Patent · US Expired

Hydrogen-rich gas supply device for fuel cell

US6991663B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by
4References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateSep 12, 2001
Grant dateJan 31, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 21, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E60/50
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

To generate hydrogen-rich gas which is supplied to a fuel cell stack (2) of a fuel cell power plant, a reformer (1) generates reformate gas comprising hydrogen from methanol, and a carbon monoxide oxidizer (3) oxidizes carbon monoxide from the reformate gas by an action of a catalyst incorporated therein. A valve (10) which supplies hot gas, and a valve (18) which supplies air are provided. When the catalyst temperature is lower than a predetermined temperature, hot gas is supplied from the valve (10) to the oxidizer (3). Due to the heat of oxidation of carbon monoxide by the air supplied by the valve (18) and the high temperature of the hot gas, the temperature of the catalyst rises rapidly after start-up of the power plant.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.