Fuel processing device, fuel cell system having the same, and method of driving thereof

• US 20050238933A1
• Filed: 04/20/2005
• Published: 10/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Inventors: Kim, Ju-Yong, Kweon, Ho-Jin, Kim, Hyoung-Juhn
• Application Number:
  US11/109,678
• Publication Number:
  US 20050238933A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/422
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0205 containing a reforming step
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/066 with fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0811 by combustion of fuel
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/32 by reaction of gaseous or liquid organic compounds with gasifying agents, e.g. water, carbon dioxide, air
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0618 Reforming processes, e.g. autothermal, partial oxidation or steam reforming
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0656 by electrochemical means H01M8/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

The present invention provides a fuel cell system that comprises a stack that generates electricity through a reaction between hydrogen and oxygen and a fuel processing device that is connected to the stack to generate the hydrogen from fuel and supplies the hydrogen to the stack. It further comprises a fuel supply unit that supplies the fuel to the fuel processing device and an air supply unit that supplies air to the stack and the fuel processing unit, respectively. The fuel processing device comprises a first reformer that generates byproducts along with the hydrogen through an electrolysis reaction of the fuel using electric energy and a second reformer that generates the hydrogen through a reformation reaction of the fuel using thermal energy.

Claims

1. A fuel processing device for a fuel cell system, comprising:

a first reformer that generates hydrogen through an electrolysis reaction of a hydrogen-containing fuel using electrical energy; and

a second reformer that generates hydrogen through a reformation reaction of a hydrogen-containing fuel using thermal energy,

wherein the fuel processing device is connected to a stack that generates electricity through a reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, and

wherein the fuel processing device provides the stack with hydrogen.

2. The fuel processing device of claim 1,

wherein the first reformer comprises:

a first discharge port that discharges the hydrogen; and

a second discharge port that discharges byproducts that are generated along with the hydrogen.

3. The fuel processing device of claim 1,

wherein the second reformer comprises:

a heat source unit that generates thermal energy; and

a reformation unit that generates hydrogen through a reformation reaction that uses the thermal energy from the heat source unit.

4. The fuel processing device of claim 2,

wherein the second reformer comprises:

a heat source unit that generates thermal energy; and

a reformation unit that generates hydrogen through a reformation reaction using the thermal energy from the heat source unit,

wherein the heat source unit is coupled to the second discharge port and generates the thermal energy through an oxidation reaction of the byproducts that are discharged through the second discharge port.

5. The fuel processing device of claim 3,

wherein the heat source unit is connected to the stack and generates thermal energy through an oxidation reaction of unreacted hydrogen that is discharged from the stack.

6. The fuel processing device of claim 4,

wherein the heat source unit is connected to the stack and generates thermal energy through an oxidation reaction of unreacted hydrogen that is discharged from the stack.

7. The fuel processing device of claim 3,

wherein the heat source unit is coupled to a fuel tank that stores the fuel and generates thermal energy through an oxidation reaction of the fuel that is supplied from the fuel tank.

8. A fuel cell system, comprising:

a stack that generates electrical energy through a reaction between hydrogen and oxygen;

a fuel processing device that is connected to the stack to generate hydrogen from fuel and supplies the hydrogen to the stack;

a fuel supply unit that supplies the fuel to the fuel processing device; and

an air supply unit that supplies air to the stack and the fuel processing unit,

wherein the fuel processing device comprises a first reformer that generates byproducts along with hydrogen through an electrolysis reaction of the fuel using the electrical energy and a second reformer that generates hydrogen through a reformation reaction of the fuel using thermal energy.

9. The fuel cell system of claim 8,

wherein the first reformer includes a first discharge port for discharging the hydrogen and a second discharge port for discharging the byproducts.

10. The fuel cell system of claim 8,

wherein the second reformer includes a heat source unit that generates the thermal energy and a reformation unit that generates the hydrogen through a reformation reaction using the thermal energy from the heat source unit.

11. The fuel cell system of claim 9,

wherein the second reformer comprises:

a heat source unit that generates thermal energy and

a reformation unit that generates hydrogen through a reformation reaction using the thermal energy from the heat source unit, and

wherein the second discharge port and the heat source unit are coupled to each other through a first connection unit.

12. The fuel cell system of claim 11,

wherein the heat source unit generates the thermal energy through an oxidation reaction of the byproducts that are supplied through the first connection unit.

13. The fuel cell system of claim 10,

wherein the stack includes at least one electricity generating unit that generates the electrical energy and an unreacted hydrogen discharge port that discharges unreacted hydrogen, and

wherein the unreacted hydrogen discharge port and the heat source unit are coupled to each other through a second connection unit.

14. The fuel cell system of claim 13,

wherein the heat source unit generates the thermal energy through an oxidation reaction of the unreacted hydrogen that is supplied through the second connection unit.

15. The fuel cell system of claim 11,

wherein the stack includes at least one electricity generating unit that generates the electric energy and an unreacted hydrogen discharge port that discharges unreacted hydrogen, and

wherein the unreacted hydrogen discharge port and the heat source unit are coupled to each other through a second connection unit.

16. The fuel cell system of claim 15,

wherein the heat source unit generates the thermal energy through an oxidation reaction of the unreacted hydrogen that is supplied through the second connection unit.

17. The fuel cell system of claim 10,

wherein the heat source unit generates the thermal energy through an oxidation reaction of the fuel that is supplied from the fuel supply unit.

18. A method for driving a fuel cell system, that comprises a stack that generates electrical energy through a reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, the method comprising:

supplying fuel to a first reformer a and second reformer to start up the fuel cell system;

allowing the first reformer to generate the hydrogen and to supply the generated hydrogen to the stack; and

allowing the second reformer to generate the hydrogen and to supply the generated hydrogen to the stack.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein in the driving of the first reformer is stopped after allowing the second reformer to generate and supply a sufficient amount of hydrogen.