Fuel cell system and apparatus for supplying mixed fuel and water to the same

• US 7,709,117 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2006
• Issued: 05/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Inventors: Lee, Dong Uk, Kim, Ju Yong, Lee, Sung Chul, Lee, Chan Ho, Ha, Myeong Ju, Suh, Dong Myung, Lee, Dong Yun, Kong, Sang Jun
• Primary Examiner(s): Ryan; Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): Parsons; Thomas H.
• Application Number:
  US11/501,959
• Publication Number:
  US 20100081020A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,364 Days
• Field of Search: 429/34, 429/22, 429/25, 429/12, 429/17
• US Class Current: 429/425
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/312 with Venturi elements; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/31242 the main flow being injected in the central area of the venturi, creating an aspiration in the circumferential part of the conduit B01F25/31243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0233 the reforming step being a steam reforming step
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/066 with fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1247 Higher hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/384 the catalyst being continuously externally heated
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2008/1095 Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04089 of gaseous reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0618 Reforming processes, e.g. autothermal, partial oxidation or steam reforming
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7287 Liquid level responsive or maintaining systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87676 With flow control

Abstract

An apparatus for supplying mixed fuel includes a water container storing water; a fuel container storing fuel, including at least gaseous fuel, the fuel container being coupled to the water container by a pressure pipe for transferring internal pressure of the fuel container to the water container; and a mixer coupled to the water container through a water supplying pipe and coupled to the fuel container through a fuel supplying pipe, the mixer outputting mixed fuel through a mixed fuel supplying pipe. A water supplying unit includes a water container storing water and connected to a water supplying pipe, the water container having an outlet; and a pressure applying unit coupled to the water container for applying gas pressure to an inside of the water container to discharge water from the water container through the outlet.

Claims

1. An apparatus for supplying mixed fuel, comprising:

a water container for storing water;

a fuel container for storing fuel, including at least gaseous fuel, the fuel container being coupled to the water container by a pressure pipe for transferring internal pressure of the fuel container to the water container; and

a mixer coupled to the water container through a water supplying pipe and coupled to the fuel container through a fuel supplying pipe, the mixer outputting mixed fuel in a mixed fuel flow direction through a mixed fuel supplying pipe and comprising a Venturi pipe between the fuel supplying pipe and the mixed fuel supplying pipe,

wherein the water supplying pipe is coupled to the mixer via an opening at a location where a diameter of the Venturi pipe starts to become larger and oriented toward the mixed fuel supplying pipe and at an oblique angle to the mixed fuel flow direction.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fuel comprises a hydro-carbonaceous material.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the fuel comprises butane.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the fuel container is a portable butane fuel container.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a distributor at an output end of the fuel container.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the distributor is connected to and communicates with the pressure pipe and the fuel supplying pipe.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressure pipe is coupled to a first flux control valve.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the fuel supplying pipe is coupled to a second flux control valve.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the pressure pipe is coupled to a first solenoid valve, and

wherein the apparatus further comprises a power unit and a controller to drive and control the first solenoid valve, respectively.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the fuel supplying pipe is coupled to a second solenoid valve that is driven and controlled by the power unit and the controller, respectively.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the water container comprises a water level sensor electrically connected with the controller.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fuel supplying pipe, the mixed fuel supplying pipe, and the water supplying pipe communicate with one another in a mixing part of the mixer, and

the fuel supplying pipe and the mixed fuel supplying pipe have similar inner diameters to each other and are connected to form an aligned hollow pipe.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein an inner diameter of the water supplying pipe is narrower than the inner diameters of the fuel supplying pipe and the mixed fuel supplying pipe.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the mixer comprises a nozzle provided in the mixing part at one end of the water supplying pipe.

15. A fuel mixer provided in a fuel cell system using a fluid fuel, the fuel mixer comprising:

a Venturi pipe, through which the fuel flows, the Venturi pipe having a discharging pressure therethrough; and

a water supplying pipe having an opening and being in communication with the Venturi pipe via the opening at a downstream end of the Venturi pipe where negative pressure is generated when the fuel flows through the Venturi pipe, the water supplying pipe supplying water through the opening in response to the negative pressure,

wherein the opening of the water supplying pipe includes a nozzle oriented at an oblique angle to a mixed fuel flow direction.

16. The fuel mixer according to claim 15, wherein a part of the Venturi pipe adjacent to the nozzle curves toward a center axis of the Venturi pipe.

17. The fuel mixer according to claim 15, wherein the nozzle has a smaller inner diameter than an inner diameter of the water supplying pipe.

18. An apparatus for supplying mixed fuel, comprising:

a water container for storing water;

a fuel container for storing fuel, including at least gaseous fuel;

a mixer coupled to and communicating with the fuel container through a fuel supplying pipe, the mixer outputting mixed fuel in a mixed fuel flow direction through a mixed fuel supplying pipe;

a Venturi pipe provided in the mixer and allowing a flow of the fuel discharged from the fuel supplying pipe therethrough; and

a water supplying pipe coupled between the water container and the mixer, the water supplying pipe having an opening at a location where negative pressure is generated when the fuel flows through the Venturi pipe, the water supplying pipe supplying water through the opening in response to the negative pressure,

wherein the water supplying pipe is in communication with the mixer via the opening, the opening being at a location where a diameter of the Venturi pipe starts to become larger and oriented toward the mixed fuel supplying pipe at an oblique angle to the mixed fuel flow direction.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising a pressure pipe transferring internal pressure of the fuel container to the water container.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the fuel comprises a hydro-carbonaceous material.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the fuel comprises butane.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the fuel container is a portable butane fuel container.

23. The apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising a distributor mounted at an output end of the fuel container.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the distributor is connected to and communicates with the pressure pipe and the fuel supplying pipe.

25. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the pressure pipe is coupled to a first flux control valve.

26. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the fuel supplying pipe is coupled to a second flux control valve.

27. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the pressure pipe is coupled to a first solenoid valve, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a power unit and a controller to drive and control the first solenoid valve, respectively.

28. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the fuel supplying pipe is coupled to a second solenoid valve that is driven and controlled by the power unit and the controller, respectively.

29. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the water container comprises a water level sensor electrically connected with the controller.

30. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the opening of the water supplying pipe is provided with a nozzle.

31. The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the nozzle is oriented at the oblique angle to the mixed fuel flow direction.

32. The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein a part of the Venturi pipe adjacent to the nozzle curves toward a center axis of the Venturi pipe.

33. A fuel cell system comprising:

a mixed fuel supplying unit supplying mixed fuel of water and fuel;

a reformer generating hydrogen by a chemical catalyst reaction of the mixed fuel; and

an electricity generator generating electricity by transforming electrochemical reaction energy between the hydrogen and oxygen into electric energy,

wherein the mixed fuel supplying unit comprises;

a fuel container for storing fuel including at least gaseous fuel;

a water container for storing water;

a mixer connected to and communicating with the fuel container through a fuel supplying pipe, the mixer generating the mixed fuel and outputting the mixed fuel in a mixed fuel flow direction through a mixed fuel supplying pipe;

a Venturi pipe provided in the mixer and passing the fuel from the fuel supplying pipe therethrough; and

a water supplying pipe coupled to the water container and having an opening at a place where negative pressure is generated when the fuel passes through the Venturi pipe, and supplying water through the opening due to the negative pressure,

wherein the water supplying pipe is in communication with the mixer via a nozzle at a location where a diameter of the Venturi pipe starts to become larger, the nozzle having an inner surface at an oblique angle to the mixed fuel flow direction.

34. The fuel cell system according to claim 33, further comprising a pressure pipe transferring internal pressure of the fuel container to the water container.

35. The fuel cell system according to claim 34, wherein the fuel comprises a hydro-carbonaceous material.

36. The fuel cell system according to claim 35, wherein the fuel comprises butane.

37. The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the fuel container is a portable butane fuel container.

38. The fuel cell system according to claim 33, wherein a portion of the Venturi pipe adjacent the nozzle is curved toward a center axis of the Venturi pipe, the portion having a surface substantially parallel to the inner surface of the nozzle.

39. An apparatus for supplying mixed fuel, comprising:

a water container for storing water;

a fuel container for storing fuel, including at least gaseous fuel, the fuel container being coupled to the water container by a pressure pipe for transferring internal pressure of the fuel container to the water container; and

a mixer coupled to the water container through a water supplying pipe and coupled to the fuel container through a fuel supplying pipe, the mixer configured to output mixed fuel through a mixed fuel supplying pipe in a mixed fuel flow direction,

wherein the fuel supplying pipe, the mixed fuel supplying pipe, and the water supplying pipe communicate with one another in a mixing part of the mixer, the mixing part within an outer wall of the mixer,

wherein the mixer includes a hollow pipe within the outer wall of the mixer, the hollow pipe having a first end proximate the fuel supplying pipe and coupled to an inner surface of the outer wall of the mixer, and the hollow pipe having an outer diameter and an inner diameter, the outer and inner diameters gradually decreasing from the first end to a second end of the hollow pipe proximate the mixed fuel supplying pipe, the water supplying pipe in communication with the mixing part via a nozzle opening through the outer wall of the mixer between the first and second ends of the hollow pipe such that water from the water supplying pipe flows between the outer diameter of the hollow pipe and the inner surface of the outer wall of the mixer within the mixing part.

40. The apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the nozzle opening is through the outer wall of the mixer in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the mixed fuel flow direction.