Fuel cell system with purging and method of operating the same
US8247121B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 16, 2007 |
| Grant date | Aug 21, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 3, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Upon stop of electric power generation of a fuel cell a hydrogen shutoff valve is closed, and a cathode is purged. At the same time, an air introducing valve and the purge valve are opened. The air taken in by the compressor is introduced into the anode through the air introducing tube to exhaust the hydrogen remaining in the anode to replace the hydrogen with the air. When the replacement of the hydrogen with the air has been finished, the compressor is turned off and the air introducing valve and the purge valve are opened. After that, if a temperature of the fuel cell is determined to be equal to or lower than a threshold “a”, a cathode-prioritized purge and an anode-prioritized purging are performed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.