Fuel cell system

US6440595B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignees

• Siemens Aktiengesellschaft · DE
• VODAFONE GMBH · DE

Inventors

• Wolfgang Herdeg · Rutesheim, DE
• Thomas Zapp · Dortmund, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 12, 2000
• Grant date: Aug 27, 2002
• Expiry date: Aug 10, 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

Disclosed is a fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell which includes a feed line for a fuel and a feed line for an oxidant. To ensure adequate moistening of the fuel cell membrane even during the start-up phase of the fuel cell, a fluid reservoir containing a fluid is provided, via which the fuel and/or the oxidant are humidified before entering the fuel cell. Thus adequate moistening of the fuel cell membrane is ensured even during the start-up phase of the fuel cell. To prevent the fluid from freezing at low temperatures, mixing of the fluid with an antifreeze is provided for. To ensure that the antifreeze will not pass into the fuel cell, the fluid drawn from the fluid reservoir is heated sufficiently by a heating means for evaporation of the antifreeze and separation from the fluid to take place. The heating means can include a flow conduit designed as a closed system. The flow conduit has a heating medium flowing through it which, prior to giving off heat to the fluid, is heated via a burner.