Auxiliary convective fuel cell stacks for fuel cell power generation systems
US6534210B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 16, 2001 |
| Grant date | Mar 18, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 23, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A fuel cell power generation system is disclosed which includes a primary fuel cell stack for generating a first quantity of electric power, an auxiliary fuel cell stack for generating a second quantity of electric power, a fuel handling subsystem for feeding a fuel containing hydrogen to the primary fuel cell stack and the auxiliary fuel cell stack, an oxidant handling subsystem including a compressor for feeding an oxidant containing oxygen to the primary fuel cell stack, and a controller electrically connected to the primary fuel cell stack, the auxiliary fuel cell stack, the fuel handling subsystem and the oxidant handling subsystem for controlling operation of the fuel cell power generation system. In one version of the fuel cell power generation system, the controller executes a stored program to sense a startup signal for the fuel cell power generation system, to initiate operation of the auxiliary fuel cell stack, and to apply at least a portion of the second quantity of electric power generated by the auxiliary fuel cell stack to the oxidant handling subsystem to initiate operation of the primary fuel cell stack.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.