Method for starting fuel cell power systems
US4680240A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 17, 1986 |
| Grant date | Jul 14, 1987 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 17, 2006 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method for starting fuel cell power systems comprises heating a fuel cell stack to a predetermined operating temperature with a circulating heat-exchanger fluid, while feeding a pressurized inert gas into a pressure vessel and process gas chambers of the fuel cell stack to increase pressures in the process gas chambers and pressure vessel to a predetermined pressure, detecting a temperature of the stack and a pressure of the inert gas in the process gas chambers, and controlling a vapor pressure in the inert gas fed to said chambers in proportion to the detected temperature and pressure in the process gas chambers so that a volume of an electrolyte is approximately kept constant.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.