Apparatus and system for generating nitrogen gas through dehumidifying and filtering fuel cell exhaust gas
US11978935B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 22, 2021 |
| Grant date | May 7, 2024 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 20, 2041 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P20/133
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
An apparatus/system for generating a high-purity nitrogen gas using a fuel cell includes; a fuel cell that operates by taking in air or a gas containing nitrogen and oxygen, and a fuel gas; a dehumidification mechanism that reduces moisture or water vapor content in an exhaust gas that is extracted from the fuel cell and has a lower oxygen concentration than air; and a filtering mechanism which includes a filter using fibers having different degrees of permeation for nitrogen and oxygen and converts the exhaust gas having a reduced moisture or water vapor content into a gas having an increased nitrogen concentration. The filter recovery ratio is higher when an oxygen concentration of a gas to be filtered is lower. The dehumidification mechanism is a pump unit including a water seal pump to provide an adiabatic expansion chamber in which the exhaust gas extracted from the fuel cell expands adiabatically.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.