Method and apparatus for increasing the temperature of a fuel cell
US6764780B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 30, 2001 |
| Grant date | Jul 20, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 30, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus increase the temperature of a fuel cell via reactant starvation at one or both electrodes. Reactant starvation at an electrode results in increased internal heat generation under load. Starvation conditions can be prolonged or intermittent and can be obtained, for example, by suitably reducing the supply rate of a reactant or by operating the fuel cell at sufficiently high current density so as to consume reactant faster than it is supplied. The method can allow for some generation of useful power by the fuel cell during start-up. The method is particularly suitable for starting up a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell from temperatures below 0° C.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.