Fuel cell system and method for operating a fuel cell
AssigneeBallard Power Systems Inc.
InventorsWerner Belschner, Joachim Blum, Lars Kaufmann
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a fuel cell system having a gas generation system for providing hydrogen from a carbon- and hydrogen-containing medium for a fuel cell unit, means are provided for adjusting pressure in the gas generation system and/or mass flow through the fuel cell unit, upstream of the fuel cell unit. In a transition from a part-load range to a full-load range, the pressure can be at least briefly reduced, and in a transition from a full-load range to a part-load range, the pressure can be at least briefly increased.
Claims12
Fuel cell system comprising:
- a gas generation system for providing hydrogen from a carbon- and hydrogen-containing medium for a fuel cell unit;
- and
- pressure regulating means for adjusting at least one of pressure in the gas generation system and mass flow through the fuel cell unit as a function of a load on the fuel cell unit, which pressure regulating means are disposed upstream of the fuel cell unit;
- wherein said pressure is adjusted in such a manner that,
- during a transition from a part-load range to a full-load range, the pressure is momentarily reduced;
- and
- during a transition from a full-load range to a part-load range, the pressure can be momentarily increased.
A method for operating a fuel cell system comprising a gas generation system for providing hydrogen from a carbon- and hydrogen-containing medium for a fuel cell units and pressure regulating means for adjusting at least one of pressure in the gas generation system and mass flow through the fuel cell unit as a function of a load on the fuel cell unit, which pressure regulating means are disposed upstream of the fuel cell unit, said method comprising:
- during a transition from a part-load range to a full-load range, reducing pressure in the gas generation system momentarily;
- and
- during a transition from a full-load range to a part-load range, increasing said pressure momentarily.
Fuel cell system comprising:
- a gas generation system for providing hydrogen from a carbon- and hydrogen-containing medium for a fuel cell unit;
- and
- pressure regulating means for adjusting at least one of pressure in the gas generation system and mass flow through the fuel cell unit as a function of a load on the fuel cell unit, which pressure regulating means are disposed upstream of the fuel cell unit;
- wherein said pressure is adjusted in such a manner that,
- the pressure is reduced during the occurrence of a transition from operation of the fuel cell at a maximum load to operation at a partial load, and increased to its previous value upon completion of operation at a partial load;
- the pressure is increased during the occurrence of a transition from operation of the fuel cell at a maximum load to operation at a partial load, and increased to its previous value upon completion of operation at a partial load.
A method for operating a fuel cell system comprising a gas generation system for providing hydrogen from a carbon- and hydrogen-containing medium for a fuel cell unit, and pressure regulating means for adjusting at least one of pressure in the gas generation system and mass flow through the fuel cell unit as a function of a load on the fuel cell unit, which pressure regulating means are disposed upstream of the fuel cell unit, said method comprising:
- reducing the pressure during the occurrence of a transition from operation of the fuel cell at a maximum load to operation at a partial load, and decreasing to its previous value upon completion of operation at a partial load;
- increasing the pressure during the occurrence of a transition from operation of the fuel cell at a maximum load to operation at a partial load, and decreasing to its previous value upon completion of operation at a partial load.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.