IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0160543
(2002-05-31)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
0 인용 특허 :
17 |
초록
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A fuel cell system made up of a plurality of fuel cells. Each cell includes a fuel inlet, an oxidant inlet, a fuel side product outlet and an oxidant side product outlet. A common fuel supply line is provided for the fuel inlets. A common oxidant supply line is provided for the oxidant inlets. A com
A fuel cell system made up of a plurality of fuel cells. Each cell includes a fuel inlet, an oxidant inlet, a fuel side product outlet and an oxidant side product outlet. A common fuel supply line is provided for the fuel inlets. A common oxidant supply line is provided for the oxidant inlets. A common product purging mechanism is coupled to the outlets for purging the same of unused fuel, unused oxidant, fuel side product and oxidant side product. The product purging mechanism includes valving structure operable to selectively and independently open the outlets of a given cell. A method for operating such a fuel cell system includes supplying fuel to the fuel inlets from a common source of fuel and supplying an oxidant to the oxidant inlets from a common source of oxidant. The outlets of a given cell are selectively opened to purge fuel product and oxidant product from the given cell while the outlets of other cells are kept closed.
대표청구항
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1. A method for operating a fuel cell system made up of a plurality of fuel cells, each including a fuel inlet, an oxidant inlet, an openable and closeable fuel side product outlet and an openable and closeable oxidant side product outlet, said method comprising:supplying fuel to said fuel inlets; s
1. A method for operating a fuel cell system made up of a plurality of fuel cells, each including a fuel inlet, an oxidant inlet, an openable and closeable fuel side product outlet and an openable and closeable oxidant side product outlet, said method comprising:supplying fuel to said fuel inlets; supplying an oxidant to said oxidant inlets; and selectively opening the outlets of a first cell of said plurality of cells to thereby selectively and resvectively purge fuel side product and oxidant side product from said first cell. 2. A method as set forth in claim 1, comprising selectively keeping the outlets of other cells of said plurality of cells in a closed condition while one or more outlets of the first cell are open.3. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step of selectively opening the outlets of said first cell is conducted in such a way that the outlets of the first cell are both open at the same time so as to simultaneously purge fuel side product and oxidant side product from the first cell.4. A method as set forth in claim 3, comprising selectively keeping the outlets of other cells of said plurality of cells in a closed condition while one or more outlets of the first cell are open.5. A method as set forth in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, comprising selectively closing the outlets of said first cell and selectively opening the outlets of a second cell of said plurality of cells to purge fuel side product and oxidant side product from said second cell.6. A method as set forth in claim 5, comprising selectively keeping the outlets of other cells of said plurality of cells in a closed condition while one or more outlets of the second cell are open.7. A method as set forth in claim 5, wherein said step of selectively opening the outlets of a second cell is conducted in such a way that the outlets of the second cell are both open at the same time so as to simultaneously purge fuel side product and oxidant side product from the second cell.8. A method as set forth in claim 7, comprising selectively keeping the outlets of other cells of said plurality of cells in a closed condition while one or more outlets of the second cell are open.9. A method for operating a fuel cell system made up of a plurality of fuel cells as set forth in claim 1, further comprising selectively opening the outlets of each cell of a group of said plurality of said cells to thereby selectively purge fuel side product and oxidant side product from each of the cells of said group of cells, said group of cells including said first cell.10. A method as set forth in claim 9, comprising selectively keeping the outlets of other cells of said plurality of cells in a closed condition while outlets of the cells of the group are open.11. A method as set forth in claim 5, further comprising selectively opening the outlets of each cell of a group of said plurality of cells to thereby selectively purge fuel side product and oxidant side product from each of the cells of said group of cells, said group of cells including said second cell.12. A method as set forth in claim 11, comprising selectively keeping outlets of other cells of said plurality of cells in a closed condition while the outlets of the cells of said group of cells are open.13. A method as set forth in claim 9 or 11, comprising closing the outlets of the cells of said group of cells and selectively opening the outlets of each cell of another group of cells of said plurality of cells to thereby selectively purge fuel side product and oxidant side product from each of the cells of said another group of cells.14. A method as set forth in claim 13, comprising selectively keeping outlets of other cells of said plurality of cells in a closed condition while the outlets of the cells of said another group of cells are open.15. A method as set forth in claim 9, wherein said step of selectively opening the outlets of each cell of a group of cells is conducted in such a way that the fuel side product outlets of the cells of said group of cells are all open at the same time so as to simultaneously purge fuel side product from each of the cells of said group of cells.16. A method as set forth in claim 9, wherein said step of selectively opening the outlets of each cell of a group of cells is conducted in such a way that the oxidant side product outlets of the cells of said group of cells are all open at the same time so as to simultaneously purge oxidant side product from each of the cells of said group of cells.17. A method as set forth in claim 9, wherein said step of selectively opening the outlets of each cell of a group of cells is conducted in such a way that the product outlets of the cells of said group of cells are all open at the same time so as to simultaneously purge fuel side product and oxidant side product from each of the cells of said group of cells.18. A method as set forth in claim 11, wherein said step of selectively opening the outlets of each cell of a group of cells is conducted in such a way that the fuel side product outlets of the cells of said group of cells are all open at the same time so as to simultaneously purge fuel side product from each of the cells of said group of cells.19. A method as set forth in claim 11, wherein said step of selectively opening the outlets of each cell of a group of cells is conducted in such a way that the oxidant side product outlets of the cells of said group of cells are all open at the same time so as to simultaneously purge oxidant side product from each of the cells of said group of cells.20. A method as set forth in claim 11, wherein said step of selectively opening the outlets of each cell of a group of cells is conducted in such a way that the product outlets of the cells of said group of cells are all open at the same time so as to simultaneously purge fuel product and oxidant product from each of the cells of said group of cells.21. A method for operating a fuel cell system made up of a plurality of fuel cells, each including a fuel inlet, an oxidant inlet, and at least one openable and closeable product outlet, said method comprising:supplying fuel to said fuel inlets; supplying an oxidant to said oxidant inlets; and selectively opening said at least one outlet of a first of said plurality of cells to purge product from said first cell. 22. A method for operating a fuel cell system made up of a plurality of fuel cells as set forth in claim 21, wherein said at least one product outlet of said first cell is a fuel side outlet whereby fuel side product is purged from said first cell.23. A method for operating a fuel cell system made up of a plurality of fuel cells as set forth in claim 21, wherein said at least one product outlet of said first cell is an oxidant side outlet whereby oxidant side product is purged from said first cell.
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