Fuel cell employing local power generation when starting at low temperature
US7223490B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 4, 2002 |
| Grant date | May 29, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 4, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A fuel cell which can self-heat in a short time, in which no reaction gas is necessary for combustion, thereby improving the starting performance at low temperatures. The fuel cell comprises a cell structure in which an anode and a cathode are provided on either side of a solid polymer electrolyte membrane. This cell structure has a power generation plane and at least a part of the generation plane is defined as a local generation area so as to locally generate power. The fuel cell may include a pair of separators between which the cell structure is placed, and a reaction gas passage may be formed between the cell structure and each separator. One of a system for supplying a reaction gas to only a part of the reaction gas passage, and a system for supplying a reaction gas to the entire reaction gas passage is switchably selected.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.