US 6,551,731 B1 · Fuel cell system

Abstract

The invention relates to a fuel cell system (11, 111) comprising an anode chamber (13, 113) and a cathode chamber (14, 114) which are separated from each other by a proton conducting membrane (15, 115). When the fuel cell system is operated, fuel, in particular H2 or a water/methanol mixture, can be fed to the anode chamber and an oxidant, in particular oxygen, can be fed to the cathode chamber. In standby mode, the cathode chamber (14, 114) does not allow flow through and the oxidant and fuel are present in both the cathode chamber (14, 114) and the anode chamber (13, 113), respectively. The fuel cell system remains at operating temperature in the standby mode. This enables the fuel cell system (11) to be used as a combined interruption-free power supply unit and backup unit.

Claims33

Dependent claims

A fuel cell system comprising:

an anode chamber;
a cathode chamber;
a proton conducting membrane disposed between and separating said anode chamber and said cathode chamber;
means for supplying fuel to said anode chamber during an operational state;
means for supplying an oxidant to said cathode chamber during said operational state;
means for filling said anode chamber with fuel during a standby state;
means for filling said cathode chamber with oxidant during said standby state;
and
means for preventing oxidant flow through said cathode chamber during said standby state, wherein said cathode chamber is connected to a cathode outlet having a cathode outlet blocking member which is closed in the standby state.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fuel cell system

Life of this patent

Fuel cell system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims33