Fuel cell system

• US 6,238,814 B1
• Filed: 12/18/1998
• Issued: 05/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushikikaisha Equos Research
• Original Assignee: Kabushikikaisha Equos Research
• Inventors: Takada, Noriyuki, Horiguchi, Munehisa, Ueno, Masataka
• Primary Examiner(s): KALAFUT, STEPHEN J
• Application Number:
  US09/215,320
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 429/12, 429/19, 429/20, 423/658.2
• US Class Current: 429/458
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/006 of fuel cells with rechargeable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/20 Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2300/0082 Organic polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0258 characterised by the configuration of channels, e.g. by the flow field of the reactant or coolant
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0267 having heating or cooling means, e.g. heaters or coolant flow channels
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04029 Heat exchange using liquids
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04119 with simultaneous supply or evacuation of electrolyte; Humidifying or dehumidifying
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04156 with product water removal
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04223 during start-up or shut-down; Depolarisation or activation, e.g. purging; Means for short-circuiting defective fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04291 Arrangements for managing water in solid electrolyte fuel cell systems H01M8/04119 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/241 with solid or matrix-supported electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2483 characterised by internal manifolds
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

A fuel cell power generating apparatus (1) using a fuel cell stack (2) includes an air intake manifold (45) mounted above the stack for supplying air to a plurality of longitudinally extending air flow passages of fuel cells in stack; one or more of nozzles (55) mounted to side walls of THE air intake manifold for injecting water into the air intake manifold; and water supply system (50) for supplying water to the nozzles. In a preferable embodiment, the nozzles are mounted respectively to a pair of opposite side walls of the air intake manifold at location offset to each other or at different angle of water injection, to facilitate complete dispersion or distribution of water over the entirety of the air intake manifold, which allows smooth entry of the sprayed water to the respective air flow passages of the fuel cells.

Claims

1. A fuel cell system comprising:

a stack of a plurality of fuel cells, each having an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte membrane interposed between said anode and said cathode;

an air intake manifold defining an open chamber extending across and in direct communication with said stack;

a plurality of air flow passages extending between upper open ends and lower open ends, said upper open ends opening directly into said open chamber of said air intake manifold for receiving air and for conveying the received air into contact with the cathodes of said fuel cells and then out of said stack; and

water supply means mounted in said open chamber of said air intake manifold for introducing liquid water droplets directly into said upper open ends of all of said air flow passages, whereby liquid water is carried into contact with said cathodes.

2. A fuel cell system according to claim 1 wherein said anode, said cathode and said electrolyte membrane are in sheet form and are arranged in parallel with said air flow passages.

3. A fuel cell system according to claim 2 wherein said water supply means comprises nozzles mounted within said open chamber, whereby water droplets emanating from said nozzles travel in straight line paths directly into said open upper ends.

4. A fuel cell system according to claim 1 wherein said water supply means comprises nozzles mounted within said open chamber, whereby water droplets emanating from said nozzles travel in straight line paths directly into said open upper ends.

5. A fuel cell system according to claim 1 wherein said air flow passages are straight.

6. A fuel cell system according to claim 1 wherein each of said air flow passages has an enlarged top opening which is in direct communication with said open chamber of said air intake manifold.

7. A fuel cell system according to claim 6 wherein each of said fuel cells in said stack has a plurality of longitudinally extending partitions between each two adjacent air flow passages, each of said partitions being narrowed at a top end portion thereof to define said enlarged top opening of said air flow passage.

8. A fuel cell system according to claim 7 wherein each of said partitions has a tapered or rounded top end portion.

9. A fuel cell system according to claim 2 wherein said air flow passages are straight.

10. A fuel cell system according to claim 1 further comprising:

hydrogen gas supply means for supplying hydrogen gas to said anode of each of said fuel cells in said stack, said hydrogen gas supply means including hydrogen storing alloy that produces hydrogen gas when heated and heating means for heating said hydrogen storing alloy to produce the hydrogen gas.

11. A fuel cell system according to claim 10 wherein said heat generating means comprises a DC/DC converter or a motor that is driven by energy output from said stack.

12. A fuel cell system according to claim 1 further comprising water dispersion means for distributing said droplets throughout said open chamber in said air intake manifold.

13. A fuel cell system according to claim 12 wherein said water dispersion means comprises a fan.