Fuel cell system having scroll type compressor and regenerator
US6361890B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 8, 1999 |
| Grant date | Mar 26, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 8, 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 system includes a fuel cell, a motor, a scroll type compressor, connected to the air feeding pipe of the fuel cell and a scroll type regenerator connected to the air exhaust pipe of the fuel cell. The movable scrolls of the compressor and the regenerator are coupled to opposite ends of the motor output shaft in symmetry with each other. A pressure ratio of the regenerator is selected to be smaller than that of the compressor by an amount corresponding to a pressure loss of the exhaust gas across the fuel cell, so that the rotation of the regenerator never transmits a negative torque to the motor output shaft MC. Therefore, the regenerator can efficiently provide power assistance to the compressor.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.