Patent · US Active

Water discharge control system and method for fuel cell

US11855316B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
1References
4Claims
0Family size

Assignees

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 13, 2019
Grant dateDec 26, 2023
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 6, 2040

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E60/50
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A water discharge control system and method for a fuel cell are provided. The water discharge control system includes a fuel cell stack that generates power through an internal chemical reaction, a fuel supply line that recirculates fuel discharged from the fuel cell stack and supplies the fuel to the fuel cell stack, and a water trap that is disposed in the fuel supply line to store water generated in the fuel cell stack. A drain valve is disposed in an outlet port of the water trap to block discharge of the water stored in the water trap to the outside when closed. A drain controller determines whether fuel in the fuel supply line is being discharged through the outlet port when the drain valve is in an open state and closes the drain valve upon determining that fuel is being discharged.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.