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US 6,475,655 B1Granted
Fuel cell system with hydrogen gas separation
AssigneeDaihatsu Motor Co., Ltd.
InventorsHaruyuki Nakanishi, Hirohisa Tanaka, Koji Yamada, Masahiro Abe, Koichiro Asazawa
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fuel cell system includes a reforming device for producing a hydrogen-rich gas mixture by reforming a hydrogen-containing compound, and a fuel cell stack for generating electromotive fore by a reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. The fuel cell system further includes a hydrogen separating device disposed between the reforming device and the fuel cell stack. The hydrogen separating device is provided with hydrogen permeating means for obtaining a fuel gas by separating hydrogen gas from the gas mixture.
Claims21
A fuel cell system comprising:
- a plurality of fuel cell stacks each including a plurality of fuel cells in lamination;
- supply means for supplying a fuel and an oxidizing agent to each of the fuel cell stacks;
- and
- operation control means for controlling operation of the fuel cell stacks:
- wherein the fuel cell stacks are divided into a plurality of groups including at least a first and a second groups, the operation control means being arranged to operate and stop the fuel cell stacks of the first group independently of the fuel cell stacks of the second group.
2 more elements
A fuel cell system comprising;
- reforming device for producing a hydrogen-rich fuel-gas mixture by reforming dimethyl ether;
- a fuel cell supplied with the fuel gas and an oxygen-containing gas, thereby causing a reaction between hydrogen gas and oxygen gas to produce electric energy and water;
- and
- non-reacted gas supplying means connected to the fuel cell for reusing non-reacted gas obtained from the fuel cell;
- wherein the reforming device includes a steam generating portion for vaporization of water, and a fuel reforming portion for performing steam reformation of the dimethyl ether, the dimethyl ether being heated, before the dimethyl ether is introduced into the fuel reforming portion, by heat generated at the steam generating portion, wherein non-reacted gas supplying means are connected to the steam generating portion so that the non-reacted gas obtained from the fuel cell is used for the heating of the dimethyl ether.
2 more elements
A fuel cell system comprising:
- a fuel cell;
- a hydrogen supplying source for supplying hydrogen gas to the fuel cell;
- an oxygen-containing-gas supplying source for supplying an oxygen-containing gas to the fuel cell;
- and
- water removing means for intermittently promoting removal of water remaining in the fuel cell,
- wherein the water removing means is a supersonic generator.
3 more elements
A fuel cell comprising:
- at least one electrode portion having a first surface and a second surface;
- an electrolyte portion adjacent to the first surface;
- a plate adjacent to the second surface and formed with a gas supplying groove for supply of a gas;
- and
- surface-pressure assuring means arranged in the gas supplying groove for assuring a surface pressure to the electrode portion;
- wherein the plate is provided with a through hole communicating with the gas supplying groove, the surface-pressure assuring means being partially exposed to the through hole;
- and
- wherein the surface-pressure assuring means includes a gas-permeable porous member, the porous member having a thickness substantially equal to a depth of the gas supplying groove.
5 more elements
A fuel cell comprising:
- at least one electrode portion having a first surface and a second surface;
- an electrolyte portion adjacent to the first surface;
- a plate adjacent to the second surface and formed with a gas supplying groove for supply of a gas;
- and
- surface-pressure assuring means arranged in the gas supplying groove for assuring a surface pressure to the electrode portion;
- wherein the plate is provided with a through hole communicating with the gas supplying groove, the surface-pressure assuring means being partially exposed to the through hole;
- and
- wherein the gas supplying groove is provided with a stepped portion for supporting the surface-pressure assuring means.
5 more elements
A fuel cell system comprising:
- a reforming device for producing a hydrogen-rich gas mixture by reforming a hydrogen-containing compound,
- a fuel cell for generating electromotive force by a reaction between hydrogen and oxygen;
- and
- a hydrogen separating device disposed between the reforming device and the fuel cell, the hydrogen separating device including a common chamber and hydrogen permeating means for obtaining a fuel gas by separating hydrogen gas from the gas mixture;
- wherein the hydrogen permeating means includes solid high-polymer hollow filaments each having a first end and an opposite second end, the first ends of the respective filaments being closed, the second ends of the respective filaments being open to the common chamber.
2 more elements
A separator used in a fuel cell stack, the fuel cell stack comprising laminated fuel cells, the separator comprising:
- a through hole for allowing passage of a supplied gas;
- a gas supplying groove communicating with the through hole;
- and
- a surface-pressure assuring means disposed in the gas supplying groove, the surface-pressure assuring means being partially exposed to the through hole;
- wherein the surface-pressure assuring means includes a gas-permeable porous member, the porous member having a thickness substantially equal to a depth of the gas supplying groove.
2 more elements
A separator used in a fuel cell stack, the fuel cell stack comprising laminated fuel cells, the separator comprising:
- a through hole for allowing passage of a supplied gas;
- a gas supplying groove communicating with the through hole;
- and
- a surface-pressure assuring means disposed in the gas supplying groove, the surface-pressure assuring means being partially exposed to the through hole;
- wherein the gas supplying groove is provided with a stepped portion for supporting the
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.