Fuel cell system and method of regenerating a filter element in a fuel cell system

US6403243B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Mannesmann AG · DE

Inventors

• Wolfgang Herdeg · Rutesheim, DE
• Holger Klos · Karlsruhe, DE
• Martin Sattler · Luckau, DE
• Franz Reichenbach · Bad Vilbel, DE
• Hans-Dieter Wilhelm · Neu-Anspach, DE
• Jürgen Habrich · Großkrotzenburg, DE
• Karl Eck · Frankfurt, DE
• Markus Keutz · Roßdorf, DE
• Thomas Zapp · Dortmund, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 30, 2000
• Grant date: Jun 11, 2002
• Expiry date: Mar 30, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02T90/40
• WIPO field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A fuel cell system which has a fuel cell with a supply line and a discharge line for a fuel as well as a supply line and a discharge line for an oxidizing agent. Also provided is a fuel tank which contains, for example, benzene or methanol for producing the fuel for the fuel cell. To avoid the release of hydrocarbons from the fuel contained in the tank, a filter element, for example an active carbon filter, is connected to the fuel tank. To be able to regenerate the filter element, the filter element is connected to the discharge line for the oxidizing agent and/or the discharge line for the fuel. The filter element is regenerated by the flow of exhaust gas from the fuel cell. The filter element is preferably connected via a connecting line to a burner, with the result that the hydrocarbons taken up by the flow of exhaust gas can be burned in the burner. Furthermore, by designing the fuel cell system appropriately, a leakage diagnosis can also be performed in the fuel tank.