Fuel cell system with differential pressure sensor
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
UP-0528854
(2006-09-27)
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등록번호 |
US-7858257
(2011-02-24)
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우선권정보 |
KR-10-2005-0089775(2005-09-27) |
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Kim, Jinkwang
- Lee, Dongyun
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
Christie, Parker & Hale, LLP
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
0 인용 특허 :
5 |
초록
▼
A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack; a diluted fuel tank for storing diluted fuel; a diluted fuel conduit for supplying the diluted fuel from the fuel dilution tank to the fuel cell stack; a differential pressure sensor in the diluted fuel conduit to sense a differential pressure resulting
A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack; a diluted fuel tank for storing diluted fuel; a diluted fuel conduit for supplying the diluted fuel from the fuel dilution tank to the fuel cell stack; a differential pressure sensor in the diluted fuel conduit to sense a differential pressure resulting from a fuel flow inside the diluted fuel conduit and to transmit an electric signal; and a controller for receiving the electric signal from the differential pressure sensor and for determining whether or not fuel is flowing inside the diluted fuel conduit.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. A fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell stack; a fuel tank for storing a liquid fuel; a fuel dilution tank for mixing the liquid fuel from the fuel tank with water and un-reacted fuel discharged from the fuel cell stack; a concentrated fuel conduit for supplying the liquid
What is claimed is: 1. A fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell stack; a fuel tank for storing a liquid fuel; a fuel dilution tank for mixing the liquid fuel from the fuel tank with water and un-reacted fuel discharged from the fuel cell stack; a concentrated fuel conduit for supplying the liquid fuel from the fuel tank to the fuel dilution tank; a diluted fuel conduit for supplying diluted fuel from the fuel dilution tank to the fuel cell stack; a differential pressure sensor in one of the concentrated fuel conduit or the diluted fuel conduit and adapted to sense a differential pressure resulting from fuel flow inside the one of the conduits and to transmit an electric signal corresponding to the fuel flow. 2. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the differential pressure sensor is a first differential pressure sensor and the electric signal is a first electric signal, the fuel cell system further comprising a second differential pressure sensor in the other of the conduits to sense a differential pressure resulting from fuel flow inside the other of the conduits and to transmit a second electric signal. 3. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an air conduit connected to the fuel cell stack and an air supply device for supplying air via the air conduit. 4. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the differential pressure sensor is a first differential pressure sensor, the fuel cell system further comprising a second differential pressure sensor in the air conduit. 5. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a warning device for indicating whether or not flow inside the one of the conduits is interrupted in accordance with the electric signal from the differential pressure sensor. 6. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a controller adapted to control a driving rate of a fuel supply pump in accordance with the electric signal from the differential pressure sensor. 7. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the liquid fuel is methanol or ethanol. 8. A fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell stack; a fuel tank for storing a liquid fuel; a fuel dilution tank for mixing the liquid fuel from the fuel tank with water and un-reacted fuel discharged from the fuel cell stack; a concentrated fuel conduit for supplying the liquid fuel from the fuel tank to the fuel dilution tank; a diluted fuel conduit for supplying diluted fuel from the fuel dilution tank to the fuel cell stack; a differential pressure sensor in one of the concentrated fuel conduit or the diluted fuel conduit and adapted to sense a differential pressure resulting from fuel flow inside the one of the conduits and to transmit an electric signal corresponding to the fuel flow, wherein the differential pressure sensor comprises a sensing unit for sensing a pressure difference between opposite sides of the sensor, an output terminal electrically connected to the sensing unit, and first and second sensing conduits, each having an end connected to a respective side of the sensing unit and an opposite end in the one of the conduits. 9. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the sensing unit comprises a board having a through-hole, an insulation film formed on an upper portion of the board in a region including the through-hole, and a piezoelectric film formed on an upper portion of the insulation film. 10. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the insulation film is made of a nitride or an oxide. 11. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the piezoelectric film is made of PZT (PbZrO3-PbTiO3 solid solution) material. 12. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first and second sensing conduits have respective openings positioned inside the one of the conduits so as to face opposite directions. 13. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the opening of the first sensing conduit is aligned in a direction opposite to a direction of the fuel flow, the opening of the second sensing conduit is aligned in a substantially identical direction as the direction of the fuel flow, and the differential pressure sensor is adapted to sense the differential pressure based on different pressures created inside the respective first and second sensing conduits. 14. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the differential pressure sensor has a protective film formed on upper and lower portions of the sensing unit. 15. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the protective film comprises an organic material having a resistance to fuel flowing inside the one of the conduits. 16. A fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell stack; a diluted fuel tank for storing diluted fuel; a diluted fuel conduit for supplying the diluted fuel from the fuel dilution tank to the fuel cell stack; a differential pressure sensor in the diluted fuel conduit to sense a differential pressure resulting from a fuel flow inside the diluted fuel conduit and to transmit an electric signal; and a controller for receiving the electric signal from the differential pressure sensor and for determining whether or not fuel is flowing inside the diluted fuel conduit. 17. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the diluted fuel is methanol or ethanol. 18. A fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell stack; a diluted fuel tank for storing diluted fuel; a diluted fuel conduit for supplying the diluted fuel from the fuel dilution tank to the fuel cell stack; a differential pressure sensor in the diluted fuel conduit to sense a differential pressure resulting from a fuel flow inside the diluted fuel conduit and to transmit an electric signal, wherein the differential pressure sensor comprises a sensing unit for sensing a pressure difference between opposite sides of the sensor, an output terminal electrically connected to the sensing unit, and first and second sensing conduits, each having an end connected to a respective side of the sensing unit and an opposite end in the diluted fuel conduit; and a controller for receiving the electric signal from the differential pressure sensor and for determining whether or not fuel is flowing inside the diluted fuel conduit. 19. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the sensing unit has a board having a through-hole, an insulation film formed on an upper portion of the board in a region including the through-hole, and a piezoelectric film formed on an upper portion of the insulation film. 20. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the insulation film is made of a nitride or an oxide. 21. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the piezoelectric film is made of PZT (PbZrO3-PbTiO3 solid solution) material. 22. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the first and second sensing conduits have openings positioned in the diluted fuel conduit so as to face opposite directions. 23. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the opening of the first sensing conduit is aligned in a direction opposite to the fuel flow, the opening of the second sensing conduit is positioned in a substantially identical direction as the fuel flow, and the differential pressure sensor is adapted to sense the differential pressure based on different pressures created inside the respective first and second sensing conduits. 24. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the differential pressure sensor includes a protective film formed on upper and lower portions of the sensing unit. 25. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 24, wherein the protective film is made of an organic material having a resistance to fuel flowing inside the diluted fuel conduit.
이 특허에 인용된 특허 (5)
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Chowdary Ramesh Koripella ; William J. Ooms ; David L. Wilcox ; Joseph W. Bostaph, Direct methanol fuel cell system and method of fabrication.
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Okamoto Takafumi,JPX, Direct methanol type fuel cell.
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Kurita, Kenji, Fuel cell system.
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Kaye,Ian W.; DiScipio,William R., Method and system for controlling fluid delivery in a fuel cell.
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Fleck Wolfram,DEX ; Wiesheu Norbert,DEX ; Benz Uwe,DEX, Method and system for metered supply of methanol and/or water to a fuel-cell system.
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