Hydrogen using system for installation in vehicle and control method for the system
US6536551B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 10, 2000 |
| Grant date | Mar 25, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 10, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02T90/40
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A hydrogen using system for installation in a vehicle has a methanol tank that stores methanol as a source material of hydrogen, which is a fuel of the hydrogen using system, a water tank that stores water, a methanol reformer that produces a hydrogen fuel from methanol and water, a first electromagnetic valve provided in a first channel connecting the methanol tank to the reformer, a polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack that generates power from the hydrogen fuel supplied from the reformer, a second electromagnetic valve provided in a second channel connecting the reformer to the fuel cell stack, an electronic control unit that controls various portions of the hydrogen using system, etc. When an impact occurs on the vehicle, the electronic control unit shuts the first channel and the second channel by forcibly closing the first and second electromagnetic valves based on a detection signal from the impact sensor. This hydrogen using system curbs reactions of hydrogen at the time of an accident or the like, thereby further improving safety of the system.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.