Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
429025000 | Pressure dependent | 35 |
20080199746 | Fuel Cell System - An object is to provide a fuel cell system having a simple structure, which is capable of supplying gas appropriately through an ejector in accordance with the load of a fuel cell. The fuel cell system ( | 08-21-2008 |
20080220303 | Fuel Cell System - A fuel cell system that generates electricity using an electrochemical reaction of fuel gas and oxidizing gas, having: a pressure adjustment valve which is provided on a fuel gas supply path for conducting the fuel gas from a fuel gas supply source to a fuel cell and which adjusts the supply gas pressure of the fuel gas; a degree of opening adjustment valve provided downstream of the pressure adjustment valve on the fuel gas supply path, the degree of opening thereof being set in stages or continuously in accordance with a degree of opening signal; and control means that adjusts the degree of opening adjustment signal in accordance with the operating condition of the fuel cell system and controls the state quantity of fuel gas supplied to the fuel cell to a target quantity. In this way, the pressure of fuel gas (for example, hydrogen gas) whose pressure has been reduced by the pressure adjustment valve can be further adjusted to the target pressure by the degree of opening adjustment valve provided downstream of the pressure adjustment valve in accordance with the operating condition of the fuel cell system. | 09-11-2008 |
20080220304 | VENTING APPARATUS AND SYSTEM - A hydrogen separator apparatus for an electrochemical cell is disclosed. The apparatus includes a separation chamber in fluid communication with the electrochemical cell, a product conduit in fluid communication with the separation chamber, and a controllable purge path in fluid communication with the separation chamber. The controllable purge path is disposed at a bottom of the separation chamber such that in response to normal operation of the cell, the controllable purge path is exposed to liquid water and only during start up and shut down of the cell is the controllable purge path exposed to hydrogen gas. The controllable purge path is responsive to a plurality of conditions corresponding to operation of the electrochemical cell. | 09-11-2008 |
20080233446 | FLUIDIC CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE - A fluidic control system includes featured layers. The featured layers include two or more features which collectively form at least one functional component. | 09-25-2008 |
20080248352 | FLUIDIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND RELATED METHODS - Embodiments of the present invention relate to a fluid distribution system. The system may include one or more electrochemical cell layers, a bulk distribution manifold having an inlet, a cell layer feeding manifold in direct fluidic contact with the electrochemical cell layer and a separation layer that separates the bulk distribution manifold from the cell feeding manifold, providing at least two independent paths for fluid to flow from the bulk distribution manifold to the cell feeding manifold. | 10-09-2008 |
20080261092 | Fuel Cell System - At the startup of a fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell that generates power upon receiving a supply of a reactive gas and discharges a reactive offgas, a gas passage in which the reactive gas or the reactive offgas flows, a valve device that is installed on the gas passage, and a control device that controls the opening of the valve device, the downstream pressure of the valve device is first acquired and, when the downstream pressure is equal to or less than a predetermined pressurization termination pressure, the valve device is duty-controlled by means of a predetermined duty ratio. As a result, the generation of strange noise and the generation of mechanical component stress that arise from sudden pressurization are suppressed. | 10-23-2008 |
20080311454 | TURBOCOMPRESSOR IMPELLING FUEL RECYCLE IN FUEL CELL POWER PLANT - A fuel cell power plant ( | 12-18-2008 |
20080318098 | Fuel Cell System and Driving Method of Fuel Cell System - A fuel cell system | 12-25-2008 |
20080318099 | Apparatus for preventing carbon corrosion at cathod in fuel cell - The present invention provides an apparatus for effectively preventing carbon corrosion from occurring at the cathode of a fuel cell. The present apparatuses include an air blower supplying air from an air supply source to a fuel cell; a fuel cell receiving air from the air blower to generate electricity by a chemical reaction; an air discharge pipe through which residual air remaining after oxygen of the air is consumed for chemical reaction in the fuel cell is discharged; a pressure sensor provided in the air discharge pipe for detecting air pressure in the fuel cell; an air discharge solenoid valve provided in the air discharge pipe for controlling air flow of the air discharge pipe; and a controller controlling operation of the air blower and the air discharge solenoid valve by receiving a signal detected by the pressure sensor wherein the controller detects the air pressure through the pressure sensor to allow the air blower to supply air to the fuel cell until the air pressure reaches a predetermined pressure and then closes the air discharge solenoid valve until the oxygen in the fuel cell is completely exhausted, thereby preventing the formation of hydrogen/oxygen interface at the anode of the fuel cell. | 12-25-2008 |
20090011302 | Fuel Cell System - To provide a fuel cell system which controls pressure of reaction gas based upon a load reduction request of a fuel cell so that moisture inside the fuel cell can be efficiently discharged. | 01-08-2009 |
20090011303 | Fuel Cell System - To provide a fuel cell system capable of performing a purge operation necessary for realizing a stable output and being miniaturized without using a controller or a sensor, there is provided a fuel cell system having a main power generation part and a sub-power generation part positioned on a downstream side of a fuel flow path of the main power generation part, including: a purge valve provided on a downstream side of the fuel flow path of the sub-power generation part; and an actuator for opening/closing the purge valve with an electromotive force of the sub-power generation part. | 01-08-2009 |
20090035630 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND SHUTDOWN METHOD OF THE SAME - At shutdown of a fuel cell system, a system-shutdown controller is configured to cause a current extraction device to extract current from a fuel cell in a state where a supply of a fuel gas through a fuel supply system is continued and a supply of an oxidant gas through an oxidant supply system is stopped, and the system-shutdown controller is configured to airtightly close fresh-air control valves after increasing pressure of the fuel gas in a fuel electrode to not less than atmospheric pressure and not less than pressure of the oxidant gas in an oxidant electrode. | 02-05-2009 |
20090035631 | ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL SUPPORT STRUCTURE - An electrochemical cell can comprise: a first electrode and a second electrode with a membrane disposed therebetween and in ionic communication with the first electrode and the second electrode and a sintered porous support member disposed on a side of the membrane opposite the second electrode, wherein the support member comprises a first portion on first side of the support member proximate the membrane and a second portion disposed on a side of the first portion opposite the membrane, wherein the second portion has a second portion porosity different from a first portion porosity. | 02-05-2009 |
20090053567 | FUEL GAS FEEDING DEVICE AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - To provide a technique to suppress an excessive rise of pressure between two pressure reducing valves if the amount of fuel gas consumed by a fuel cell stack decreases. A fuel gas supply apparatus comprises: a gas passage in which fuel gas to be supplied to a fuel cell stack flows; a first pressure reducing valve provided to the gas passage; a second pressure reducing valve provided to the gas passage and disposed at a downstream side of the first pressure reducing valve; a setting module that sets a value of target pressure at a downstream side of the second pressure reducing valve, to a value depending on a consumed amount of fuel gas consumed by the fuel cell stack; and a modifying module that, if the consumed amount decreases by a prescribed amount or more, modifies the value of target pressure of the second pressure reducing valve to a value greater than a corresponding value that corresponds to the consumed amount subsequent to the decrease. | 02-26-2009 |
20090068517 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR VERIFYING FUEL CELL FEED LINE FUNCTIONALITY - Systems and methods for verifying fuel cell system functionality are provided. Various tests and/or exercises may be executed while the fuel cell system is in standby mode to detect potential sources of malfunction. In some examples, one or more tests may be designed to detect leaks or ruptures in various reactant supply lines and/or to test the functionality of various valves associated therewith. A controller may be provided to automatically perform the disclosed tests. In certain examples, the disclosed tests may be conducted without the need to provide each component of a fuel cell system with individual electrical feedback. | 03-12-2009 |
20090081504 | FUEL CELL - A fuel cell includes: a membrane electrode assembly containing an anode and a cathode which are disposed opposite to one another via an electrolytic membrane; a fuel tank for reserving a fuel to be supplied to the anode of the membrane electrode assembly; a fuel supplying path for connecting the anode and the fuel tank; and a pressurized fuel supplier which is disposed at the fuel supplying path and configured so as to supply the fuel to the anode from the fuel tank by pressurizing the fuel. | 03-26-2009 |
20090087706 | Fuel cell power generation system - A fuel cell power generation system that includes: a hydrogen generating apparatus which generates hydrogen; a fuel electrode, of which a portion is coupled to the hydrogen generating apparatus so as to receive the hydrogen and dissociate the hydrogen into hydrogen ions and electrons, and in which a fuel channel is formed that has one side open; a membrane, stacked over the fuel electrode such that the membrane covers the open side of the fuel channel; an air electrode, which is coupled to the membrane, and which receives the hydrogen ions from the fuel electrode through the membrane; and a pressure sensor, which is formed on the portion of the fuel electrode, and which measures a pressure inside the fuel channel and regulates a quantity of hydrogen supplied to the fuel electrode. With this system, the flow rate of hydrogen can be regulated in a simple manner. | 04-02-2009 |
20090104492 | Fuel cell system and method of computing fuel level - The present embodiments relate to a fuel cell system having a cartridge stored with liquid fuel and a method of computing a fuel level remained in the cartridge. A fuel cell system of the present embodiments includes: a fuel cartridge for storing fuel; a fuel cell stack for generating power by means of the electrochemical reaction of fuel and oxygen; a fuel pump for sucking fuel stored in the fuel cartridge; a pressure sensor positioned in a fuel channel between a coupling unit of the fuel cartridge and the fuel pump; and a fuel level computing unit for computing a time point when the fuel in the fuel cartridge is almost exhausted. With the present embodiments, the fuel exhaustion in the cartridge can previously sensed at a low cost so that the damage of MEA in the fuel cell can be prevented and the inconvenience or the unexpected damage to a user can be prevented. | 04-23-2009 |
20090226783 | Fuel Cell System - The amount of moisture discharged from within a fuel cell is increased by a simple construction. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell for generating electrical power after causing an anode to receive a hydrogen-containing anode gas and causing a cathode to receive an oxygen-containing cathode gas; an exhaust gas valve provided downstream of the fuel cell in a gas circulation system that supplies an anode gas to the fuel cell; a regulator that is provided upstream of the fuel cell in the gas circulation system and raises gas pressure in the gas circulation system; and an ECU that opens the exhaust gas valve, with the gas pressure kept raised to a level higher than in normal times by use of the regulator. As a result of this, it is possible to increase the gas flow rate and flow velocity within the fuel cell, and it becomes possible to increase the discharge amount of moisture stagnating within the fuel cell. | 09-10-2009 |
20090233132 | Fuel Cell System and Mobile Article - A fuel cell system ( | 09-17-2009 |
20090233133 | Hydrogen discharge system for fuel cell system - The present invention provides a hydrogen discharge system for a fuel cell system, which can ensure safety of a fuel cell vehicle by optimizing the dilution of hydrogen discharged from a fuel cell during discharge and ensure silence of the vehicle by reducing noise generated during discharge. | 09-17-2009 |
20090269637 | FUEL CELL MODULE DESIGN FOR ROBUST PRESSURE MEASUREMENTS IN FREEZING CONDITIONS - A fuel cell system is disclosed including a fuel cell stack and pressure sensors, wherein bypass conduits having flow restriction devices disposed therein are provided for bypassing fluids around the fuel cell stack to militate against the accumulation of moisture in conduits in fluid communication with the pressure sensors. | 10-29-2009 |
20100015484 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system comprises a fuel cell, a supply flow passage for flowing a fuel gas supplied from a fuel supply source to the fuel cell, a variable gas supply device for regulating the state of the gas on the upstream side of the supply flow passage to supply the gas to the downstream side, a discharge flow passage for flowing a fuel off gas discharged from the fuel cell, a discharge valve for discharging the gas from the discharge flow passage to the exterior, and a control part for closing the discharge valve when the discharge amount of the gas calculated while the discharge valve is opened exceeds a predetermined target discharge amount. The control part stops the gas supply from the variable gas supply device and simultaneously closes the discharge valve, when the discharge amount of the gas calculated while the discharge valve is opened exceeds the target discharge amount. | 01-21-2010 |
20100021783 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system has an inlet shutoff valve provided in a main route forming an oxidized gas supply flow path, a humidifier bypass valve provided in a humidifier bypass route which is a route bypassing the main route, a fuel cell bypass valve provided in a fuel cell bypass route bypassing a fuel cell stack, and fuel cell bypass valve controlling unit. Under abnormal conditions in which one of the inlet shutoff valve and the humidifier bypass valve does not function even if the pressure in a valve opening pressure chamber of the one of the valves is at a first pressure value, the fuel cell bypass valve controlling unit restrict the opening of the fuel cell bypass valve to increase the pressure in the valve opening pressure chamber. | 01-28-2010 |
20100040922 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system having a fuel cell, a reactant gas pipe for supplying a reactant gas to the fuel cell, and an injector for driving a valve body at a predetermined drive cycle by an electromagnetic driving force to separate the valve body from a valve seat, regulating conditions of the gas on the upstream side in the reactant gas pipe and supplying the gas to the downstream side. A gas element component responding to the physical quantity of the reactant gas circulating through the reactant gas pipe is integrally provided in the injector so as to come close to the injector. | 02-18-2010 |
20100047646 | Fuel cell system and fuel cell vehicle - A fuel cell system capable of suppressing noise caused by backflow of air when a compressor stops. Also, there is provided a fuel cell vehicle provided with this fuel cell system. A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell and a compressor that compresses air taken in from outside and supplies compressed air to the fuel cell. Operation of the compressor is stopped after a pressure difference between an upstream side and a downstream side of the compressor has become equal to or smaller than a predetermined value by using a control unit. In this case, the predetermined value can be a pressure difference corresponding to a predetermined noise level. | 02-25-2010 |
20100055523 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system draining water in a air-and-water separator includes: a fuel cell stack; a hydrogen-circulating line; an air-and-water separator; a drain unit including a drain valve for draining the water stored in the air-and-water separator; a drain-control unit for controlling the drain unit; a determining unit for determining whether or not the drain-control unit decides that the drain unit should be opened; a frozen-state-presuming unit presuming whether or not the drain unit is frozen; and a thawing-state-determining unit determining whether or not the drain unit is thawed, wherein the drain-control unit controls the drain unit so that a greater amount of the water is drained than a water drained in an ordinary state process which presumes that the drain unit is not frozen, after the frozen-state-presuming unit presumes that the drain unit is frozen and when the thawing-state-determining unit determines mat the drain unit is thawed. | 03-04-2010 |
20100068579 | Systems and methods for fuel cell gas circulation - A fuel cell system has a gas delivery-means that circulates the anode exhaust gas back to the anode compartment of the fuel cell for further reaction. | 03-18-2010 |
20100068580 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - Fluid control valves, such as a humidifying module bypass valve, an inlet shutoff valve, an outlet shutoff valve are opened and closed by the pressure of air flowing in a fluid flow path. The pressure of air flowing in the fluid flow path is regulated, based on a drive demand pressure emitted to drive the flow control valves, by the flow rate of air discharged from an air compressor, the degree of opening of a fuel cell bypass valve, the degree of opening of an air pressure regulation valve, etc. The drive demand pressure for driving a shutoff valve is set such that, for example, the greater the absolute value of the negative pressure inside the fuel cell stack, the higher the drive demand pressure, and the air pressure is controlled to be the drive demand pressure. Since the pressure of air flowing in the fluid flow path is regulated based on a drive demand pressure of the fluid control valves, the response of drive and reliability of the fluid control valves are better than those in the case where, for example, the pressure is regulated based on a request from a fuel cell. | 03-18-2010 |
20100092821 | VALVE FOR FUEL CELL, AND FUEL CELL VEHICLE - A valve-closing pressure chamber and a valve-opening pressure chamber are arranged on both sides of a main diaphragm inside an outlet shutoff valve. An upper supply/discharge tube and a lower supply/discharge tube are connected to a housing forming the outlet shutoff valve. The upper and lower supply/discharge tube supply and discharge air to and from the valve-closing pressure chamber and the valve-opening pressure chamber, respectively. An opening end, which is on the pressure chamber side, of each supply/discharge tube is obliquely cut relative to the direction of axis of the supply/discharge tube, which increases the opening area of the opening end. This prevents water present in the pressure chamber from adhering to the opening end of each supply/discharge tube and prevents the adhered water from freezing. This in turn prevents the opening end of the supply/discharge tube from being closed or the opening area from being reduced. As a result, operation performance of the outlet shutoff valve is enhanced. | 04-15-2010 |
20100098980 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - Disclosed is a fuel cell system including a fuel cell, a fuel supply passage through which a fuel gas supplied from a fuel supply source flows to the fuel cell, an on/off valve which regulates the state of the gas on the upstream side of the fuel supply passage to supply the gas to the downstream side thereof, a sensor which detects the state of the gas in the fuel supply passage, and control means for controlling the on/off valve based on a value detected by the sensor. The control means stops the opening/closing operation of the on/off valve when the sensor falls into an abnormal state. | 04-22-2010 |
20100098981 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM HAVING FUEL CIRCULATION STRUCTURE, METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME, AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS INCLUDING THE FUEL CELL SYSTEM - In a fuel cell system including a fuel cartridge and a fuel supply module, the fuel cartridge includes at least two ports, wherein a first port from among the at least two ports is a fuel inlet port and a second port from among the at least two ports is a fuel outlet port. The fuel cartridge may also include a fuel pouch or the fuel cartridge itself may be the fuel pouch. The fuel supply module may include a fuel circulation structure that circulates the fuel before the fuel is supplied to the stack. The fuel cell system may be equipped with an electronic apparatus and serve as a source of power. | 04-22-2010 |
20100104909 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system has shutoff valves installed between an air flow channel in a fuel cell and the atmosphere. The shutoff valves have valve seats and also have valve discs for sealing in air by coming into contact with the valve seats. The valve discs are adapted to be sucked toward the valve seats by negative pressure in the air flow channel in the fuel cell. The fuel cell system further has an atmosphere release valve installed between the air flow channel in the fuel cell and the shutoff valve and releasing negative pressure in the air flow channel in the fuel cell to the atmosphere. When the fuel cell is started, the shutoff valves are opened after the negative pressure in the air flow channel of the fuel cell is released. Consequently, sealing ability of the shutoff valves when the fuel cell is stopped is improved, and easiness of opening of the shutoff valves when the fuel cell is started is also improved. | 04-29-2010 |
20100124682 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - Fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell for outputting, via a pair of terminals, electric energy produced through reaction between oxygen contained in air supplied to an air electrode and hydrogen contained in fuel gas supplied to a fuel electrode; a subsidiary power supply device for supplying electric power to the terminals; a detection section for detecting a supplied pressure of the fuel gas; and a control section for, when the detected gas pressure is lower than required gas pressure, performing control to cause electric power, corresponding to a difference between the detected gas pressure and the required gas pressure, to be supplied from the subsidiary power supply device to the terminals. | 05-20-2010 |
20100151294 | CATHODE FILTER REPLACEMENT ALGORITHM IN A FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system that includes a compressor for providing cathode air to the cathode side of a fuel cell stack and an air filter for filtering the air sent to the compressor to prevent particulates and other contaminants from entering the compressor and the fuel cell stack. The fuel cell system also includes a mass flow meter that measures the flow of air to the compressor and a pressure sensor that measures the pressure of the airflow at the output of the compressor. An electronic compressor map is provided that defines the operating characteristics of the compressor. By knowing the flow through the compressor and the pressure at the outlet of the compressor, an algorithm can determine where on the compressor map the compressor is operating, and from that determine the inlet pressure to the compressor, which in turn shows whether the air filter is clogged or otherwise damaged. | 06-17-2010 |