Fuel cell stack system and operating method
US6280869A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 29, 1999 |
| Grant date | Aug 28, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 29, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A fuel cell stack (6) includes at least first and second cells (40) and a separator assembly (42). Each cell includes an anode (44), a cathode (46) and electrolyte (48) between them. The separator assembly includes a fluid separator (58) having a fuel side, an oxidant side, an anode spacer element (68) between the fuel side and the anode of the first cell and a cathode spacer element (80) between the oxidant side and the cathode of the second cell. The separator assembly further includes a cathode exhaust passageway(86), having an exhaust inlet (84) at the central region (82) of the cathode spacer element, and an anode feed passageway (64), including a continuous loop anode feed tube, located spaced apart from the cell peripheral edge, with radially inwardly and outwardly directed fuel outlets (76, 78). An air deflector (62) helps prevent radially inwardly moving air from contacting the anode while permitting the air access to the peripheral edge (102) of the cathode spacer element. An anode recycle passageway (106) has a recycle inlet (108) fluidly coupled to spent fuel, including residual fuel and cell reaction product water, at the center of the anode, and a recycle outlet (110)…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.