Cold start and temperature control method and apparatus for fuel cell system
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
H01M-008/00
H01M-008/04
H01M-008/12
H01M-002/00
H01M-002/02
출원번호
US-0798314
(2001-03-02)
발명자
/ 주소
Acker, William P.
Gottesfeld, Shimshon
Dailey, William W.
출원인 / 주소
MTI MicroFuel Cells Inc.
대리인 / 주소
Cesari and McKenna, LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
21인용 특허 :
18
초록▼
A fuel cell which provides improved performance during a cold start. Several embodiments are provided to enable the controlled introduction of fuel into the cathode of the fuel cell such that oxidation occurs, heat is released and the temperature of the fuel cell is raised. Such fuel may be introduc
A fuel cell which provides improved performance during a cold start. Several embodiments are provided to enable the controlled introduction of fuel into the cathode of the fuel cell such that oxidation occurs, heat is released and the temperature of the fuel cell is raised. Such fuel may be introduced into the cathode directly or may be introduced into the anode and allowed to crossover an electrolytic membrane. Alternatively, the fuel may be directed through a special conduit which allows oxidation of some of the fuel as it flows through.
대표청구항▼
1. A direct oxidation fuel cell system, said system comprising:an anode, a cathode, and a membrane electrolyte disposed between the anode and cathode;a source of air or oxygen coupled to the cathode;a source of carbonaceous fuel; anda temperature regulation system, coupled to said source of fuel and
1. A direct oxidation fuel cell system, said system comprising:an anode, a cathode, and a membrane electrolyte disposed between the anode and cathode;a source of air or oxygen coupled to the cathode;a source of carbonaceous fuel; anda temperature regulation system, coupled to said source of fuel and said anode, responsive to a temperature of said system such that where said temperature is below a predetermined temperature or temperature range, said system increases fuel concentration at said anode to promote fuel cross-over through said membrane, thereby causing or increasing oxidation of some of said cross-over fuel at said cathode and increasing the temperature of said system. 2. The direct oxidation fuel cell system as in claim 1 wherein said temperature regulation system comprises a temperature sensor for generating a signal indicative of the temperature of said system. 3. The direct oxidation fuel cell system as in claim 2 wherein said temperature regulation system further comprises a controller coupled to said sensor and responsive to said signal for determining whether additional fuel should be provided to said anode to increase the temperature of said system. 4. The direct oxidation fuel cell system as in claim 3 wherein said temperature regulation system further comprises a valve, coupled to and responsive to said controller, for varying the amount of fuel provided from said source to said anode. 5. The direct oxidation fuel cell system as in claim 1 wherein said temperature regulation system controls fuel concentration in response to an electrical parameter of said fuel cell system which has a predetermined relationship to the fuel cell system's temperature and a signal, generated by a controller, that the fuel cell system's temperature is below said predetermined temperature or temperature range. 6. A direct oxidation fuel cell system, said system comprising:an anode, a cathode, and a membrane electrolyte disposed between the anode and cathode;a source of air or oxygen coupled to the cathode;a source of carbonaceous fuel; anda temperature regulation system, coupled to said source of fuel and said cathode, responsive to a temperature of said system such that when said temperature is below a predetermined temperature or temperature range, said system applies fuel directly into said cathode, thereby causing oxidation of fuel at said cathode and increasing the temperature of said system. 7. The direct oxidation fuel cell system as in claim 6 wherein said temperature regulation system comprises a temperature sensor for generating a signal indicative of the temperature of said system. 8. The direct oxidation fuel cell system as in claim 7 wherein said temperature regulation system further comprises a controller coupled to said sensor and responsive to said signal for determining whether additional fuel should be provided to said anode to increase the temperature of said system. 9. The direct oxidation fuel cell system as in claim 8 wherein said temperature regulation system further comprises a valve, coupled to and responsive to said controller, for varying the amount of fuel provided from said source to said anode. 10. The direct oxidation fuel cell system as in claim 6 wherein said temperature regulation system controls fuel concentration in response to an electrical parameter of said fuel cell system which has a predetermined relationship to the fuel cell system's temperature and a signal, generated by a controller, that the fuel cell system's temperature is below said predetermined temperature or temperature range. 11. The direct oxidation fuel cell system as in claim 10 wherein said temperature regulation system controls fuel delivery in response to a current or voltage produced by said fuel cell system and a signal indicating that the fuel cell system's temperature is below a predetermined temperature range. 12. A method of controlling temperature in a direct oxidation fuel cell system, said method comprising the s teps of:(1) providing a fuel source for delivering a carbonaceous fuel suitable for generating electricity in an electrochemical reaction to a fuel cell in said fuel cell system;(2) sensing a temperature in said system;(3) determining whether the sensed temperature is below a predetermined temperature or temperature range;(4) when said sensed temperature is not below the predetermined temperature or range, repeating steps (2) and (3);(5) when said sensed temperature is below the predetermined temperature or range, determining how much carbonaceous fuel from said fuel source has previously been delivered to said system;(6) when the amount of carbonaceous fuel from said fuel source previously delivered to said system is less than a predetermined maximum limit, providing or releasing said carbonaceous fuel suitable for generating electricity in an electrochemical reaction from said fuel source to the fuel cell in such a manner as to cause or increase oxidation of such fuel, thereby generating heat and raising the temperature of the system. 13. The method of controlling temperature in a direct oxidation fuel cell system as defined in claim 12, wherein said carbonaceous fuel suitable for generating electricity in an electrochemical reaction in a fuel cell in said fuel cell system is delivered from said fuel source to a cathode aspect of a membrane electrode assembly in said fuel cell in said fuel cell system. 14. The method of controlling temperature in a direct oxidation fuel cell system as defined in claim 12, wherein said carbonaceous fuel suitable for generating electricity in an electrochemical reaction in a fuel cell in said fuel cell system is delivered from said fuel source to an anode aspect of a membrane electrode assembly in said fuel cell in said fuel cell system. 15. A method of controlling temperature in a direct methanol fuel cell system, said method comprising the steps of:(1) sensing a temperature in said system;(2) determining whether the sensed temperature is below a predetermined temperature or temperature range;(3) when said sensed temperature is not below the predetermined temperature or temperature range, repeating steps (1) and (2);(4) when said sensed temperature is below the predetermined temperature or temperature range, determining how much methanol fuel has previously been delivered to said system for the purpose of raising the temperature of said system; and(5) when the amount of fuel previously delivered to said system for the purpose of raising the temperature of the system is less than a predetermined maximum limit, releasing fuel in such a manner as to cause or increase oxidation of such fuel, thereby generating heat and raising the temperature of the system, and fuel is released to an anode of said system to promote fuel cross-over through a membrane electrolyte, thereby causing or increasing oxidation of some of said cross-over fuel at a cathode and increasing the temperature of said system. 16. A method of controlling temperature in a direct methanol fuel cell system, said method comprising the steps of:(1) sensing a temperature in said system;(2) determining whether the sensed temperature is below a predetermined temperature or temperature range;(3) when said sensed temperature is not below the predetermined temperature or temperature range, repeating steps (1) and (2);(4) when said sensed temperature is below the predetermined temperature or temperature range, determining how much methanol fuel has previously been delivered to said system for the purpose of raising the temperature of said system; and(5) when the amount of fuel previously delivered to said system for the purpose of raising the temperature of the system is less than a predetermined maximum limit, releasing fuel in such a manner as to cause or increase oxidation of such fuel, thereby generating heat and raising the temperature of the system, and fuel is directly applied to a cathode of said system, thereby causing or increasing o xidation of fuel at said cathode and increasing the temperature of said system. 17. A method of controlling temperature in a direct oxidation fuel cell system, said method comprising the steps of:(1) providing a fuel source for delivering a carbonaceous fuel suitable for generating electricity in an electrochemical reaction to a fuel cell in said fuel cell system;(2) sensing an electrical parameter in said system, including either current or voltage, which has a predetermined relationship to said fuel cell system's temperature;(3) determining whether said fuel cell system's temperature is below a predetermined temperature range;(4) when said temperature is not below said predetermined range repeating steps (2) and (3); and(5) when said temperature is below said predetermined range increasing the amount of said carbonaceous fuel suitable for generating electricity in an electrochemical reaction introduced from the fuel source to said fuel cell of the system. 18. The method of controlling temperature in a direct oxidation fuel cell system as defined in claim 17, wherein said carbonaceous fuel suitable for generating electricity in an electrochemical reaction in a fuel cell in said fuel cell system is delivered from said fuel source to a cathode aspect of a membrane electrode assembly in said fuel cell of said fuel cell system. 19. The method of controlling temperature in a direct oxidation fuel cell system as defined in claim 17, wherein said carbonaceous fuel suitable for generating electricity in an electrochemical reaction in a fuel cell in said fuel cell system is delivered from said fuel source to an anode aspect of a membrane electrode assembly in said fuel cell of said cell system.
연구과제 타임라인
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
이 특허에 인용된 특허 (18)
Surampudi Subbarao (Glendora CA) Narayanan Sekharipuram R. (Altadena CA) Vamos Eugene (La Canada CA) Frank Harvey A. (Encino CA) Halpert Gerald (Pasadena CA) Olah George A. (Beverly Hills CA) Prakash, Aqueous liquid feed organic fuel cell using solid polymer electrolyte membrane.
Surampudi Subbarao ; Frank Harvey A. ; Narayanan Sekharipuram R. ; Chun William ; Jeffries-Nakamura Barbara ; Kindler Andrew ; Halpert Gerald, Direct methanol feed fuel cell and system.
Banerjee Shoibal (Newark DE) Cropley Cecelia C. (Acton MA) Kosek John A. (Danvers MA) La Conti Anthony B. (Lynnfield MA), Membrane and electrode assembly employing exclusion membrane for direct methanol fuel cell.
Kosek John A. (Danvers MA) Cropley Cecelia C. (Acton MA) Laconti Anthony B. (Lynnfield MA), Membrane-electrode assembly for a direct methanol fuel cell.
Gottesfeld, Shimshon; Dekel, Dario; Gottesfeld, Ziv; Simakov, Stanislav David, Alkaline membrane fuel cells and apparatus and methods for supplying water thereto.
Gottesfeld, Shimshon; Dekel, Dario; Simakov, David Stanislav, Catalyst coated membrane (CCM) and catalyst film/layer for alkaline membrane fuel cells and methods of making same.
Wang,Chao Yang; Lu,Guoqiang; Liu,Fuqiang; Akiyama,Takashi, Direct oxidation fuel cell and system operating on concentrated fuel using low oxidant stoichiometry.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.