Fuel cell system for transportation applications
First Claim
1. A propulsion system for a vehicle comprising a fuel cell having a positive electrode and a negative electrode separated by an electrolyte, means for delivering a source of oxygen to the positive electrode of said fuel cell, means for partially oxidizing and reforming hydrogen-containing fuel with water and air in an overall exothermic reaction to provide sufficient energy from the exothermic partial reaction to initiate and sustain the endothermic reformation reaction to produce a hydrogen-containing gas without an external thermal energy input, and means for delivering the hydrogen-containing gas to said negative electrode of said fuel cell, whereby delivery of said hydrogen-containing gas to said negative electrode and oxygen to said positive electrode of said fuel cell produces dc power for operating an electric motor in a vehicle.
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Abstract
A propulsion system for a vehicle having pairs of front and rear wheels and a fuel tank. An electrically driven motor having an output shaft operatively connected to at least one of said pair of wheels is connected to a fuel cell having a positive electrode and a negative electrode separated by an electrolyte for producing dc power to operate the motor. A partial oxidation reformer is connected both to the fuel tank and to the fuel cell receives hydrogen-containing fuel from the fuel tank and water and air and for partially oxidizing and reforming the fuel with water and air in the presence of an oxidizing catalyst and a reforming catalyst to produce a hydrogen-containing gas. The hydrogen-containing gas is sent from the partial oxidation reformer to the fuel cell negative electrode while air is transported to the fuel cell positive electrode to produce dc power for operating the electric motor.
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Citations
23 Claims
- 1. A propulsion system for a vehicle comprising a fuel cell having a positive electrode and a negative electrode separated by an electrolyte, means for delivering a source of oxygen to the positive electrode of said fuel cell, means for partially oxidizing and reforming hydrogen-containing fuel with water and air in an overall exothermic reaction to provide sufficient energy from the exothermic partial reaction to initiate and sustain the endothermic reformation reaction to produce a hydrogen-containing gas without an external thermal energy input, and means for delivering the hydrogen-containing gas to said negative electrode of said fuel cell, whereby delivery of said hydrogen-containing gas to said negative electrode and oxygen to said positive electrode of said fuel cell produces dc power for operating an electric motor in a vehicle.
- 12. A vehicle having pairs of front and rear wheels and a fuel tank, an electrically driven motor having an output shaft operatively connected to at least one of said pair of wheels, a fuel cell operatively connected to said motor and having a positive electrode and a negative electrode separated by an electrolyte for producing dc power to operate said electrically driven motor, a partial oxidation reformer operatively connected to said fuel tank and to said fuel cell and having means for receiving hydrogen-containing fuel from said fuel tank and water and air and for partially oxidizing and reforming the fuel with water and air in the presence of an oxidizing catalyst and a reforming catalyst in an overall exothermic reaction to provide sufficient energy from the exothermic partial oxidation reaction to initiate and sustain the endothermic reformation reaction to produce a hydrogen-containing gas without an external thermal energy input, means for transporting the hydrogen-containing gas from said partial oxidation reformer to said fuel cell negative electrode while air is transported to said fuel cell positive electrode to produce dc power for operating said electric motor and the pair of wheels operatively connected thereto.
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17. The vehicle of 13, wherein gas containing some hydrogen exits from said fuel cell negative electrode during production of dc power and further including a unit for oxidizing the hydrogen in the exit gas from said negative electrode to produce heat which may be used to heat or cool the vehicle.
- 18. A partial oxidation reformer comprising a longitudinally extending container having an inlet at one end thereof and an outlet at the other end thereof, a first zone holding an oxidation catalyst and a second zone longitudinally spaced from said first zone holding a reforming catalyst, a second inlet near said second zone, means for introducing a first mixture of water and air and fuel into said first zone, means for introducing a second mixture of water and air and fuel into said second zone, said first zone oxidation catalyst in contact with said first zone oxidation catalyst in contact with said first mixture producing a first product gas with some hydrogen and sufficient heat to initiate and maintain an endothermic reaction in said second zone to produce a product gas richer in hydrogen than said product from said first zone, whereby to provide oxidation and steam reforming reactions capable of being sustained without outside thermal energy.
Specification