Patent classifications
H01M8/04843
FUEL CELL SYSTEM
Provide is a fuel cell system capable of controlling the timing of a water removal process to suppress users' uncomfortableness. A fuel cell system with which a vehicle is equipped includes: a fuel cell; a water removal process gas supply part; a current location information acquisition part; a destination information acquisition part; and a water removal process control part, wherein the water removal process control part changes a state thereof to a water removal process allowed state if at least one of predetermined conditions is satisfied, the water removal process control part performs the water removal process if the distance from the current location to the destination is at a second threshold or under in the water removal process allowed state, and the water removal process control part sets the state thereof in a water removal process prohibited state after performing the water removal process.
Fuel cell system and method for operating fuel cell system
Provided is a fuel cell system capable of further increasing electric power generation efficiency, compared to the current circumstances, with respect to a fuel cell SOFC that generates electric power by supplying a reformed gas obtained by steam reforming to a fuel electrode. A steam reformer that reforms a hydrocarbon fuel by a steam reforming reaction; a fuel cell that operates by introducing a reformed gas to a fuel electrode; and an anode off-gas circulation path that removes condensed water while cooling an anode off-gas, and introduces the anode off-gas to the steam reformer are provided. A condensation temperature in a condensing device is controlled by a control unit that controls a steam partial pressure of the anode off-gas circulated to the steam reformer, and S/C adjustment is adapted to high-efficiency electric power generation.
Fuel cell, control method for fuel cell, and computer readable recording medium
A fuel cell, a control method of the fuel cell, and a non-transitory computer readable recording medium recording a computer program capable of favorably generating power while suppressing leakage of gas and preventing the solenoid valve from being frozen with a simple configuration. The fuel cell includes a stack configure to generate electricity by reacting hydrogen and oxygen, an exhaust valve or a drain valve which is a solenoid valve discharging gas discharged from the stack to the outside, and a control unit configured to control energization of the exhaust valve. The exhaust valves are aligned in a gas discharging direction whereas the drain valves are aligned in a water discharging direction. If there is a risk of any solenoid valve being frozen, the control unit performs energization processing of energizing other solenoid valves in the state where at least one of the aligned solenoid valves is closed.
Method for controlling fuel cell vehicle
A method for controlling a fuel cell vehicle is provided. The method includes setting a target purge degree of an anode gas and a target opening degree of an air pressure control valve and determining whether a fuel cell stack is in a power generation stop state. When the fuel cell stack is in the power generation stop state, when the anode gas is purged from the anode based on the target purge degree and the target opening degree, whether hydrogen in the anode gas will flow backwards to a stack enclosure is determined. When the hydrogen flows backwards, at least one of the target purge degree and the target opening degree to a level at which the backflow of the hydrogen is prevented is modified, and the anode gas from the anode based on the modified target purge degree and the modified target opening degree is purged.
Humidifier
In a humidifier in which an inlet head and an outlet head are connected to one end and another end of a cylindrical housing of a humidifying module, a humidified-fluid inlet joint is connected to the inlet head via a first joint connection, and a fluid-to-be-humidified outlet joint is connected to the outlet head via a second joint connection, clearances that are capable of adjusting connecting positions in directions of the connecting surfaces are provided on the joint connections as well as on connections between the housing and the inlet head and the outlet head.
Energy conversion system
An energy conversion system includes an energy converter, a cold generator, and a liquid water obtainer. The energy converter is configured to convert energy of a source from one form to another form and generate heat and water vapor. The cold generator is configured to generate cold using the heat generated by the energy converter. The liquid water obtainer is configured to condense the water vapor using the cold to obtain liquid water. Accordingly, the water vapor generated from the energy converter can be cooled efficiently. Therefore, efficiency in obtaining the liquid water can be improved compared with a case where the water vapor is cooled by open air.
Humidifier for fuel cell
A fuel cell humidifier includes a membrane module accommodating a humidifying membrane, a first cap coupled to a first side of the membrane module and supplying a supply air to the humidifying membrane, and a second cap coupled to a second side of the membrane module and discharging a humidified supply air from the humidifying membrane to a cathode of a fuel cell stack. An exhaust gas inlet is coupled to the membrane module and provides an exhaust gas discharged from the stack and an exhaust gas outlet is coupled to the membrane module and discharges a dehumidified exhaust gas, which passes through the membrane module, to an exhaust system. A valve provides selective communication between a first region, where the supply air flows, including the first and second caps and a second region, where the exhaust gas flows, including the exhaust gas inlet and the exhaust gas outlet.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PURGING CONDENSATE WATER AND HYDROGEN OF FUEL CELL STACK
The present disclosure provides a system and a method for purging the condensate water and hydrogen of a fuel cell stack, which may allow the condensate water and hydrogen discharged from a stack to be directly bypassed to an exhaust line of a humidifier rather than a shell side of the humidifier to be purged to the atmosphere according to the operation state and operation condition of the stack, thereby solving a problem in that an inverse voltage is generated upon cold operation of a fuel cell system, a flooding phenomenon occurs in the stack, or the like to improve the operation stability of the stack and the operation efficiency of the fuel cell system.
LIQUID SEPARATOR
The invention relates to a liquid separator (17) for a gas flow charged with liquid, having an inner volume (21) which has at least one baffle element (23) and a collection area (24) for the separated liquid.
The invention is characterized in that a heat-conducting element (30) made of a material having good heat conductivity is arranged in the collection area (24) and protrudes in the direction of the at least one baffle element (23) into the gas flow (25) in the inner volume (21), wherein the baffle element (23) is made from a material which conducts heat less well than the heat-conducting element (30).
FUEL CELL SYSTEM
A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell including a plurality of stacked cells, a fuel gas supply unit configured to supply fuel gas to a supply port of the fuel cell and return the fuel gas exhausted through an exhaust port of the fuel cell, and a controller configured to control an operation of the fuel gas supply unit. The controller is configured to execute a drain process for draining residual water accumulated in the fuel cell through the exhaust port. In the drain process, a first process in which the fuel gas is supplied to the fuel cell until a pressure in the fuel cell reaches a predetermined threshold pressure and a second process in which the pressure in the fuel cell is reduced after the first process are repeatedly executed.