A semi-passive fuel cell system is provided. A stack in which a plurality of unit cells are laterally stacked with one another is provided. Each unit cell includes a membrane-electrode assembly and bipolar plates located on both sides of the membrane-electrode assembly. The membrane-electrode assemb
A semi-passive fuel cell system is provided. A stack in which a plurality of unit cells are laterally stacked with one another is provided. Each unit cell includes a membrane-electrode assembly and bipolar plates located on both sides of the membrane-electrode assembly. The membrane-electrode assembly includes an electrolyte membrane, a cathode electrode, and an anode electrode. The cathode and anode electrodes, respectively, are formed on each side of the electrolyte membrane. Also provided are a means for supplying fuel and a means for supplying air. Each of the bipolar plates has air paths formed on a surface facing the cathode electrode and extending from an upper end to a lower end of the bipolar plate. The air supply means includes ducts which are respectively installed on an upper end and a lower end of the stack, and includes a means for blowing air through the ducts.
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1. A semi-passive type fuel cell system comprising: a stack having a stack upper end, a stack lower end, and a plurality of unit cells laterally stacked with one another, each unit cell including a membrane-electrode assembly and bipolar plates located on both sides of the membrane-electrode assembl
1. A semi-passive type fuel cell system comprising: a stack having a stack upper end, a stack lower end, and a plurality of unit cells laterally stacked with one another, each unit cell including a membrane-electrode assembly and bipolar plates located on both sides of the membrane-electrode assembly, the membrane-electrode assembly having an electrolyte membrane, a cathode electrode, and an anode electrode, the electrolyte membrane having an electrolyte membrane first side surface and an electrolyte membrane second side surface, the cathode electrode being formed on the electrolyte membrane first side surface and the anode electrode being formed on the electrolyte membrane second side surface, the bipolar plates each having a bipolar plate upper end and a bipolar plate lower end;a heat transfer device configured to transfer heat from the stack lower end to the stack upper end comprising: a first heat transfer structure on the stack upper end;a second heat transfer structure on the stack lower end; anda heat pipe coupled to the first heat transfer structure and the second heat transfer structure and configured to transfer heat from the second heat transfer structure to the first heat transfer structure;means for supplying fuel to the stack; andmeans for supplying air to the stack,wherein each of the bipolar plates has air paths formed on a surface facing and contacting the cathode electrode and extending in an air path direction from the bipolar plate upper end to the bipolar plate lower end;wherein the means for supplying air includes ducts respectively installed on the stack upper end and the stack lower end and includes means for blowing air through the ducts,wherein the ducts comprise a first duct installed on the stack upper end and a second duct installed on the stack lower end, the first duct including a first duct first part and a first duct second part;wherein the means for blowing air through the stack are installed in the first duct first part and are offset from the air paths in a direction perpendicular to the air path direction;wherein the first duct second part includes a first duct second part left end and a first duct second part right end, the first duct second part left end being closest to the means for blowing air; andwherein an upper wall of the first duct second part is inclined downwards to have a predetermined inclination angle so that a height of the upper wall gradually decreases from the first duct second part left end to the first duct second part right end. 2. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air paths of the bipolar plates are in a straight line extending from the stack upper end to the stack lower end. 3. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first duct second part covers entirely the stack upper end; andwherein an air suction opening is formed through an upper wall of the first duct first part directly above the means for blowing air, and an air supply opening for supplying air to the stack is formed through a lower wall of the first duct second part to have an area corresponding to an area of the stack upper end. 4. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first duct first part has a height substantially corresponding to a height of the means for blowing air; andwherein the means for blowing air is installed such that the means for blowing air sucks air through the air suction opening and supplies sucked air to the first duct second part. 5. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second duct includes a second duct left end and a second duct right end, andwherein an air receiving opening for receiving air having passed through the stack is formed through an upper wall of the second duct to have an area corresponding to an area of the stack lower end, and an air discharge opening for discharging air to the outside is formed through the second duct right end. 6. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 5, wherein a lower wall of the second duct is inclined downwards to have a predetermined inclination angle so that a height of the lower wall gradually increases from the second duct left end to the second duct right end. 7. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the lower wall of the second duct is inclined at the same inclination angle as the upper wall of the first duct. 8. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for blowing air includes a blower or a fan. 9. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the bipolar plates have a bipolar plate first part and a bipolar plate second part, andwherein the air paths of the bipolar plates are formed such that sectional areas of the air paths formed on the bipolar plate first part are different from the air paths formed on the bipolar plate second part. 10. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the air paths of the bipolar plate are formed such that sectional areas of the air paths formed on the bipolar plate first part, which is closest to the means for blowing air, are greater than sectional areas of the air paths formed on the bipolar plate second part. 11. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the air paths of the bipolar plate are formed such that sectional areas of the air paths gradually decrease from the bipolar plate first part to the bipolar plate second part. 12. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the means for supplying air further includes an air adjustment layer formed on the stack upper end to cover a zone including a region in which the air paths are formed. 13. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the air adjustment layer is coupled to the first duct to occupy entirely the air supply opening. 14. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the air adjustment layer is formed of a porous material through which air can pass. 15. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the air adjustment layer is formed of a porous material having pores which possess sectional areas less than sectional areas of the air paths. 16. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the air adjustment layer is formed as a gas-liquid separation layer by one selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene, silicon resin, polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate. 17. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the air adjustment layer is formed of a wiper or a breathable material. 18. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the air adjustment layer includes a first metal net through which air can pass, the first metal net being formed by a metal sieve or a porous metal foam, wherein the first metal net constitutes the first heat transfer structure. 19. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the first metal net is formed such that openings of the first metal net have sizes smaller than sizes of the openings of the air paths. 20. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the first metal net further includes a gas-liquid separation layer formed on one entire surface of the first metal net. 21. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 20, wherein the gas-liquid separation layer is formed of one selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene, silicon resin, polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate. 22. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 18, further comprising a second metal net formed on the stack lower end to cover a zone including a region having air paths, wherein the second metal net constitutes the second heat transfer structure. 23. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the second metal net allows air to pass and is formed by a metal sieve or a porous metal foam. 24. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 23, wherein the second metal net further includes a gas-liquid separation layer formed on one entire surface of the second metal net. 25. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 24, wherein the gas-liquid separation layer is formed of one selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene, silicon resin, polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate. 26. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the heat pipe is connected to the first metal net and the second metal net. 27. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 26, wherein the heat pipe includes a plurality of bars, rods, or plates spaced apart from one another by a predetermined interval in a widthwise direction of the first metal net. 28. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 26, wherein the heat pipe is a single plate having a width corresponding to a width of the first metal net and a predetermined thickness. 29. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 26, wherein the heat pipe is formed of copper or aluminum metal. 30. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 26, wherein an electrical insulation layer is formed between the heat pipe and the stack. 31. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the means for supplying air further includes air adjustment means formed on an inner surface of the first duct at a position separated from the means for blowing air by a predetermined distance,wherein the air adjustment means extends in a widthwise direction of the first duct and projects downwards by a predetermined length. 32. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 31, wherein the air adjustment means is formed at a lengthwise middle portion of the first duct second part. 33. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 31, wherein the air adjustment means is a protrusion, the protrusion being formed integrally with the first duct and protruding inwards in the upper wall of the first duct. 34. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 31, wherein the air adjustment means is formed by a separate block coupled to an inner surface of the upper wall of the first duct second part. 35. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 31, wherein the air adjustment means has a semi-circular shape or triangular sectional shape. 36. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 31, wherein the air adjustment means is a frontal surface directly contacting with air, the frontal surface having an obtuse angle with respect to an air flow direction or having an arc contour. 37. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 31, wherein the air adjustment means has a projection length corresponding to 30% -70% of an inside height of the first duct at a location where the air adjustment means is provided. 38. The fuel cell system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fuel cell system is a direct methanol fuel cell system or a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell system.
Nakagaki Takao,JPX ; Ogawa Takashi,JPX ; Hori Michio,JPX ; Hayashi Toshiaki,JPX ; Nishida Takehito,JPX, Fuel cell containing a fuel supply means, gas generating means and temperature control means operated to prevent the deposition of carbon.
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