Fuel cell stack and hydrogen supply including a positive temperature coefficient ceramic heater
US7955740B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 28, 2006 |
| Grant date | Jun 7, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 7, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A fuel cell system that employs one or more PTC ceramic heaters that do not need to be self-regulated, and thus will not require various control components, such as temperature sensors. The PTC ceramic heaters include a ceramic material that is designed for a particular temperature depending on the particular application. An electrical current is applied to the ceramic heater that generates heat as long as the temperature of the ceramic heater is below the designed temperature. If the ceramic heater reaches the designed temperature, then the resistance of the ceramic material goes up, and the current through the ceramic material goes down, so that the heater does not provide significant heating. Therefore, it does not need to be regulated.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.