Fuel cell apparatus
US6312843A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 10, 1999 |
| Grant date | Nov 6, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 10, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
This invention relates to a fuel cell apparatus in which a discharge gas having a pressure energy even after an oxygen has been consumed at the fuel cell is expanded at an expander to collect the pressure energy in the discharge gas as a mechanical energy for assisting driving of a compressor. A clutch (20) is disposed between the electric motor (16) and the expander (15) for connecting/interrupting the expander with/from the electric motor, and a control means (21, 22) for controlling the clutch is provided. The control means detects a pressure in the gas discharge tube (13) between the fuel cell (10) and the expander (15), to interrupt the clutch as long as a detected pressure is lower than a predetermined value, and to connect the clutch when the detected pressure becomes higher than the predetermined value.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.