Patent · US Expired

Fuel cell installation

US7348085B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by

11References

23Claims

0Family size

Assignee

Siemens Aktiengesellschaft · DE

Inventors

Willi Bette · Erlangen, DE
Josef Lersch · Heroldsbach, DE
Arno Mattejat · Bubenreuth, DE
Karl Strasser · Erlangen, DE

Key dates

Filing date	Sep 14, 2001
Grant date	Mar 25, 2008
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Nov 11, 2022

Classification

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

Abstract

A leak in a fuel cell module can allow hydrogen and/or oxygen to escape from the fuel cell module, thereby creating a high risk of fire or explosion. This problem is addressed by providing a fuel cell installation with a fuel cell module that is enclosed in a gas-tight pressure container. Filling the pressure container with a protective gas ensures that if the fuel cell module does leak, no operating gas can escape from the module, with protective gas entering the module instead. A leak therefore no longer poses a risk. The leak can also be identified and located by a voltage drop in the cells affected by the leak.

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