At a position between a fuel offgas inlet portion and a fuel gas inlet portion in a main body portion in the facing direction where a first end faces a second end, a fluid confluence joint is provided with at least either one of (i) at least one step formed over a whole circumference of an inner wall of the main body portion by reducing the passage sectional area on a fuel gas passage portion side to be smaller than the passage sectional area on a confluence passage portion side, and (ii) at least one partition wall formed over the whole circumference so as to project inwardly from the inner wall of the main body portion.

At a position between a fuel offgas inlet portion and a fuel gas inlet portion in a main body portion in the facing direction where a first end faces a second end, a fluid confluence joint is provided with at least either one of (i) at least one step formed over a whole circumference of an inner wall of the main body portion by reducing the passage sectional area on a fuel gas passage portion side to be smaller than the passage sectional area on a confluence passage portion side, and (ii) at least one partition wall formed over the whole circumference so as to project inwardly from the inner wall of the main body portion.

A fuel cell system in which a controller unit is prevented from being disassembled in an unconventional manner. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack configured to generate electricity; a cable; a controller unit connected to the full cell stack through the cable to control the fuel cell system; a connector configured to connect the controller unit to the cable, where the connector has an insertion portion, and the insertion portion is inserted into the controller unit; a protector fixed onto the controller unit to protect the controller unit; and a bracket supporting the protector. The bracket has a cable support portion, and the cable support portion is configured to support the cable. A displaceable distance of the cable between the connector and the cable support portion is less than a length of the insertion portion.

A fuel cell system in which a controller unit is prevented from being disassembled in an unconventional manner. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack configured to generate electricity; a cable; a controller unit connected to the full cell stack through the cable to control the fuel cell system; a connector configured to connect the controller unit to the cable, where the connector has an insertion portion, and the insertion portion is inserted into the controller unit; a protector fixed onto the controller unit to protect the controller unit; and a bracket supporting the protector. The bracket has a cable support portion, and the cable support portion is configured to support the cable. A displaceable distance of the cable between the connector and the cable support portion is less than a length of the insertion portion.

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for heating a fuel cell module.

A fuel cell vehicle comprising: a hydrogen tank which is mounted on the vehicle so as to have a center axis generally parallel to a front/rear direction of the vehicle; a high-voltage electric component which is positioned either forward or rearward of the hydrogen tank and which operates on high voltage; an aftercooler placed between the hydrogen tank and the high-voltage electric component to cool compressed air; and a fuel cell stack which is supplied with the cooled compressed air.

A fuel cell vehicle comprising: a hydrogen tank which is mounted on the vehicle so as to have a center axis generally parallel to a front/rear direction of the vehicle; a high-voltage electric component which is positioned either forward or rearward of the hydrogen tank and which operates on high voltage; an aftercooler placed between the hydrogen tank and the high-voltage electric component to cool compressed air; and a fuel cell stack which is supplied with the cooled compressed air.

An electrical power system includes a first plurality of fuel cells connected to a positive voltage bus, a second plurality of fuel cells connected to a negative voltage bus, and a switching system configured to independently connect and disconnect a fuel cell in the first plurality of fuel cells with another fuel cell in the second plurality of fuel cells. Due to the series-parallel configuration aligned with the bus voltage, electrical power system may not require a DC-DC voltage convertor and thus allows elimination of a DC-DC voltage convertor from the electrical power system.

An electrical power system includes a first plurality of fuel cells connected to a positive voltage bus, a second plurality of fuel cells connected to a negative voltage bus, and a switching system configured to independently connect and disconnect a fuel cell in the first plurality of fuel cells with another fuel cell in the second plurality of fuel cells. Due to the series-parallel configuration aligned with the bus voltage, electrical power system may not require a DC-DC voltage convertor and thus allows elimination of a DC-DC voltage convertor from the electrical power system.

Described herein are new solid oxide fuel cell interconnects and methods for making same that may comprise a novel bilayer construct on an anode substrate to provide a dense microstructure, low area specific resistance, and negligible oxygen permeability to form a bilayer ceramic interconnect that is a strong candidate for next-generation, durable, and low-cost tubular solid oxide fuel cells.