Solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell cogeneration system
US6420060B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 17, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jul 16, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 17, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S429/90
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention provides a fuel cell cogeneration system which can stably supply hot water at high temperature shortly after the system starts to operate. The cogeneration system comprises a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell system for generating electric power and heat by reacting fuel gas with an oxidant gas, a cooling water circulating path for circulating cooling water for recovering heat generated by the fuel cell system, a storage tank for reserving hot water to be supplied to an external hot-water supply load, a heat exchanger for transferring heat recovered by the cooling water to water in the storage tank, and a heating path connected to the storage tank in order to pass water in the storage tank through the heat exchanger, the heating path having the heat exchanger, wherein a water inlet of the heating path and a water filling port for supplying water to the storage tank from the outside of the system are formed both at a lower part of the storage tank, and wherein a water outlet of the heating path and a hot-water supply port for supplying hot water in the storage tank to the external hot-water supply load are provided both at an upper part of the storage tank.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.