Patent · US Expired

Fuel cell system and method of storing hydrogen

US7040109B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
1References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignees

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 10, 2004
Grant dateMay 9, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 20, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02T90/40
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

In a fuel cell system 10, a refrigerant channel 70 that circulates refrigerant is configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant and each of a fuel cell 30, a hydrogen storage tank 20 having a hydrogen storage alloy, and a radiator 50. The hydrogen storage alloy has a higher absorption temperature at which absorption and release become equilibrium under the predetermined hydrogen pressure than the temperature of the fuel cell 30 in a steady-state operation. The refrigerant after cooling the fuel cell carries the heat generated by hydrogen absorption to the hydrogen storage alloy during storing from the tank 20 and facilitates absorption of hydrogen.

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