Patent · US Expired

Method for preventing compressor from freezing in automobile fuel cell system

US6350536B1 · kind B1 · utility

5Cited by
4References
2Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 6, 1999
Grant dateFeb 26, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 6, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02T90/40
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A fuel cell system including a fuel cell having an air feeding tube, an air discharging tube and a fuel feeding tube, the air discharged from the fuel cell through the air discharging tube containing water. The system also includes a compressor, a water separation tank, and a water supply passage for supplying water collected in the water separation tank to the compressor. When the system is to be stopped, the water supply passage is first blocked while the compressor is operating. The humidity or the temperature of the process air is then detected, and the compressor is stopped when the detected humidity is lower than a predetermined value, or when the detected temperature is higher than a predetermined value.

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