초록 ▼

An electrochemical apparatus including a steam reformer (24) positioned on top of a vaporizer (22) and communicating with a mixing orifice (34), the steam reformer (24) having a conductive output end plate (48) defining a fuel orifice (42); a compact cell stack (12) defining at least one air passage

An electrochemical apparatus including a steam reformer (24) positioned on top of a vaporizer (22) and communicating with a mixing orifice (34), the steam reformer (24) having a conductive output end plate (48) defining a fuel orifice (42); a compact cell stack (12) defining at least one air passage (54) and a fuel passage (46), wherein the fuel passage communicates with the fuel orifice (42); a stack end plate (50), defining at least one air orifice (52) communicating with the air passage (52); an electrically insulated sealing ring (58) extending upwardly from the stack end plate (50) outside the air orifice (52); an annular cap (60) defining a hot air inlet (61), extending inwardly beyond a sealing ring (58); a can (62) extending downwardly defining an exhaust passage (32) and communicating with an exhaust vent (66) within a base (16); a porous thermal insulation (56) defining a hot air plenum (68), a pin hole sheet (72) surrounding the can (62) and spaced inwardly from the enclosure (14) to define a cold air plenum (74), wherein the cold air plenum (74) receives coolant air from a coolant supply via a coolant inlet, and the pin hole sheet (72) is provided with a pattern of perforations adapted to distribute the coolant uniformly around the circumference and along the height of the stack (12).

대표청구항 ▼

1. An electrochemical apparatus comprising:a steam reformer communicating with a gaseous or vaporized-liquid fuel supply and a vaporized water supply by at least one feed tube; said steam reformer having a mixing orifice and a fuel orifice, wherein said mixing orifice is adapted to receive and mix v

1. An electrochemical apparatus comprising:a steam reformer communicating with a gaseous or vaporized-liquid fuel supply and a vaporized water supply by at least one feed tube; said steam reformer having a mixing orifice and a fuel orifice, wherein said mixing orifice is adapted to receive and mix vaporized water and fuel; a fuel cell stack positioned adjacent said steam reformer and having an air passage, and a fuel passage communicating with said fuel orifice; an annular cap positioned above said fuel cell stack and electrically insulated from said stack by a sealing ring, wherein said annular cap and said sealing ring define an air inlet in communication with said air passage and adapted to channel air into said air passage; a can extending downwardly from said annular cap spaced from said fuel cell stack and steam reformer, defining an exhaust passage therebetween; an enclosure surrounding and spaced apart from said can defining an open space therebetween which is at least partially filled with insulation; and at least one coolant inlet formed within said enclosure for receiving coolant from a source; and wherein the fuel cell stack is electrically connected to an electrical conductor that extends outside the enclosure.