Low-temperature fuel cell assembly and method for the operation thereof
US6872482B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 18, 2000 |
| Grant date | Mar 29, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 13, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A low-temperature fuel cell assembly including of a low-temperature fuel cell (1) in combination with a sweeping gas circuit (2) for at least the anode part thereof. The fuel gas is prepared by filtering via a semi-permeable wall (5) and the yield from this process is increased by employing sweeping gas. This sweeping gas is obtained by producing it in the sweeping gas circuit (2). During operation some of the sweeping gas is continuously discharged and fresh sweeping gas is continuously produced. With this arrangement it is possible to use hydrogen as fuel gas. Sweeping gas is obtained by injecting air (8) and combusting (9) the oxygen contained therein with hydrogen. It is also possible to perform a methanisation reaction starting from hydrogen as fuel gas by providing CO/CO2 as a result of which the sweeping gas is methane.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.