Fuel cell system

• US 20070202368A1
• Filed: 02/27/2007
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Inventors: Kim, Ju-Yong, Ahn, Jin-Goo, Lee, Chan-Ho, Lee, Sung-Chul, Kim, Jin-Kwang
• Granted Patent: US 8,153,312 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/425
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2008/1095 Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/30 Fuel cells in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04014 Heat exchange using gaseous fluids; Heat exchange by combustion of reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0618 Reforming processes, e.g. autothermal, partial oxidation or steam reforming
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1004 characterised by membrane-electrode assemblies [MEA] H01M8/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2475 Enclosures, casings or containers of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/10 Applications of fuel cells in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell body to generate electrical energy using a reaction of hydrogen and oxygen; a reformer to generate a reformed gas containing hydrogen by reforming fuel and to supply the reformed gas to the fuel cell body; a fuel tank to store the fuel in a partially liquefied state and to supply the fuel to the reformer; a case to encase the fuel cell body and the reformer; and a refrigeration unit attached to the case to store ambient air of the fuel tank, the ambient air of the fuel tank being cooled by latent heat of vaporization of the fuel.

Claims

1. A fuel cell system comprising:

a fuel cell body to generate electrical energy using a reaction of hydrogen and oxygen;

a reformer to generate a reformed gas containing hydrogen by reforming fuel and to supply the reformed gas to the fuel cell body;

a fuel tank to store the fuel in a partially liquefied state and to supply the fuel to the reformer;

a case to encase the fuel cell body and the reformer; and

a refrigeration unit attached to the case to store ambient air of the fuel tank, the ambient air of the fuel tank being cooled by latent heat of vaporization of the fuel.

2. The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the refrigeration unit comprises:

a first body having a plurality of vent holes and having an accommodation space to accommodate the fuel tank; and

a second body connected to the first body and having a cool air storing space communicating with the first body.

3. The fuel cell system of claim 2, wherein the refrigeration unit comprises a cooling fan arranged within an aperture between the first and second bodies, the cooling fan drawing the cool air into the cool air storing space.

4. The fuel cell system of claim 2, wherein the first body comprises a mounting member to mount the fuel tank thereon.

5. The fuel cell system of claim 2, wherein the first body comprises a door to selectively open the accommodation space.

6. The fuel cell system of claim 3, further comprising a communication aperture, arranged between the first and second bodies, to facilitate the accommodation space and the cool air storing space communicating with each other, the cooling fan being arranged within the communication aperture.

7. The fuel cell system of claim 2, wherein the second body comprises a door to selectively open the cool air storing space.

8. The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the refrigeration unit further comprises a refrigeration cycle device to generate cool air using electrical energy generated by the fuel cell body.

9. The fuel cell system of claim 2, wherein the refrigeration unit further comprises a refrigeration cycle device, arranged inside the cool air storing space of the second body, to generate cool air using electrical energy generated by the fuel cell body.

10. The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the fuel cell body comprises at least one electric generator including a Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) and separators closely arranged on lateral sides of the MEA to center the MEA.

11. The fuel cell system of claim 10, wherein the fuel cell body comprises a stack including plurality of consecutively arranged electric generators.

12. The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the fuel cell system supplies electrical power as a portable power supply.

13. The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the fuel comprises a liquefied gas, the liquified gas being vaporized at room temperature.

14. The fuel cell system of claim 13, wherein the fuel comprises at least one of a group of gases consisting of methane, ethane, propane, and butane.