Method of operating a fuel cell to provide a heated and humidified oxidant
US7338727B2 · kind B2 · utility
2Cited by
9References
5Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 9, 2004 |
| Grant date | Mar 4, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 7, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for humidifying fuel, and optionally oxidant, supplied to a fuel cell system, which can be a single fuel cell or a multiplicity of fuel cells. A catalytic reactor is provided, which is supplied with a portion of the fuel and the oxidant. The fuel is supplied in excess of the oxidant to the catalytic reactor, so as to generate a stream of fuel which is both heated and humidified. For a closed system, a heated and humidified fuel flow, and optionally a heated and humidified oxidant flow, are mixed with additional flows of these gases supplied to the fuel cell.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.