Patent · US Active

Compact anode flow shift design for small fuel cell vehicles

US7718287B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by

0References

8Claims

0Family size

Assignee

GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC · US

Inventors

Jens-Uwe Sparschuh · Nackenheim, DE
Franz Winter · Mainz, DE
Reiner Essinger · Herbstein, DE

Key dates

Filing date	Oct 12, 2005
Grant date	May 18, 2010
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Mar 18, 2029

Classification

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

Abstract

An anode inlet unit for a split fuel cell stack or two fuel cell stacks having two anode inlets. The anode inlet unit has particular application for a small vehicle that requires less power. In one embodiment, the anode inlet unit only includes three injectors. Two of the injectors provide flow control for the hydrogen gas to the two anode inlets to provide the desired turn-down ratio. For a split stack design, the two injectors may provide flow-shifting where the injection of hydrogen gas into the sub-stacks is alternated. The other injector injects a small amount of hydrogen into the cathode side of the fuel cell stack at system start-up to quickly increase the operating temperature of the system. Additionally, two valves can be provided in the unit that receive a flow of air to purge the anode side of the stack for system shut-down.

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