Gas generation system

• US 20030082418A1
• Filed: 10/18/2002
• Published: 05/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Wiesheu, Norbert
• Granted Patent: US 7,220,504 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/17
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2208/00539 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 4/02 for feeding measured , i.e. prescribed quantities of reagents
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 4/04 using osmotic pressure using membranes, porous plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 7/00 Apparatus for generating gases production of inert gas mixtures B01J19/14; for generating specific gases, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. C01B, C10J ; in "air bags" on vehicles B60R21/26; for starter gas F02C7/26; blasting cartridges for producing gas under pressure F42B3/04
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0227 containing a catalytic reforming step
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0283 containing a CO-shift step, i.e. a water gas shift step
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/066 with fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/48 followed by reaction of water vapour with carbon monoxide
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04089 of gaseous reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0612 from carbon-containing material
• 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 gas generation system includes a reservoir for a reactant used in a gas generation, a compressor configured to pressurize the reactant in the reservoir using an operating medium delivered into the reservoir, a gas generation component fed with the reactant using a reactant feed line, and a metering element disposed in the reactant feed line between the reservoir and the gas generation component. In addition, a method for operating a gas generation system that includes compressing an operating medium, delivering at least a first portion of the compressed operating medium to a reservoir so as to pressurize a reactant in the reservoir, controlling the delivery of the compressed operating medium so as to maintain a pressure in the reservoir at a level corresponding to a pressure of the reactant downstream from the reservoir, metering the reactant in a feed line between the reservoir and a gas generation component, and delivering the reactant to the gas generation component.

Claims

1. A gas generation system, comprising:

a reservoir for a reactant;

a compressor configured to pressurize the reactant in the reservoir using an operating medium delivered into the reservoir;

a gas generation component fed with the reactant using a reactant feed line; and

a metering element disposed in the reactant feed line between the reservoir and the gas generation component.

2. The gas generation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the metering element enables an additional pressurization of the reactant.

3. The gas generation system as recited in claim 2, wherein the metering element includes a metering pump.

4. The gas generation system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a pressure accumulator disposed downstream of the compressor, the pressure accumulator providing a pressurization of the reactant in the reservoir using the operating medium when the compressor is switched off.

5. The gas generation system as recited in claim 4 wherein the metering element includes a nozzle.

6. The gas generation system as recited in claim 5 wherein the nozzle enables an essentially constant volume flow throughput within a predetermined pressure range.

7. The gas generation system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a second reservoir for a second reactant, the gas generation component being fed with the second reactant using a second reactant feed line, wherein the compressor is further configured to pressurize the second reactant in the second reservoir using the operating medium.

8. The gas generation system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a movable separator disposed in the reservoir to separate the operating medium and the reactant.

9. The gas generation system as recited in claim 8 wherein the moveable separator includes a rolling diaphragm.

10. The gas generation system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a non-return valve disposed between the compressor and the reservoir.

11. The gas generation system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a first operating medium delivery line between the compressor and the reservoir and a second operating medium delivery line between the compressor and the gas generation component.

12. The gas generation system as recited in claim 1 wherein the operating medium includes a gas.

13. The gas generation system as recited in claim 12, wherein the gas is an inert gas.

14. The gas generation system as recited in claim 12, wherein the gas is nitrogen.

15. The gas generation system as recited in claim 12, wherein the gas is air.

16. A method for operating a gas generation system, comprising:

compressing an operating medium;

delivering at least a first portion of the compressed operating medium to a reservoir so as to pressurize a reactant in the reservoir;

controlling the delivery of the portion of compressed operating medium so as to maintain a pressure in the reservoir at a level corresponding to a pressure of the reactant downstream from the reservoir;

metering the reactant in a feed line between the reservoir and a gas generation component; and

delivering the reactant to the gas generation component.

17. The method for operating a gas generation system as recited in claim 16 wherein the gas generation component is operably connected to a fuel cell.

18. The method as recited in claim 17 wherein the operating medium is a fuel cell cathode air supply, and further comprising delivering a second portion of the operating medium to the fuel cell.