Fuel cell power system

A fuel cell power apparatus comprising:

• a fuel cell;
• a first means for storing hydrogen, said first means having a first hydrogen absorbing material (MH1) that can store and release hydrogen;
• a catalytic combustor that heats the first means so as to release hydrogen in order to supply hydrogen to the fuel cell;
• and
• a second means for storing hydrogen, said second means having a second hydrogen absorbing material (MH2) that can store and release hydrogen and has a hydrogen release temperature that is lower than that of the first hydrogen absorbing material (MH1), the second means for storing hydrogen releasing hydrogen as a fuel for the catalytic combustor under heating by waste heat from the fuel cell;
• wherein the apparatus is configured such that, when the fuel cell is starting operation, the first means for storing hydrogen supplies hydrogen to the second means for storing hydrogen, and the fuel cell is preheated by heat generated as the second hydrogen absorbing material (MH2) stores hydrogen.

A fuel cell cower system comprising:

• a fuel cell;
• a first hydrogen storage vessel having a first hydrogen absorbing material (MH1) that can store and release hydrogen;
• a catalytic combustor that heats the first hydrogen storage vessel so as to release hydrogen in order to supply hydrogen to the fuel cell;
• and
• a second hydrogen storage vessel having a second hydrogen absorbing material (MH2) that can store and release hydrogen and has a hydrogen release temperature that is lower than that of the first hydrogen absorbing material (MH1), the second hydrogen storage vessel releasing hydrogen as a fuel for the catalytic combustor under heating by waste heat from the fuel cell;
• wherein the fuel cell receives hydrogen only from the first hydrogen storage vessel.

A fuel cell power system comprising:

• a fuel cell;
• a first hydrogen storage vessel having a first hydrogen absorbing material (MH1) that can store and release hydrogen;
• a catalytic combustor that heats the first hydrogen storage vessel so as to release hydrogen in order to supply hydrogen to the fuel cell;
• and
• a second hydrogen storage vessel having a second hydrogen absorbing material (MH2) that can store and release hydrogen and has a hydrogen release temperature that is lower than that of the first hydrogen absorbing material (MH1), the second hydrogen storage vessel releasing hydrogen as a fuel for the catalytic combustor under heating by waste heat from the fuel cell;
• wherein waste heat from the fuel cell is not supplied to the first hydrogen storage vessel.

A fuel cell power apparatus comprising:

• a fuel cell;
• a first means for storing hydrogen, said first means having a first hydrogen absorbing material (MH1) that can store and release hydrogen;
• a catalytic combustor that heats the first means so as to release hydrogen in order to supply hydrogen to the fuel cell;
• and
• a second means for storing hydrogen, said second means having a second hydrogen absorbing material (MH2) that can store and release hydrogen and has a hydrogen release temperature that is lower than that of the first hydrogen absorbing material (MH1), the second means for storing hydrogen releasing hydrogen as a fuel for the catalytic combustor under heating by waste heat from the fuel cell;
• wherein the fuel cell receives hydrogen only from the first means.

A fuel cell power apparatus comprising:

• a fuel cell;
• a first means for storing hydrogen, said first means having a first hydrogen absorbing material (MH1) that can store and release hydrogen;
• a catalytic combustor that heats the first means so as to release hydrogen in order to supply hydrogen to the fuel cell;
• and
• a second means for storing hydrogen, said second means having a second hydrogen absorbing material (MH2) that can store and release hydrogen and has a hydrogen release temperature that is lower than that of the first hydrogen absorbing material (MH1), the second means for storing hydrogen releasing hydrogen as a fuel for the catalytic combustor under heating by waste heat from the fuel cell;
• wherein waste heat from the fuel cell is not supplied to the first means.