a cathode branch conduit connecting said cathode outlet conduit to said anode outlet conduit upstream of said catalytic converter, the method comprising:
- directing said anode offgas released at said anode outlet of said fuel cell through said catalytic converter to reduce the hydrogen content in said anode offgas;
- and,
- adding a portion of said cathode offgas released at said cathode outlet to said anode offgas upstream of said catalytic converter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.