High efficiency fuel cell system

• US 8,129,057 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2005
• Issued: 03/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company), Plug Power Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Ballantine, Arne W., Gasda, Michael D., McElroy, James F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilliam, Barbara
• Assistant Examiner(s): Arciero, Adam A
• Application Number:
  US11/295,379
• Publication Number:
  US 20070128478A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,282 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 429/418
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/003 of fuel cells with other electrochemical devices, e.g. capacitors, electrolysers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2008/1095 Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04097 with recycling of the reactants H01M8/04119, H01M8/04104 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04171 using adsorbents, wicks or hydrophilic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04179 by purging or increasing flow or pressure of reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04201 Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04291 Arrangements for managing water in solid electrolyte fuel cell systems H01M8/04119 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04559 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04753 of fuel cell reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04761 of fuel cell exhausts
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04888 of auxiliary devices, e.g. batteries, capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0681 Reactant purification by the use of electrochemical cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/249 comprising two or more groupings of fuel cells, e.g. modular assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A technique includes operating a fuel cell, which produces an effluent flow. The technique includes routing the effluent flow through an electrochemical pump to extract fuel from the effluent flow and providing the extracted fuel to the fuel cell.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

operating a first fuel cell, the operation of the first fuel cell producing a first effluent flow;

routing the first effluent flow through an electrochemical pump to extract fuel from the first effluent flow;

providing the extracted fuel to the first fuel cell; and

wherein routing the first effluent flow through the electrochemical pump comprises;

providing the first effluent flow to a second anode chamber of a second fuel cell in a first stage of a plurality of cascaded stages and applying power to the second fuel cell to cause the second fuel cell to produce hydrogen in a second cathode chamber of the second fuel cell in response to the first effluent flow;

providing a second effluent flow from the second fuel cell to a third anode chamber of a third fuel cell in a second stage of the plurality of cascaded stages and applying power to the third fuel cell to cause the third fuel cell to produce hydrogen in a third cathode chamber of the third fuel cell in response to the second effluent flow.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second anode chamber is directly connected to the third anode chamber to conduct the second effluent flow.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a material to serve as a wick to collect water from one of the cascaded stages and route the water to another one of the cascaded stages.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

placing the material in a recessed region formed inside said one of the cascaded stages.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a mechanism inside one of the cascaded stages to remove water from said one of the cascaded stages.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the mechanism comprises one of a U-trap, a float valve and a solenoid valve.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

regulating communication of exhaust from an anode chamber of one of the stages.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the act of regulating comprises selectively opening and closing communication with the anode chamber based on a fuel cell voltage.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

applying heat to the hydrogen pump to reduce water production inside the pump.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

combining the hydrogen produced in the second cathode chamber of the second fuel cell and the hydrogen produced in the third cathode chamber of the third fuel cell; and

providing the combined hydrogen to the first fuel cell.