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US 7,255,945 B2Granted
Compact fuel cell system with efficient power generation performance
AssigneeHonda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsNaoyuki Enjoji, Masaharu Suzuki, Hideaki Kikuchi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fuel cell system for supplying electricity to a main motor as a power source includes a fuel cell stack and pumps for supplying a fuel gas and an oxygen-containing gas to the fuel cell stack. The fuel cell system further includes a driving force transmitting mechanism. The driving force transmitting mechanism connects the main motor, the pumps, and the supercharger for driving the pumps and the supercharger by the main motor.
Claims15
A fuel cell system for supplying electricity to a motor as a power source, said fuel cell system comprising:
- a fuel cell stack formed by stacking electrolyte electrode assemblies and separators alternately, said electrolyte electrode assemblies each including a pair of electrodes and an electrolyte interposed between said electrodes, said fuel cell stack and said motor being connected together, said fuel cell stack includes a reactant gas supply hole for supplying at least one of a fuel gas and an oxygen-containing gas to said electrolyte electrode assemblies;
- a reactant gas supply pump for supplying a reactant gas including said at least one of said fuel gas and said oxygen-containing gas to said fuel cell stack;
- a driving force transmitting mechanism for connecting said motor and said reactant gas supply pump to drive said reactant gas supply pump by said motor;
- and
- a connection manifold block having a plurality of internal pipes including a reactant gas supply pipe that supplies at least said reactant gas from said reactant gas supply pump to said fuel cell stack, one end of said reactant gas supply pipe of the connection manifold block directly connects to said reactant gas supply hole of the fuel cell stack,
- wherein a first surface of said connection manifold block is in planar contact with a surface of said fuel cell stack and a second surface of said connection manifold block is in planar contact with a surface of said motor,
- wherein said fuel cell stack, said connection manifold block and said motor are connected in this order downwardly in a gravity direction in order to prevent condensed water generated in said connection manifold block from entering said fuel cell stack, and
- wherein said planar contact between said connection manifold block and said fuel cell stack, said planar contact between said motor and said connection manifold block, said direct connection of said reactant gas supply pipe of said connection manifold block with said reactant gas supply hole of said fuel cell stack, and the relative positioning of said connection manifold block, said fuel cell stack and said motor provide for a compact fuel cell system.
5 more elements
A fuel cell system for supplying electricity to a motor as a power source, said fuel cell system comprising:
- a fuel cell stack formed by stacking electrolyte electrode assemblies and separators alternately, said electrolyte electrode assemblies each including a pair of electrodes and an electrolyte interposed between said electrodes, said fuel cell stack and said motor being connected together, said fuel cell stack includes a coolant supply hole for supplying a coolant to cool said electrolyte electrode assemblies;
- a coolant supply pump for supplying a coolant to said fuel cell stack,
- a driving force transmitting mechanism for connecting said motor and said coolant supply pump to drive said coolant supply pump by said motor;
- and
- a connection manifold block having a plurality of internal pipes including a coolant supply pipe that supplies said coolant from said coolant supply pump to said fuel cell stack, one end of said coolant supply pipe of said connection manifold block directly connects to said coolant supply hole of said fuel cell stack,
- wherein a first surface of said connection manifold block is in planar contact with a surface of said fuel cell stack, and a second surface of said connection manifold block is in planar contact with a surface of said motor,
- wherein said fuel cell stack, said connection manifold block and said motor are connected in this order downwardly in a gravity direction to prevent condensed water generated in said connection manifold block from entering said fuel cell stack, and
- wherein said planar contact between said connection manifold block and said fuel cell stack, said planar contact between said motor and said connection manifold block, said direct connection of said coolant supply pipe of said connection manifold block with said coolant supply hole of said fuel cell stack, and the relative positioning of the connection manifold block, said fuel cell stack, and said motor provide for a compact fuel cell system.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.