Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090280364 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME - A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a fuel gas supply unit for supplying a fuel gas to the fuel cell, an oxygen containing gas supply unit, which has a heat exchanger for heating an oxygen-containing gas, for supplying the oxygen-containing gas heated by the heat exchanger to the fuel cell, an exhaust gas discharge unit for supplying an exhaust gas used in a generating reaction and discharged from the fuel cell, as a heating medium for heating the oxygen-containing gas to the heat exchanger, and a combustion gas supply unit, which has a combustor disposed out of a passageway of the exhaust gas discharge unit for generating a combustion gas by combusting a raw fuel with an oxygen-containing gas supplied thereto, for supplying the combustion gas, together with the exhaust gas, to the heat exchanger. | 11-12-2009 |
20100092824 | FUEL CELL STACK - A separator includes a first fuel gas supply unit, a second fuel gas supply unit, first sandwiching sections, second sandwiching sections, a first case unit and a second case unit. The first and second sandwiching sections are connected to the first fuel gas supply unit and the second fuel gas supply unit, respectively, through first bridges. The first case unit and the second case unit are connected to the first sandwiching sections and the second sandwiching sections through second bridges. A first surface pressure F1 generated near a fuel gas supply passage, a second surface pressure F2 generated near an oxygen-containing gas supply passage, and a third surface pressure F3 generated near electrolyte electrode assemblies have different values. | 04-15-2010 |
20100099003 | FUEL CELL - A separator includes a first plate and a second plate. The separator has a first fuel gas supply unit, a second fuel gas supply unit, first sandwiching sections, second sandwiching sections, a first case unit and a second case unit. A fuel gas supply passage extends through the first fuel gas supply unit and the second fuel gas supply unit in a stacking direction. The first sandwiching sections are connected to the first fuel gas supply unit through first bridges, and the second sandwiching sections connected to a second fuel gas supply unit through first bridges. The first sandwiching sections and the second sandwiching sections sandwich electrolyte electrode assemblies. Each of the first sandwiching sections and the second sandwiching sections sandwich electrolyte electrode assemblies. Each of the first sandwiching sections has a fuel gas inlet and each of the second sandwiching sections has an oxygen-containing gas inlet. The first case unit and the second case unit have oxygen-containing gas supply units. The first case unit is connected to the first sandwiching sections through second bridges, and the second case unit is connected to the second sandwiching sections through second bridges. Oxygen-containing gas supply passages extend through the oxygen-containing gas supply units in the stacking direction. | 04-22-2010 |
20100104902 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A casing of a fuel cell system is divided into a module area, a first fluid supply area, a second fluid supply area, and an electric parts area. The first fluid supply area is provided on a first side surface of the module area, and an electric parts area is provided on a second side surface of the module area. The second fluid supply area is provided under a bottom surface of the module area. A fuel cell module and a combustor are provided in the module area. | 04-29-2010 |
20100112395 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A casing of a fuel cell system is divided into a module area, a fluid supply area, and an electric parts area. The fluid supply area is provided on a first side surface of the module area, and an electric parts area is provided on a second side surface of the module area. A fuel cell module and a combustor are provided in the module area. | 05-06-2010 |
20100209799 | FUEL CELL AND FUEL CELL STACK - A fuel cell includes separators sandwiching electrolyte electrode assemblies. Each of the separators includes a fuel gas supply passage, four first bridges extending radially outwardly from the fuel gas supply section, and sandwiching sections connected to the first bridges. A fuel gas supply passage extends through the fuel gas supply section. Each of the sandwiching sections has a fuel gas channel and an oxygen-containing gas channel. The four electrolyte electrode assemblies are arranged concentrically around the fuel gas supply section. A fuel cell stack includes such fuel cells. | 08-19-2010 |
20100297521 | SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL MANIFOLD AND CORRESPONDING STACK - A fuel cell and a fuel cell stack thereof includes separators, each of which includes a sandwiching section for sandwiching an electrolyte electrode assembly, a bridge and a reactant gas supply section, wherein the sandwiching section has a fuel gas channel and an oxygen-containing gas channel, the bridge has a fuel gas supply channel for supplying the fuel gas to the fuel gas channel and an oxygen-containing gas supply channel for supplying the oxygen-containing gas to the oxygen-containing gas channel, and a fuel gas supply passage for supplying the fuel gas to the fuel gas supply channel and an oxygen-containing gas supply passage for supplying the oxygen-containing gas to the oxygen-containing gas supply channel extend through the reactant gas supply section in the stacking direction. | 11-25-2010 |
20110076586 | FUEL CELL COMPRISING SEPARATOR WITH PROTRUSIONS IN ZIGZAG-PATTERN - A separator of a fuel cell includes a sandwiching section, first and second bridges connected to the sandwiching section, a fuel gas supply section connected to the first bridge and an oxygen-containing gas supply section connected to the second bridge. The sandwiching section sandwiches an electrolyte electrode assembly, and has a fuel gas channel and an oxygen-containing gas channel separately. In the sandwiching section, a plurality of first projections are arranged in a zigzag pattern in a direction in which the first bridge extends, and the first projections at least protrude toward the fuel gas channel to contact an anode. | 03-31-2011 |
20110143238 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A casing of a fuel cell system is divided into a fluid supply section, a module section, and an electrical equipment section. A detector, a fuel gas supply apparatus, an oxygen-containing gas supply apparatus, and a water supply apparatus are provided in the fluid supply section. A fuel cell module and a combustor are provided in the module section. A power converter and a control device are provided in the electrical equipment section. The module section is interposed between the fluid supply section and the electrical equipment section. | 06-16-2011 |
20110143239 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A casing of a fuel cell system is divided into a first fluid supply section, a second fluid supply section, a module section, and an electrical equipment section. A water supply apparatus, a fuel gas supply apparatus, and a detector are provided in the first fluid supply section. An oxygen-containing gas supply apparatus is provided in the second fluid supply section. A fuel cell module and a combustor are provided in the module section. A power converter and a control device are provided in the electrical equipment section. The module section is interposed between the first fluid supply section and the electrical equipment section. The second fluid supply section is disposed on the lower surface of the module section. | 06-16-2011 |
20120003561 | FUEL CELL - A fuel cell comprises an electrolyte electrode assembly which includes an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, and an electrolyte; a separator which includes a sandwiching portion; a fuel gas channel which is formed at a first surface of the sandwiching portion, and is covered by the anode electrode; fuel gas outlets which are formed around the fuel gas channel; an oxygen-containing gas channel which is formed at a second surface of the sandwiching portion, and is covered by the cathode electrode; and oxygen-containing gas outlets which are formed around the oxygen-containing gas channel, in which the oxygen-containing gas outlets are formed at phases different from phases of the fuel gas outlets in a thickness direction of the separator. | 01-05-2012 |
20120100452 | FUEL CELL STACK - The present invention provides a fuel cell stack that has a separator arranged between fuel cells, the separator including: a sandwiching section which sandwiches an electrolyte electrode assembly and includes a fuel gas channel and a separately provided oxygen-containing gas channel; a bridge which is connected to the sandwiching section and includes a reactant gas supply channel; a reactant gas supply section which is connected to the bridge and includes a reactant gas supply passage; and a connecting section that connects the sandwiching section to the bridge. | 04-26-2012 |
20120164549 | FUEL CELL - The present invention provides a fuel cell in which an electrolyte electrode assembly having an electrolyte sandwiched between an anode and a cathode is provided between separators, each of the separators including: a sandwiching section which sandwiches an electrolyte electrode assembly and includes a fuel gas channel and a separately provided oxygen-containing gas channel; a bridge which is connected to the sandwiching section and includes a reactant gas supply channel; a reactant gas supply section which is connected to the bridge and includes a reactant gas supply passage; and a connecting section that connects the sandwiching section to the bridge. | 06-28-2012 |
20130017464 | FUEL CELL SYSTEMAANM Fujisawa; KimikoAACI Wako-shiAACO JPAAGP Fujisawa; Kimiko Wako-shi JPAANM Ogawa; TetsuyaAACI Wako-shiAACO JPAAGP Ogawa; Tetsuya Wako-shi JP - A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell module, a combustor, a fuel gas supply apparatus, an oxygen-containing gas supply apparatus, a water supply apparatus, a power converter, a control device, and a casing containing the fuel cell module, the combustor, the fuel gas supply apparatus, the oxygen-containing gas supply apparatus, the water supply apparatus, the power converter, and the control device. The casing includes a casing body and an open/close door that opens/closes the casing body by rotation about a vertical axis through hinges. The power converter and the control device are attached onto the open/close door at upper and lower positions. | 01-17-2013 |
20130029235 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell module and a condenser apparatus. The condenser apparatus includes a first condenser using an oxygen-containing as a coolant, and a second condenser using hot water stored in a hot water tank as the coolant. Further, the fuel cell system includes a control device for controlling at least one of a flow rate of the exhaust gas supplied to the first condenser and a flow rate of the exhaust gas supplied to the second condenser based on at least any of a water level of the hot water in the hot water tank, a temperature of the hot water in the hot water tank, and a water level of the condensed water in the condenser apparatus. | 01-31-2013 |
20130029237 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell module, a combustor, a fuel gas supply apparatus, an oxygen-containing gas supply apparatus, a water supply apparatus, a power converter, a control device, and a casing containing the fuel cell module, the combustor, the fuel gas supply apparatus, the oxygen-containing gas supply apparatus, the water supply apparatus, the power converter, and the control device. The casing includes a casing body having an opening in the front face and a slide door that is installed onto the casing body. When the slide door slides horizontally, the opening is opened/closed. The power converter and the control device are attached onto the slide door at upper and lower positions. | 01-31-2013 |
20140030620 | FUEL CELL MODULE - A fuel cell module includes a fuel cell stack formed by stacking a plurality of fuel cells for generating electricity by electrochemical reactions of a fuel gas and an oxygen-containing gas, a reformer for reforming a mixed gas of a raw fuel and water vapor, an evaporator for supplying water vapor to the reformer, a heat exchanger for raising the temperature of the oxygen-containing gas by heat exchange with a combustion gas, an exhaust gas combustor for producing the combustion gas, and a start-up combustor for producing the combustion gas. The exhaust gas combustor is provided integrally in the heat exchanger. The start-up combustor is provided adjacent to one end of the heat exchanger. | 01-30-2014 |
20140038071 | FUEL CELL MODULE - A fuel cell module includes an oxygen-containing gas regulator valve for distributing and supplying the oxygen-containing gas to the heat exchanger and to the start-up combustor, a raw fuel regulator valve for distributing and supplying the raw fuel to the reformer and to the start-up combustor, and a control device. The control device includes an oxygen-containing gas distribution controller for controlling the oxygen-containing gas regulator valve and a raw fuel distribution controller for controlling the raw fuel regulator valve, each control thereof being performed at least based on any of the temperature of the fuel cell stack, the temperature of the reformer, and the temperature of the evaporator. | 02-06-2014 |
20140045085 | FUEL CELL MODULE - A fuel cell module includes a fuel cell stack, a partial oxidation reformer for reforming a mixed gas of a raw fuel and an oxygen-containing gas, a steam reformer for reforming a mixed gas of the raw fuel and water vapor, an evaporator for supplying water vapor to the steam reformer, a heat exchanger for raising the temperature of the oxygen-containing gas by heat exchange with a combustion gas, and an exhaust gas combustor for producing the combustion gas. A fuel gas discharge chamber of the steam reformer is connected to a fuel gas supply passage of the fuel cell stack through a fuel gas channel, a fuel gas outlet of the partial oxidation reformer is connected to a mixed gas supply chamber of the steam reformer through a fuel gas pipe, and a water vapor pipe extending from the evaporator is merged to the fuel gas pipe. | 02-13-2014 |
20140051000 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system control device includes a carbon amount determination unit for determining the carbon amount in fuel gas supplied to a fuel cell stack depending on required output of the stack, a temperature detector unit for detecting temperature of a steam reformer and temperature of an evaporator, an S/C determination unit for determining a range of steam/carbon ratio based on the temperature of the steam reformer, a water supply amount determination unit for determining a range of the water supply amount to the evaporator based on the carbon amount and the steam/carbon ratio, an evaporator operating state determination unit for determining whether the temperature of the evaporator is a temperature determined based on the range of the water supply amount, and a reformer control unit for controlling the steam reformer and a partial oxidation reformer based on the result of the evaporator operating state determination unit. | 02-20-2014 |
20140080021 | FUEL CELL MODULE - A fuel cell module includes a fuel cell stack, a partial oxidation reformer for reforming a mixed gas of a raw fuel and an oxygen-containing gas, an exhaust gas combustor for combusting a fuel exhaust gas and an oxygen-containing exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell stack thereby to produce a combustion gas, and a heat exchanger for raising the temperature of the oxygen-containing gas by heat exchange with the combustion gas. The heat exchanger is provided on one side of the fuel cell stack, and the partial oxidation reformer and the exhaust gas combustor are provided on the other side of the fuel cell stack. The partial oxidation reformer is provided so as to surround the exhaust gas combustor. | 03-20-2014 |
20140087280 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell module and a control device. The control device includes a partial oxidation reformer adjuster, a combustion starter, and a power generator. Based on at least any of the reforming state in the partial oxidation reformer, the combustion state in the exhaust gas combustor and the temperature of the fuel cell stack, the partial oxidation reformer adjuster adjusts the temperature of the partial oxidation reformer, the supply amount of raw fuel, and the supply amount of oxygen-containing gas, the combustion starter starts combustion in the exhaust gas combustor, and the power generator starts power generation in the fuel cell stack. | 03-27-2014 |
20140193727 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell module for generating electrical energy by electrochemical reactions of a fuel gas and an oxygen-containing gas, and a condenser for condensing water vapor in an exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell module by heat exchange between the exhaust gas and a coolant to collect the condensed water and supplying the collected condensed water to the fuel cell module. The condenser includes an air cooling condensing mechanism using the oxygen-containing gas as the coolant, and a water cooling condensing mechanism using the hot water stored in the hot water storage unit as the coolant. The air cooling condensing mechanism includes a thermoelectric converter for performing thermoelectric conversion by a temperature difference between the exhaust gas and the oxygen-containing gas. | 07-10-2014 |
20140205866 | FUEL CELL MODULE - A fuel cell module includes a fuel cell stack, a reformer for reforming a mixed gas of a raw fuel and water vapor, an evaporator for supplying water vapor to the reformer, and a heat exchanger for raising the temperature of the oxygen-containing gas by heat exchange with a combustion gas, and an exhaust gas combustor and a start-up combustor for producing the combustion gas. The fuel cell module includes a first thermoelectric converter and a second thermoelectric converter for performing thermoelectric conversion based on a temperature difference between the combustion gas and the oxygen-containing gas. | 07-24-2014 |
20140220464 | FUEL CELL MODULE - A fuel cell module includes a fuel cell stack, a partial oxidation reformer, and a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is provided on one side of the fuel cell stack, and the partial oxidation reformer and the exhaust gas combustor are provided on the other side of the fuel cell stack. The partial oxidation reformer is provided around the exhaust gas combustor. The fuel cell module includes a first thermoelectric converter and a second thermoelectric converter for performing thermoelectric conversion based on a temperature difference between the combustion gas and the oxygen-containing gas. | 08-07-2014 |
20140242480 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell module for generating electrical energy by electrochemical reactions of a fuel gas and an oxygen-containing gas, and a condenser for condensing water vapor in an exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell module by heat exchange between the exhaust gas and a coolant to collect the condensed water and supplying the collected condensed water to the fuel cell module. The condenser includes an air cooling condenser using the oxygen-containing gas as the coolant and a water cooling condenser using hot water stored in a hot water tank as the coolant. A thermoelectric conversion mechanism for performing thermoelectric conversion by a temperature difference between the exhaust gas and the oxygen-containing gas is provided between the air cooling condenser and the water cooling condenser. | 08-28-2014 |
20140242484 | FUEL CELL MODULE - A fuel cell module includes a first area where an exhaust gas combustor and a start-up combustor are provided, an annular second area disposed around the first area where a heat exchanger is provided, an annular third area disposed around the second area where a reformer is provided, and an annular fourth area disposed around the third area where an evaporator is provided. The fuel cell module includes a first partition plate having first combustion gas holes, a second partition plate having second combustion gas holes, and a third partition plate having third combustion gas holes. | 08-28-2014 |
20140242485 | FUEL CELL MODULE - A fuel cell module includes a first area where an exhaust gas combustor and a start-up combustor are provided, an annular second area disposed around the first area where a heat exchanger is provided, an annular third area disposed around the second area where a reformer is provided, and an annular fourth area disposed around the third area where an evaporator is provided. In the first area, the exhaust gas combustor and the start-up combustor are provided coaxially in the same space. | 08-28-2014 |
20140287332 | FUEL CELL MODULE - A fuel cell module includes a first area where an exhaust gas combustor and a start-up combustor are provided, an annular second area disposed around the first area where a heat exchanger is provided, an annular third area disposed around the second area where a reformer is provided, and an annular fourth area disposed around the third area where an evaporator is provided, and a condensed water collecting mechanism for collecting condensed water produced by condensation of water vapor in a combustion gas by allowing the condensed water to flow through the fourth area, then, the third area, then, the second area, and then, the first area. | 09-25-2014 |
20150010785 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell module for generating electrical energy by electrochemical reactions of a fuel gas and an oxygen-containing gas, a condenser for condensing water vapor in an exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell module by heat exchange between the exhaust gas and a coolant to collect the condensed water and supplying the collected condensed water to the fuel cell module. The condenser includes an air cooling condensing mechanism using the oxygen-containing gas as the coolant. The air cooling condensing mechanism includes a secondary battery for inducing endothermic reaction during charging and inducing exothermic reaction during discharging. | 01-08-2015 |