Controlling the temperature at which fuel cell exhaust is oxidized
US6551733B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 30, 2000 |
| Grant date | Apr 22, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 2, 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 system includes a fuel cell stack that generates electrical energy during operation by reacting two streams of reactant gases. The fuel cell stack also produces a fuel cell exhaust stream. An oxidizer unit is positioned to receive the fuel cell exhaust stream. The oxidizer unit oxidizes at least a part of the fuel cell exhaust stream in an oxidizing gas stream during operation. A temperature sensor is positioned to sense a temperature of the oxidizer unit and an input system provides the oxidizer unit with at least the stoichiometric amount of the oxidizing gas stream during operation. The input system controls the amount of the oxidizing gas stream in excess of the stoichiometric amount provided to the oxidizer unit in response to the temperature of the oxidizer unit.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.