Fuel cell system
First Claim
1. A fuel cell system for directly convening chemical energy of a fuel into electrical energy by electrochemical means, the system comprising:
- first means for storing hydrogen, said first means for storing hydrogen having a hydrogen-absorbing alloy for dissociating a hydrogen gas at a temperature from approximately -20°
C. to room temperature;
a fuel cell having a hydrogen electrode and an oxidizer electrode;
means for supplying air to said oxidizer electrode at least when said system starts operating;
said fuel cell including means for generating electricity from hydrogen supplied to said hydrogen electrode from said first means storing hydrogen and from oxygen supplied from a vicinity of said oxidizer electrode;
first means for supplying an amount of an oxidizer gas to said oxidizer electrode;
said first means for supplying being driven by an output from said fuel cell;
second means for supplying an amount of hydrogen to said hydrogen electrode;
said second means for supplying including means for connecting said first means for storing hydrogen and said hydrogen electrode; and
said second means for supplying being driven by an output from said fuel cell.
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Abstract
A fuel cell system for directly converting chemical energy of a fuel into electric energy electrochemically. A fuel cell has a cathode and an anode. A main hydrogen absorbing alloy supplies hydrogen gas to the anode of the fuel cell during steady-state operation of the system. An auxiliary hydrogen absorbing alloy originally having a higher hydrogen gas absorbing/desorbing equilibrium pressure than the main hydrogen absorbing alloy at an equal temperature supplies hydrogen gas to the anode until the equilibrium pressure of the main hydrogen absorbing alloy, which is supplied an exhaust gas from the fuel cell is equal to a hydrogen gas absorbing/desorbing equilibrium pressure of the auxiliary hydrogen absorbing alloy, the auxiliary hydrogen absorbing alloy receiving the hydrogen gas from the main hydrogen absorbing alloy during steady-state operation.
67 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A fuel cell system for directly convening chemical energy of a fuel into electrical energy by electrochemical means, the system comprising:
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first means for storing hydrogen, said first means for storing hydrogen having a hydrogen-absorbing alloy for dissociating a hydrogen gas at a temperature from approximately -20°
C. to room temperature;a fuel cell having a hydrogen electrode and an oxidizer electrode; means for supplying air to said oxidizer electrode at least when said system starts operating; said fuel cell including means for generating electricity from hydrogen supplied to said hydrogen electrode from said first means storing hydrogen and from oxygen supplied from a vicinity of said oxidizer electrode; first means for supplying an amount of an oxidizer gas to said oxidizer electrode; said first means for supplying being driven by an output from said fuel cell; second means for supplying an amount of hydrogen to said hydrogen electrode; said second means for supplying including means for connecting said first means for storing hydrogen and said hydrogen electrode; and said second means for supplying being driven by an output from said fuel cell. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification