| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 429020000 | By heating or cooling | 55 |
| 20080206613 | Reformer for fuel cell, and fuel cell system comprising the same - A reformer for a fuel cell system includes a heating source for generating heat by a reaction of a fuel and an oxidant using an oxidizing catalyst, and a reforming reaction part for generating hydrogen by a reforming catalyst reaction. The oxidizing catalyst includes a solid acid, including a strong acid ion and an inorganic oxide, and a platinum-based metal. The reformer for a fuel cell system can start a fuel oxidation catalyst reaction at a low temperature with the heating source having a simplified structure. | 08-28-2008 |
| 20080226955 | MULTISTAGE COMBUSTOR AND METHOD FOR STARTING A FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A multistage combustor is configured for starting a fuel cell system, and includes a partial oxidation (POX) burner having an inlet for receiving a flow of a fuel/oxidant mixture, the POX burner being configured to partially oxidize fuel in the fuel/oxidant mixture to yield a partially oxidized gas; a first output coupled to the fuel cell system and configured to provide a first amount of the partially oxidized gas as first output gas to a first fuel cell system component; a second burner coupled to the POX burner, the second burner being configured to receive a second amount of the partially oxidized gas from the POX burner and to oxidize at least some remaining fuel to yield a second output gas different from the first output gas; and a second output coupled to a second fuel cell system component and configured to provide the second output gas to the second fuel cell system component. | 09-18-2008 |
| 20080233442 | Starting Method of Fuel Cell and Fuel Cell System - The invention provides a fuel cell starting method and a fuel cell system capable of making an operation starting stable. | 09-25-2008 |
| 20080241614 | HYDROGEN MOBILE POWER PLANT THAT EXTRACTS HYDROGEN FUEL FROM WATER - The apparatus contains a means to create superheated steam at a temperature of preferably 800° C. The superheated steam is delivered to a catalytic decomposition converter that contains ceramic membranes that function to decompose water H | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080241615 | HYDROGEN SUPPLY DEVICE, DISTRIBUTED POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM USING SAME, AND AUTOMOBILE USING SAME - There is provided a hydrogen storage and/or supply device utilizing an organic compound medium capable of being repeatedly hydrogenated and dehydrogenated. This device comprises: a catalyst member formed of a stack of a plurality of catalyst plates for storing and/or releasing hydrogen through a chemical reaction of the organic compound medium by means of a metal catalyst; a heat collector plate for supplying heat from a heat source to the catalyst member; and a heat transfer portion in contact with the plurality of catalyst plates and the heat collector plate. Each catalyst plate includes: the metal catalyst; a substrate; a catalyst support formed on at least one face of the substrate for supporting the metal catalyst; and a flow channel for passing the organic compound medium therethrough. Furthermore, the heat transfer portion has a thermal conductivity higher than that of the catalyst support. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080241616 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes a fuel supplier supplying hydrocarbon-based fuel, a water supplier supplying water, an oxygen supplier supplying oxygen-containing gas for combustion, a combustion vessel connected to the fuel supplier, the water supplier and the oxygen supplier, and containing a catalyst to accelerate combustion reaction of the fuel and oxygen, a reformer connected to the combustion vessel and serving to react the fuel with water to convert them into a hydrogen-containing gas, a fuel cell disposed to enable heat transfer with the combustion vessel and generating power by electrochemical reaction between the hydrogen-containing gas supplied from the reformer and an oxygen-containing gas for power generation, and a controller controlling flow rates of the fuel, the water and the oxygen-containing gas for combustion supplied to the combustion vessel by controlling the fuel supplier, the water supplier and the oxygen supplier. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080248348 | Fuel-Cell Installation, Method For Activating and Deactivating Said Installation - The invention relates to a fuel-cell installation comprising: a reformer stage, which can be heated by a gas burner in order to carry out the water-vapour reformation of hydrocarbon and water-vapour into hydrogen and additional reformer products; at least one conversion stage, which is connected downstream of the reformer stage for the chemical preparation of the reformer products; and at least one fuel-cell stack, which is connected downstream of the conversion stage and comprises a plurality of anodes and cathodes with corresponding supply and discharge connections for converting the hydrogen into water to generate an electric current and heat. The fuel-cell stack is configured as a high-temperature fuel-cell stack with an operating temperature between about 100° C. and about 200° C., the conversion stage is connected on the output side, without heat exchange, to the supply connection of the anode of the fuel-cell stack and the discharge connection of the anode of the fuel-cell stack is connected to an air supply connection on the gas burner. During the activation and/or deactivation of the fuel-cell installation, the air that has flowed through the reformer stage and the conversion stage can be selectively supplied to the anode of the fuel cell stack. | 10-09-2008 |
| 20080248349 | Solid oxide fuel cell column temperature equalization by internal reforming and fuel cascading - A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack including a plurality of fuel cells. The fuel cell stack includes a middle portion of fuel cells and at least one end portion of fuel cells. The fuel cells of the end portion is arranged in a cascade configuration with the fuel cells of the middle portion. The system is configured such that in operation, at least partial reformation of hydrocarbon fuel occurs internally within the fuel cells of the middle portion and the fuel cells of the end portion are configured to use fuel exhaust from the middle portion as fuel. | 10-09-2008 |
| 20080254328 | Closed Coolant Loop with Expansion Device for a Fuel Cell System - A fuel cell system that employs a closed coolant loop. The system includes an expansion device having a flexible membrane, where a cooling fluid side of the membrane is in fluid communication with the cooling fluid in the coolant loop and an air side of the membrane is in communication with an air pocket. The air side of the expansion device is in air communication with an air compressor so that the pressure of the cooling fluid within the coolant loop changes as the stack pressure changes. The fuel cell system also includes a coolant reservoir that is in fluid communication with the cooling fluid in the coolant loop. Air and hydrogen bubbles within the cooling fluid are vented to the coolant reservoir where they accumulate. The coolant reservoir includes a level sensor indicating the level of the cooling fluid therein. | 10-16-2008 |
| 20080268308 | Fuel Cell Heating Device And Method For Operating Said Fuel Cell Heating Device - A fuel cell heating device ( | 10-30-2008 |
| 20080268309 | REFORMER AND FUEL CELL SYSTEM INCORPORATING THE SAME - A controller for a reformer includes supply quantity changing means for changing the supply quantity of at least either one of combustible gas and combustion oxidizing gas supplied to a combustion section, a combustion state change detecting means for detecting a change which is caused in the combustion state of the combustion section as a result that the change of the supply quantity is brought by the supply quantity changing means, based on a detection result from the combustion state detecting means, and combustion state checking means for checking the combustion state which arose at the combustion section before the change brought by the supply quantity changing means, based on a detection result from the combustion state change detecting means. Thus, the gone-out state of the combustion section can be reliably judged with the construction of a low cost, and the combustion state of the combustion section in the reformer of a fuel cell system can be adjusted to an optimum combustion state. | 10-30-2008 |
| 20080292924 | Fuel Processing System Having Gas Recirculation for Transient Operations - A fuel processor system capable of circulating fuel processor system gases, such as reformate, anode exhaust, and/or combustor exhaust, through the fuel processor to provide a number of distinct advantages. The fuel processor system having a plurality of fuel cells discharging an H | 11-27-2008 |
| 20080299425 | Flow Arrangement for Fuel Cell Stacks - A flow arrangement for fuel cell stacks connects fuel cell stacks into fuel stack groups having a number of fuel cell stacks connected in parallel by their anode and cathode parts so that the inlet of the anode part of each fuel cell stack group is in connection with an inlet manifold common to these and that the exhaust of the anode part of each group is connected with an exhaust manifold. Further, the inlet of the cathode part of each group is connected with a cathode part manifold and the exhaust of the cathode part of each group is connected with a cathode part exhaust common to these. The fuel cell stacks are connected in series by their cathode side flows. A by-pass channel system provides flow connection between at least one cathode part manifold subsequent to the fuel cell stack group and the first part of the cathode flow channel system, at a position located prior to the heat exchanger in the flow direction of the gas. | 12-04-2008 |
| 20080305373 | VAPORIZER AND POWER GENERATION APPARATUS AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT IN WHICH VAPORIZER IS PROVIDED - Disclosed in a vaporizer including a gas-liquid separation film which separates a gas included in a supplied liquid and which allows the separated gas to pass through the gas-liquid separation film and a heating unit which is provided at a downstream side of the gas-liquid separation film and which heats the liquid. | 12-11-2008 |
| 20090011299 | Fuel Cell System - A fuel-cell system is advantageous for repressing water from flowing backward from a reservoir to a condenser, flowing backward which results from the inside of the condenser being turned into negative pressure. The fuel-cell system has a fuel cell for generating electric power by reactant gas, a condenser for generating condensed water by condensing water content included in the reactant gas to be supplied to the fuel cell or in off gas of the reactant gas, and a reservoir for reserving the condensed water collected at the condenser. A drain valve is disposed between the condenser and the reservoir. The drain valve is switchable between a closed state in which communication between the condenser and the reservoir is shut off and an opened state in which the condenser is communicated with the reservoir to discharge the water in the condenser to the reservoir. A controller carries out inner-pressure increment and drain controls for opening the drain valve after increasing inner pressure in the condenser. | 01-08-2009 |
| 20090017348 | Techniques for packaging and utilizing solid hydrogen-producing fuel - Techniques for packaging and utilizing solid hydrogen-producing fuel are described herein. The fuel may be in the form of a bonded/compressed powder, granules, or pellets. The fuel is packaged in cartridges having hydrogen-permeable enclosures. In operation, the fuel undergoes a hydrogen-releasing Thermally Initiated Hydrolysis (TIH) reaction. A cartridge may comprise one or more fuel chambers, and several cartridges may be assembled together. | 01-15-2009 |
| 20090029207 | BURNER FOR FUEL REFORMER OF FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel reformer burner for a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) system includes a first tube through which a fuel for a fuel reformer is supplied and a second tube through which anode-off gas (AOG) is supplied from a fuel cell stack. The second tube is not connected to the first tube, and an inlet line through which an air is supplied is connected to the first tube. | 01-29-2009 |
| 20090042071 | Multi-tube fuel reformer with augmented heat transfer - A catalytic reformer assembly including a reactor comprising a plurality of parallel tubes arranged within a tubular housing. A metal substrate, formed preferably as a metal foam lattice, is brazed to the tubes on both their inside and outside surfaces. A catalytic washcoat is applied to the metal substrate within the tubes, defining thereby the tubes as individual catalytic reforming reactors. Endothermic reforming reactions within the tubes are supported by heat from hot combustor exhaust flowing around the tubes in contact with the augmenting heat transfer metal substrates outside the tubes. Radial temperature gradients are small because of excellent heat transfer across the tube walls, resulting in excellent mechanical stability of the washcoat on the metal substrate. Preferably, the tubes are formed of Inconel 625 and the metal substrate is formed of Fecralloy®, a high temperature alloy having excellent thermal conductivity and oxidation resistance. | 02-12-2009 |
| 20090068511 | CATALYST FOR REFORMER OF FUEL CELL, PREPARING METHOD THEREOF, AND REFORMER FOR FUEL CELL AND FUEL CELL SYSTEM INCLUDING SAME - A catalyst for a reformer of a fuel cell including an active component and a carrier supporting the active component and including zinc oxide. The active component includes a transition metal and a platinum-group metal. Here, the catalyst has a relatively high reforming efficiency with a relatively low amount of platinum-group metal and a reaction temperature that is less than 500° C. to ensure reactor durability. | 03-12-2009 |
| 20090068512 | HYDROGEN REFUELING STATION - The present invention is a hydrogen refueling station incorporating a fuel cell system serving simultaneously as the power generator and an electrochemical extractor of the pure hydrogen from the hydrogen-rich gas (reformate) produced in steam hydrocarbon reforming process. The hydrogen is stored in a high pressure receiver to be dispensed to vehicles as a fuel. The hydrogen refueling station of the present invention does not require the refilling with DI water. | 03-12-2009 |
| 20090075135 | Fuel cell system - The fuel cell system includes a storage portion, a fuel cell, a fuel supply portion, a hydrogen circulation system and a boil-off gas supply portion. The storage portion stores liquid hydrogen. The fuel cell uses hydrogen gas as fuel gas. The fuel supply portion provides hydrogen gas to an anode of the fuel cell. The hydrogen gas is generated caused by a vaporization of liquid hydrogen stored in the storage portion. The hydrogen circulation system includes the anode of the fuel cell. The boil-off gas supply portion provides boil-off gas generated in the storage portion to the hydrogen circulation system. | 03-19-2009 |
| 20090087705 | REFORMING APPARATUS FOR FUEL CELL - In a reforming apparatus, for use in a fuel cell, for reforming a raw fuel into a hydrogen-rich reformed gas, a reformer generates the reformed gas from the raw fuel. A shift reactor reduces carbon monoxide contained in the reformed gas through a shift reaction. A selective oxidation unit reduces the carbon monoxide contained in the reformed gas that has passed through the shift reactor by performing selective oxidation on the carbon monoxide. A reforming reaction tube houses linearly the reformer, the shift reactor and the selective oxidation unit in this order. A combustion means produces combustion exhaust gas by combusting the raw fuel. An outer casing is placed around the reforming reaction tube, and the outer casing has a larger diameter than that of the reforming reaction tube. A heated flow passage through which the combustion exhaust gas passes to heat the reforming reaction tube is formed between the reforming reaction tube and the outer casing. | 04-02-2009 |
| 20090098425 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes at least: a hydrogen generator ( | 04-16-2009 |
| 20090104486 | Fuel cell system - A fluid unit includes a heat exchanger, an evaporator, and a reformer. The fluid unit is provided in a third case unit. In the third case unit, an exhaust gas channel as a passage of an exhaust gas is provided. The exhaust gas channel includes a first channel for supplying the exhaust gas to the reformer, a second channel for supplying the exhaust gas to the heat exchanger, and a third channel connected to the downstream side of the second channel for supplying the exhaust gas to the evaporator. The exhaust gas supplied to the evaporator has the lower temperature due to the heat exchange in the heat exchanger. | 04-23-2009 |
| 20090104487 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM INCLUDING FUEL PROCESSOR AND MANAGING METHOD THEREOF - A fuel cell system including a fuel processor, and a method of operating the fuel cell system, the fuel cell system includes: a reformer that reforms a hydrocarbon group fuel source into a reformed gas; a burner that heats the reformer; a CO remover unit that removes CO from a reformed gas generated by the reformer; a stack to generate electricity using the reformed gas; a first burner fuel supply line to supply the hydrocarbon group fuel source to the burner; and a second burner fuel supply line to supply the reformed gas from the CO remover unit to the burner. | 04-23-2009 |
| 20090104488 | Heat Exchanger System Comprising Fluid Circulation Zones Which are Selectively Coated with a Chemical Reaction Catalyst - The invention relates to a plate ( | 04-23-2009 |
| 20090110977 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING THE SAME - A fuel cell system and a method for operating the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a fuel cell system includes a fuel supplier, a reformer for reforming a fuel supplied from the fuel supplier into hydrogen gas by a reforming reaction, and a fuel cell stack for generating electrical energy by an electrochemical reaction between the hydrogen gas and an oxidizing agent. When the fuel cell system is to be stopped, the reforming reaction of the reformer and the electrochemical reaction of the fuel cell are stopped and a portion of unreformed fuel is fed to the reformer and the fuel cell stack. Residual hydrogen is reacted and residual power from the fuel cell stack is dissipated by a power dissipation circuit. By largely removing hydrogen from the fuel cell stack on a stopped condition, reactions that are detrimental to the fuel cell membrane are reduced. | 04-30-2009 |
| 20090110978 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system that effectively processes a flue gas generated from a heat source of a fuel reforming apparatus. The fuel reforming apparatus generates a reforming gas containing hydrogen through a reformation reaction of the fuel from a fuel supply, and a fuel cell main body generates electrical energy through an electrochemical reaction of the reforming gas with an oxidizing agent. The fuel reforming apparatus includes a reforming reaction part and a heat source. The reforming reaction part induces a reforming reaction in the fuel, and the heat source provides heat energy to the reforming reaction part. A flue gas postprocessor induces an oxidation-reduction reaction in a flue gas exhausted by a combustion reaction of the heat source to decrease toxic ingredients, such as CO, hydrocarbons, and NO | 04-30-2009 |
| 20090110979 | FUEL REFORMING DEVICE AND FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel reforming device that prevents a flash-back phenomenon includes a reforming reactor and a heater. The reforming reactor reforms a fuel, and the heater provides thermal energy to the reforming reactor by generating the thermal energy by a catalytic oxidation reaction between a catalytic layer and an oxidation reaction material. The heater includes an inflow pipe that receives the oxidation reaction material, an outflow pipe that outputs a flue gas generated by the catalytic oxidation reaction, and a flue gas retrieving pipe that connects the outflow pipe and the inflow pipe to direct the flue gas to the inflow pipe. | 04-30-2009 |
| 20090117426 | Fuel Cell System - A fuel cell system ( | 05-07-2009 |
| 20090130508 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system for removing sulfur compounds adsorbed on the surfaces of a catalyst. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell in which a plurality of unit cells, each having an electrolyte membrane held between electrode catalyst layers, are stacked, and a control device for recovering catalytic activity of the electrode catalyst layers by increasing an amount of water discharged from the electrode catalyst layers to a predetermined amount or more. | 05-21-2009 |
| 20090148733 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a heat exchanger for heating an oxygen-containing gas using a heat medium before the oxygen-containing gas is supplied to the fuel cell stack, a reformer for reforming a raw fuel chiefly containing hydrocarbon to produce a fuel gas to be supplied to the fuel cell stack, a combustor for burning a raw fuel and an exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell stack after consumption in power generation reaction to produce a combustion gas as the heat medium, a casing containing the fuel cell stack, the heat exchanger, the reformer, and the combustor. A combustion gas outlet of the combustor is directly opened to a combustion gas inlet of the fluid unit. | 06-11-2009 |
| 20090155648 | Hydrogen storage system for fuel cell vehicle - The present invention provides a hydrogen storage system using a metal hydride (MH), which can increase volumetric storage density of hydrogen and total hydrogen storage capacity and improve system packaging. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090155649 | SYSTEM AND PROCESS FOR GENERATING ELECTRICAL POWER - The present invention relates to a solid oxide fuel cell system. The system includes a pre-reforming reactor, a reforming reactor, a hydrogen separation apparatus and a solid oxide fuel cell. The anode exhaust outlet of the solid oxide fuel cell is operatively connected to an inlet of the pre-reforming reactor so anode exhaust from the fuel cell may enter the pre-reforming reactor. The pre-reforming reactor also has an inlet for a hydrocarbon feed precursor. The reforming reactor is operatively coupled to the pre-reforming reactor so that a feed produced in the pre-reforming reactor from the feed precursor may be fed to the reforming reactor. The reforming reactor is operatively connected to the hydrogen separation apparatus so that hydrogen produced in the reforming reactor may be separated from the reformed product gases. The anode inlet of the solid oxide fuel cell is operatively connected to the hydrogen separation apparatus so hydrogen may be fed from the hydrogen separation apparatus as fuel to the solid oxide fuel cell. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090155650 | SYSTEM AND PROCESS FOR GENERATING ELECTRICAL POWER - The present invention is directed to a solid oxide fuel cell system for generating electrical power. The system comprises a solid oxide fuel cell, a reforming reactor, a hydrogen separation apparatus, and an anode exhaust conduit. The reforming reactor includes a reforming region in which a feed comprising one or more hydrocarbons may be steam reformed to produce a reformed product gas containing hydrogen. The hydrogen separation apparatus is located in the reforming reactor positioned to separate hydrogen from the reformed product gas produced in the reforming reactor. The hydrogen separation apparatus is operatively connected to the anode of the solid oxide fuel cell to provide hydrogen to the fuel cell as a fuel to be oxidized to produce electricity. The anode exhaust conduit is located in the reforming region of the reforming reactor and is operatively connected to the anode exhaust of the fuel cell so that hot anode exhaust exiting the fuel cell may pass through the anode exhaust conduit and exchange heat with reactants in the reforming region of the reforming reactor. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090169932 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND REFORMER - A fuel cell system and a reformer for a fuel cell system prevents backfire and improves efficiency of heat transfer. The fuel cell system includes a reformer generating hydrogen gas from fuel including hydrogen by a catalytic chemical reaction using heat energy, and at least one electricity generating unit generating electrical energy by an electrochemical reaction between the hydrogen gas and oxygen. The reformer includes a case, a heat source, and a reforming reaction part. The case forms an external shape. The heat source is disposed in the case to generate heat energy by an oxidation reaction between fuel and a catalyst, and includes a mesh, an oxidation catalyst layer formed on a surface of the mesh, and at least one fuel injection nozzle supplying the fuel to the oxidation catalyst layer. The reforming reaction part is disposed in the case to generate hydrogen gas from fuel using the heat energy generated from the heat source. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090176136 | Solid oxide fuel cell systems with hot zones and two-stage tail gas combustors - A solid oxide fuel cell system including a main plate, an inner cylinder attached to the main plate, an intermediate cylinder attached to the main plate such that the intermediate cylinder contains a cathode air stream, and an outer cylinder attached to the main plate. An exhaust annular gap is formed between the intermediate and outer cylinders such that hot exhaust gases flow through the exhaust annular gap and heat is transferred from the hot exhaust gases to the cathode air stream. The solid oxide fuel cell system may also include a two-stage tail gas combustor. | 07-09-2009 |
| 20090186246 | Fuel cell and control method thereof - Disclosed herein are a fuel cell and a method for controlling the fuel cell. The fuel cell includes a reforming apparatus to perform reformation reactions and thereby to produce a fuel gas and a heat by-product, a stack to receive the fuel gas from the reforming apparatus and thereby to generate energy, a preheating unit to heat the stack and thereby to promote the operation of the stack, and an operation control unit to supply at least one of the fuel gas and heat by-product to the preheating unit during an initial operation of the reforming apparatus, and to supply the fuel gas to the stack upon the completion of the initial operation of the reforming apparatus. According to the fuel cell, it is possible to rapidly elevate an internal temperature of the fuel cell in an economical manner until the fuel cell initially operation and then enables normal operation. | 07-23-2009 |
| 20090197131 | INDIRECT INTERNAL REFORMING SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL SYSTEM - An indirect inside reforming SOFC system that enables elimination of the use of hydrogen storage equipment for anode protection at start-up, etc. There is provided an indirect inside reforming solid oxide fuel cell comprising a first reformer for producing a reformate gas from a hydrocarbon fuel with the use of steam reforming reaction; a solid oxide fuel cell for power generation from the reformate gas obtained by the first reformer; and a container for housing both of the first reformer and the solid oxide fuel cell, wherein the first reformer is disposed at a position receiving heat radiation from the solid oxide fuel cell. Further, there is provided an indirect inside reforming solid oxide fuel cell system comprising the indirect inside reforming solid oxide fuel cell and further comprising a second reformer for reforming a hydrocarbon fuel to thereby produce a reformate gas, disposed outside the container; and a line leading the reformate gas obtained by the second reformer from the second reformer to an anode of the solid oxide fuel cell. | 08-06-2009 |
| 20090208788 | Fuel cell system - A fuel cell system includes a reformer for generating hydrogen gas from fuel containing hydrogen using a chemical catalytic reaction and thermal energy. At least one electricity generator generates electrical energy by an electrochemical reaction of the hydrogen gas and oxygen. A fuel supply assembly supplies fuel to the reformer, and an oxygen supply assembly supplies oxygen to the at least one electricity generator. A heat exchanger is connected to the reformer and to the at least one electricity generator. The heat exchanger supplies thermal energy of the reformer, during initial operation of the system, to the at least one electricity generator so as to pre-heat the at least one electricity generator. | 08-20-2009 |
| 20090214909 | Fuel cell system - Moisture caused by humidity in the fuel gas and water vapor from the water that is generated become condensed inside of the fuel cell when power generation in the fuel cell is temporarily stopped, making it necessary to prevent obstruction to the fuel gas flow channel when power generation is restarted. A fuel cell is configured so that it overlaps with a single cell comprised of an electrolyte membrane sandwiched between a fuel electrode and an oxidant electrode. Oxidant supply means | 08-27-2009 |
| 20090214910 | LOW PRESSURE DROP FUEL PROCESSOR FOR USE WITH PORTABLE FUEL CELLS - The invention relates to a fuel processor that produces hydrogen from a fuel and includes a low pressure drop burner. The low pressure drop burner permits the use of a low pressure air supply such as a fan to move products and reactants through the burner. | 08-27-2009 |
| 20090214911 | DIRECT ALCOHOL FUEL CELL - A direct alcohol fuel cell comprising a membrane-electrode assembly, on which electrodes are formed on both faces of an electrolyte membrane; a fuel chamber and an air chamber formed on the electrodes; a fuel tank; a supply conduit communicating the fuel tank and the fuel chamber; and a vapor chamber provided on the supply conduit, wherein the vapor chamber is provided with an oxidation catalyst and an admission port for aspirating emission from the fuel chamber containing the unburned alcohol fuel to the oxidation catalyst. A direct alcohol fuel cell further comprising a noncondensable gas mixing section comprising a noncondensable gas tank; a noncondensable gas supply conduit communicating a supply conduit and the noncondensable gas tank; and a catalyst provided on the noncondensable gas supply conduit | 08-27-2009 |
| 20090226781 | FUEL CELL DEVICE AND SYSTEM - Fuel cell devices and systems are provided. In certain embodiments, the devices include a ceramic support structure having a length, a width, and a thickness. A reaction zone positioned along a portion of the length is configured to be heated to an operating reaction temperature, and has at least one active layer therein comprising an electrolyte separating first and second opposing electrodes, and active first and second gas passages adjacent the respective first and second electrodes. At least one cold zone positioned from the first end along another portion of the length is configured to remain below the operating reaction temperature. An artery flow passage extends from the first end along the length through the cold zone and into the reaction zone and is fluidicly coupled to the active first gas passage, which extends from the artery flow passage toward at least one side. The thickness of the artery flow passage is greater than the thickness of the active first gas passage. In other embodiments, fuel cell devices include an electrolyte having at least a portion thereof comprising a ceramic material sintered from a nano-sized powder. In yet other embodiments, cold zones are provided at each end of the device with the reaction zone therebetween having at least two discrete power sections, each having one or more active layers, the power sections fed by discrete fuel passages to provide a device and system capable of operating at more than one power level. | 09-10-2009 |
| 20090246578 | THERMAL MANAGEMENT IN A FUEL CELL SYSTEM - Embodiments of thermally integrated HT PEM fuel cell systems are disclosed. In one disclosed embodiment, a fuel cell system comprises a fuel cell, a fuel processor configured to form a processed fuel for the fuel cell, and a thermal management system comprising a heat transfer fluid circulation loop that circulates a heat transfer fluid through the fuel cell and through the fuel processing system in a common loop. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090258265 | Fuel supply device for fuel cell and fuel cell system using the same - A fuel supply device for a fuel cell and a fuel cell system using the same that prevent H | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090263691 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system including a fuel cell, a reformer, a combustor that heats the reformer using anode off-gas of the fuel cell as a fuel, and a ratio controller that controls a ratio of a combustion component supplied to the combustor in accordance with a temperature distribution in a gas flow direction inside the combustor. | 10-22-2009 |
| 20090280369 | SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL STEAM REFORMING POWER SYSTEM - The present invention is a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Reforming Power System that utilizes adiabatic reforming of reformate within this system. By utilizing adiabatic reforming of reformate within the system the system operates at a significantly higher efficiency than other Solid Oxide Reforming Power Systems that exist in the prior art. This is because energy is not lost while materials are cooled and reheated, instead the device operates at a higher temperature. This allows efficiencies higher than 65%. | 11-12-2009 |
| 20090280370 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a heat exchanger for heating an oxygen-containing gas using a heat medium before the oxygen-containing gas is supplied to the fuel cell stack, a reformer for reforming a raw fuel chiefly containing hydrocarbon to produce a fuel gas to be supplied to the fuel cell stack, a combustor for burning a raw fuel and an exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell stack after consumption in power generation reaction to produce a combustion gas, and a heat retention chamber provided to cover opposite ends of the fuel cell stack in the stacking direction. Before an exhaust gas is supplied to the combustor, the exhaust gas flows into the heat retention chamber as a heat source for maintaining the temperature of the fuel cell stack. | 11-12-2009 |
| 20090305098 | COMBUSTION APPARATUS, COMBUSTION PROCESSOR, AND FUEL CELL GENERATING SYSTEM - There is provided a combustion apparatus including a gas supply path | 12-10-2009 |
| 20100047641 | HIGH-EFFICIENCY DUAL-STACK MOLTEN CARBONATE FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A dual stack fuel cell system comprising a first fuel cell stack comprising a first anode side, adapted to receive fuel and to output a first anode exhaust, and a first cathode side, a second fuel cell stack comprising a second anode side, adapted to receive processed anode exhaust derived from the first anode exhaust and to output a second anode exhaust, and a second cathode side, adapted to receive oxidant gas and to output a first cathode exhaust, wherein the first cathode side receives at least the first cathode exhaust outputted from the second cathode side; and wherein the first fuel cell stack includes indirect internal reforming and the second fuel cell stack may not include any indirect internal reforming. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100062299 | EVAPORATOR AND FUEL REFORMER HAVING THE SAME - An evaporator and a fuel reformer having the same. The evaporator includes a wall arrangement having a circumferential wall and a bottom wall, the circumferential wall and the bottom wall defining (or surrounding) an evaporation chamber; an inlet provided at one side of the evaporation chamber; an outlet formed in the bottom wall; and a barrier at (or surrounding) the outlet and projected from the bottom wall to the inside of the evaporation chamber. | 03-11-2010 |
| 20100062300 | FUEL CELL POWER GENERATION SYSTEM - A fuel cell power generation system is disclosed. The fuel cell power generation system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: a stack, which produces electrical energy by reacting hydrogen with oxygen and in which the hydrogen is supplied as fuel and the oxygen is in the air; a hydrogen tank, which supplies fuel comprising hydrogen to the stack; and a heat transfer tape, which transfers heat generated from the stack to the hydrogen tank. The fuel cell power generation system can improve the efficiency of supplying hydrogen by supplying waste heat generated from the stack to the hydrogen tank through the use of the heat transfer tape without a heat supplying device and be applied to a mobile device due to the reduced volume of the fuel cell power generation system. | 03-11-2010 |
| 20100104903 | Power Plant With Membrane Water Gas Shift Reactor System - The fuel processing system of the present invention supplies a flow of H2-rich reformate to a water gas shift membrane reactor, comprising a water gas shift reaction region and a permeate region, separated by an H2-separation membrane H2 formed over a catalyst in the reaction region selectively passes through the H2-separation membrane to the permeate region for delivery to a use point (such as the fuel cell of a fuel cell power plant) A sweep gas, preferably steam, removes the H2 from the permeate region The direction of sweep gas flow relative to the reformate flow is controlled for H2-separation performance and is used to determine the loading of the catalyst in the reaction region Coolant, thermal and/or pressure control subsystems of the fuel cell power plant may be integrated with the fuel processing system | 04-29-2010 |
| 20100143755 | Multi-Channel Fuel Reformer with Augmented Heat Transfer - A planar endothermic reformer assembly comprising only a few macrochannels rather than many microchannels as in the prior art. The macrochannels are arranged alternately in a stack for reforming and hot gas flow in a cross-flow reformer/heat exchanger. The assembly includes four manifolds. An external combustor supplies heat to the hot gas macrochannels in the reformer/heat exchanger stack for endothermic reforming, resulting in low temperature gradients in the reforming macrochannels. The macrochannels, having no dimension less than 2.0 mm, contain metal substrates for heat transfer as well as for support for the catalytic washcoat and may comprise packs of corrugated sheet metal such as Haynes or Inconell; packs of wire mesh; metallic foam made of Fecralloy, Haynes, Inconel, or higher conductivity material; or stacks of metallic felt material. The metallic substrates are brazed into the reforming channels and the hot flow channels to ensure maximum heat transfer for highest reforming efficiencies. | 06-10-2010 |
