Fuel cell system

• US 5,962,155 A
• Filed: 09/22/1997
• Issued: 10/05/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Hatoh, Kazuhito, Morita, Yoshio, Kuranaka, Sou, Gamou, Takaharu
• Primary Examiner(s): Bell, Bruce F.
• Application Number:
  US08/913,798
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 429/17, 429/20, 429/24, 429/25, 429/33, 429/35, 429/26
• US Class Current: 429/434
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 11/005 for hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2300/0082 Organic polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04007 related to heat exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04119 with simultaneous supply or evacuation of electrolyte; Humidifying or dehumidifying
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04291 Arrangements for managing water in solid electrolyte fuel cell systems H01M8/04119 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/065 by dissolution of metals or alloys; by dehydriding metallic substances
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0656 by electrochemical means H01M8/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/247 Arrangements for tightening a stack, for accommodation of a stack in a tank or for assembling different tanks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/32 Hydrogen storage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

When a polymeric electrolyte type fuel cell operating at about 60° C. is used, heating with exhaust gas becomes difficult. Therefore, a polymeric electrolyte type fuel cell (PEM) is adopted as a fuel cell body, and a hydrogen storage vessel made of a metal containing hydrogen is connected to the PEM by a hydrogen supply piping via a humidifier for humidifying the electrolyte membrane of the PEM. The PEM and the hydrogen storage vessel are connected by a copper plate which is a conductor of heat. Heat generated in the PEM is transferred to the hydrogen storage vessel by this copper plate, and elevates the temperature and pressure in the vessel. By this, hydrogen is well supplied to the PEM.

Claims

1. A fuel cell system comprising:

a polymeric electrolyte fuel cell body,

a hydrogen storage vessel containing hydrogen absorbing alloys,

a hydrogen supply piping for supplying hydrogen from said hydrogen storage vessel to said fuel cell, and said fuel cell body and said hydrogen storage vessel directly contacting each other through a thermally conductive plate so that heat can be supplied and received.

2. A fuel cell system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said conductive plate is integrated with said hydrogen storage vessel.

5. A fuel cell system as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 or 4, wherein in addition to said mechanism for thermally connecting said fuel cell body and said hydrogen storage vessel so that heat can be supplied and received, a fan is provided as a supplementary means for thermally connecting said fuel cell body and said hydrogen storage vessel so that heat can be supplied and received, said fan also supplying air to said fuel cell body.

6. A fuel cell system as claimed in any one of claims 1, 3, or 4, wherein said hydrogen storage vessel is a vessel having a structure attachable to and detachable from the main part of the system.

7. A fuel cell system as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said conductive plate is a metallic plate and, when the temperature of said hydrogen storage vessel is an ordinary temperature or above, said conductive plate transferring heat generated by said polymeric electrolyte fuel cell body to said hydrogen storage vessel.

8. A fuel cell system as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said conductive plate is a metallic plate and, when the temperature of said hydrogen storage vessel is an ordinary temperature or below, said conductive plate cooling said polymeric electrolyte fuel cell body by endothermic reaction within said hydrogen storage vessel.

9. A fuel cell system as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein equilibrium hydrogen pressure of hydrogen absorbing alloys in said hydrogen storage vessel is 10 kg/cm² g or below at an operating temperature of said hydrogen storage vessel.

10. A fuel cell system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said hydrogen absorbing alloys have AB₂ Laves phase structure.

3. A fuel cell system comprising:

a polymeric electrolyte fuel cell body,

a hydrogen storage vessel containing hydrogen absorbing alloys, said hydrogen storage vessel directly contacting said fuel cell body so that heat can be supplied and received,

a hydrogen supply piping for supplying hydrogen from said hydrogen storage vessel to said fuel cell, and

an air cooling fan for providing supplementary thermal connection between said fuel cell body and said hydrogen storage vessel so that heat can be supplied and received.

4. A fuel cell system comprising:

a polymeric electrolyte fuel cell body,

a hydrogen storage vessel containing hydrogen absorbing alloys, and

a hydrogen supply piping for supplying hydrogen from said hydrogen storage vessel to said fuel cell,

wherein said fuel cell body and said hydrogen storage vessel have a structure to directly contact one another so that heat can be supplied and received.