Apparatus for generating a gas which may be used for startup and shutdown of a fuel cell
US8636817B2 · kind B2 · utility
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33References
23Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 4, 2009 |
| Grant date | Jan 28, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 16, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC —)General
Abstract
The present invention provides a gas generator that may be used for startup and shutdown of a fuel cell. In one non-limiting embodiment, the gas generator may include a nitrogen generator structured to receive air, extract oxygen (O2) from the air and discharge the balance in the form of a nitrogen-rich gas; a merging chamber structured to receive a hydrocarbon fuel and the nitrogen-rich gas and to discharge a feed mixture containing both the hydrocarbon fuel and the nitrogen-rich gas; and a catalytic reactor structured to receive the feed mixture and to catalytically convert the feed mixture into a reducing gas.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.