Electrical Power Consuming Installation Using a Fuel Cell and Method of Supplying One Such Installation
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Abstract
The invention relates to a functional installation which consumes electrical power and which uses a fuel cell. The inventive installation includes: an electrical power consuming member; a fuel cell which is connected to the consuming member in order to supply same with electrical power, said fuel cell being of the type that uses gas fuel, particularly gaseous hydrogen; and a first reserve of gas fuel which is stored under pressure and which is intended to supply the cell by default. The invention is characterized in that the installation also includes: a second reserve of gas fuel which is stored under pressure and which is intended for the cell; means for selectively distributing fuel to the cell from the first or second reserve, whereby said distribution means can detect a supply fault or an insufficient supply from the first reserve; and means for automatically switching to the second reserve for fuel distribution in the event of an insufficient or faulty supply from the first reserve.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1-16. -16. (canceled)
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17. A functional installation consuming electric power, comprising:
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a fuel cell connected to an electric power consuming member to supply said member with electric power, said fuel cell being of the gaseous fuel type; a first reserve of gaseous fuel stored under pressure and connected to said fuel cell via a first supply line for supplying said cell by default, said first supply line including a first element adapted to control a pressure of the gaseous fuel and/or expand the gaseous fuel to a first delivery pressure; a second reserve of gaseous fuel stored under pressure and connected to said fuel cell via a second supply line for supplying said cell, said second supply line including a second element adapted to control a pressure of the gaseous fuel and/or expand the gaseous fuel to a second delivery pressure; and a gaseous fuel distribution element adapted to detect a fault or insufficiency in supply of the gaseous fuel from said first reserve and automatically switch supply of gaseous fuel to said fuel cell from said first reserve to said second reserve when the insufficiency or fault is detected, wherein the first delivery pressure is different than the second delivery pressure. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for supplying electric power to a functional installation consuming electric power comprising an electric power consuming member, a fuel cell connected to the consuming member to supply the consuming member with electric power, the fuel cell being of the type using a gaseous fuel, and first and second reserves of gaseous fuel suitable for supplying the fuel cell, the method comprising the steps of:
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supplying the cell with gaseous fuel by default from the first reserve; detecting or determining an insufficient or faulty supply of gaseous fuel in the first reserve; switching said supply of gaseous fuel from the first reserve to the second reserve when the insufficient or faulty supply of gaseous fuel in the first reserve is detected or determined, wherein said detection or determination is achieved by measuring a pressure and/or flow of the gaseous fuel in and/or at an outlet of the second reserve. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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Specification