Unitized regenerative fuel cell with bifunctional fuel cell humidifier and water electrolyzer
US6833207B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 9, 2001 |
| Grant date | Dec 21, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 30, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S204/04
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A regenerative fuel cell system, comprising an electrolyzer portion and a fuel cell portion; the electrolyzer portion has a closeable hydrogen inlet and a hydrogen outlet in communication with the cathode of the electrolyzer portion for conducting hydrogen, a gas bypass having a gas bypass inlet and a gas bypass outlet for conducting oxidant gas for fuel cell reaction to the fuel cell portion, a water inlet and an oxygen-water outlet for exhausting oxygen generated in electrolyzer operation and coolant water from the fuel cell portion out of the electrolyzer portion; the fuel cell portion has a hydrogen inlet, a first closeable hydrogen outlet for exhausting excess hydrogen in fuel cell mode, a second closeable hydrogen outlet for exhausting hydrogen generated in the electrolyzer portion in electrolyzer mode, an oxidant gas inlet, an oxidant gas outlet, a coolant water inlet and a coolant water outlet; and the hydrogen inlet of the fuel cell portion being in communication with the hydrogen outlet of the electrolyzer portion; the oxidant gas inlet of the fuel cell portion being in communication with the gas bypass outlet of the electrolyzer portion; and the water inlet of the electr…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.