Fuel cell system and power generating method in fuel cell system
First Claim
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1. A fuel cell system comprising:
- a fuel cell including an anode, a cathode disposed so as to face the anode, and a membrane electrode assembly disposed between the anode and the cathode;
a fuel pump for feeding liquid fuel to the anode wherein the anode is immersed when the liquid fuel reaches a top of the anode;
a fuel detector for detecting a level of the liquid fuel relative to the top of the anode;
a power supply for feeding electric power necessary for driving the fuel pump; and
a controller in communication with the fuel detector for activating the power supply if a detection result received from the fuel detector indicates that a level of the liquid fuel has not reached the top of the anode, and for preventing power generation in the fuel cell until the detection result indicates that the level of the liquid fuel has reached the top of the anode.
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Abstract
A fuel cell system has a controller in communication with a fuel detector for activating power supply if a detection result received from the fuel detector indicates that a level of the liquid fuel has not reached the top of an anode, and for preventing power generation in a fuel cell until the detection result indicates that the level of the liquid fuel has reached the top of the anode.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A fuel cell system comprising:
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a fuel cell including an anode, a cathode disposed so as to face the anode, and a membrane electrode assembly disposed between the anode and the cathode;
a fuel pump for feeding liquid fuel to the anode wherein the anode is immersed when the liquid fuel reaches a top of the anode;
a fuel detector for detecting a level of the liquid fuel relative to the top of the anode;
a power supply for feeding electric power necessary for driving the fuel pump; and
a controller in communication with the fuel detector for activating the power supply if a detection result received from the fuel detector indicates that a level of the liquid fuel has not reached the top of the anode, and for preventing power generation in the fuel cell until the detection result indicates that the level of the liquid fuel has reached the top of the anode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. The fuel cell system, comprising:
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a fuel cell including an anode, a cathode disposed so as to face the anode, and a membrane electrode assembly disposed between the anode and the cathode;
a first fuel container in which at least the anode of the fuel cell is disposed for containing liquid fuel;
a second fuel container for containing liquid fuel having a concentration higher than that of the liquid fuel contained in the first fuel container; and
a fuel pump for feeding the liquid fuel from the second fuel container to the first fuel container during a power generating operation in the fuel cell; and
a switch valve disposed between the first fuel container and the second fuel container operative to feed the liquid fuel from the second fuel container to the first fuel container during a time when the power generation has stopped. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A fuel cell system comprising:
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a fuel cell including an anode, a cathode disposed so as to face the anode, a membrane electrode assembly disposed between the anode and the cathode, and a power generating circuit for connecting the anode and the cathode;
a fuel container in which at least the anode of the fuel cell is disposed for containing the liquid fuel;
a content detector for detecting a content of the liquid fuel in the fuel container;
a circuit-breaking switch for activating the power generating circuit during the power generating operation, and for deactivating the power generating circuit during a stop time of the power generation; and
a controller for changing the circuit-breaking switch to a deactivating position or for maintaining the deactivating position when the content detector detects a content of the liquid fuel with which at least a part of the anode is exposed out of the liquid fuel contained in the fuel container.
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18. A fuel system comprising:
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a fuel cell including an anode which has a passageway of liquid fuel, a cathode disposed so as to face the anode and a membrane electrode assembly disposed between the anode and the cathode;
a fuel pump for feeding liquid fuel to the anode by passing through the liquid fuel from an inlet to an outlet of the passageway;
a fuel detector for detecting that the liquid fuel reaches the outlet of the passageway in the anode;
a power supply for feeding electric power necessary for driving the fuel pump; and
a controller in communication with the fuel detector for activating the power supply if a detection result received from the fuel detector indicates that the liquid fuel has not reached the outlet of the passageway in the anode, and for preventing power generation in the fuel cell until the detection result indicates that the liquid fuel has reached the outlet of the passageway. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A power generating method in a fuel cell system made up of a fuel cell including an anode, a cathode and a membrane electrode assembly, a first fuel container for containing liquid fuel, and a second container for containing a liquid fuel concentrate with a concentration higher than that of the liquid fuel, the method comprising the steps of:
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immersing the anode in the liquid fuel during a stop time of power generation in the fuel cell; and
supplementing liquid fuel consumed by the power generation in the first container during the power generating operation in the fuel cell in order to perform continuous generation of a specified amount of electric power in the fuel cell.
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21. A power generating method in a fuel cell system, comprising the steps of:
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before staring power generation in a fuel cell, detecting whether or not an anode is immersed in liquid fuel, and feeding liquid fuel to the anode if it is determined based on a detection result that the anode is not immersed in liquid fuel until the anode is immersed in liquid fuel; and
generating power in the fuel cell after the anode is immersed in liquid fuel.
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Specification