Patent · US Expired

Fuel cell power generating apparatus and operation method therefor

US5853910A · kind A · utility

46Cited by
5References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 27, 1997
Grant dateDec 29, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 27, 2017

Classification

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

Abstract

A fuel cell power generating apparatus using a fuel cell (10) having a structure such that a cathode and an anode are disposed on opposite sides of a polymer electrolyte membrane, comprising: an air introduction passage (11) for introducing air to the cathode; an air discharge passage (15) for discharging, to the outside of the system, discharge gas containing reactant water generated at the cathode; a circulation passage (16) connected between the air discharge passage and the air introduction passage in order to again introduce at least a portion of the discharge gas flowing through the air discharge passage to the air introduction passage and thus to the cathode; a valve (17) provided for at least one of the air introduction passage and the air discharge passage; a temperature sensor (22) for measuring the temperature of the discharge gas from the cathode; an ampere meter (19) for measuring the level of an electric current output from the fuel cell; and a control unit (18) for controlling the degree of opening of the valve in accordance with the temperature of the discharge gas and the output level of the electric current measured respectively by the temperature sensor and the a…

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