Hybrid self-contained heating and electrical power supply process incorporating a hydrogen fuel cell, a thermoelectric generator and a catalytic burner
US5753383A · kind A · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 2, 1996 |
| Grant date | May 19, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 2, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S429/901
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A power supply includes a fuel cell stack, a thermoelectric module and a burner module. The fuel cell stack generates a primary source of electricity and secondary source of heat. The thermoelectric module generates a secondary source of electricity. The burner module is juxtaposed to the fuel cell stack and the thermoelectric module, to provide primary heat to the system and to generate a temperature differential across the thermoelectric module, and to pre-heat a fuel and an oxidant for the fuel cell stack. The burner module is regulated to maintain a given system temperature, or when needed by the thermoelectric generator for secondary power generation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.