Device for a fuel cell supply

• US 7,374,833 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2004
• Issued: 05/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Stute, Manfred
• Primary Examiner(s): Ruthkosky; Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): APICELLA, KARIE O
• Application Number:
  US10/769,977
• Publication Number:
  US 20040247966A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,568 Days
• Field of Search: 429/26, 429/34
• US Class Current: 429/441
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04022 Heating by combustion
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04089 of gaseous reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04111 using a compressor turbine assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0662 Treatment of gaseous reactants or gaseous residues, e.g. cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A device used for air supply of a fuel cell has an expander and a compressor that is at least partially driven thereby. The hot gases of combustion at least occasionally flow through the expander. After flowing through the expander, the exhaust gases emit at least a portion of the residual thermal energy remaining in them to at least one of the fuel flows supplied for combustion and during a cold start especially also to the cooling circuit of the fuel cell. A device of this type may be used, for example, in a mobile fuel cell system.

Claims

1. A device for air supply of a fuel cell comprising:

an expander,

a compressor that is at least partially driven thereby,

a burner producing hot gases of combustion that at least occasionally flow through the expander, and

a heat exchanger disposed between the expander and the burner that transfers at least a portion of thermal residual energy remaining in the hot gases, after flowing through the expander, to at least one of air and cathode output supplied for combustion,

wherein the heat exchanger receives exhaust gases from the expander as well as air that flows through the heat exchanger for combustion.

2. A mobile fuel cell system having a device for air supply of a fuel cell comprising:

an expander,

a compressor that is at least partially driven thereby,

a burner producing hot gases of combustion that at least occasionally flow through the expander, and

a heat exchanger disposed between the expander and the burner that transfers at least a portion of thermal residual energy remaining in the hot gases, after flowing through the expander, to at least one of air and cathode output supplied for combustion,

wherein the heat exchanger receives exhaust gases from the expander as well as air that flows through the heat exchanger for combustion.