公开(公告)号：US07416800B2

公开(公告)日：2008-08-26

申请号：US11364419

申请日：2006-02-28

申请人： Glen E. Benson ,  Arne W. Ballantine ,  John W. Parks ,  Wieslaw J. Zielinski ,  Eric T. White ,  Robert A. Sinuc

发明人： Glen E. Benson ,  Arne W. Ballantine ,  John W. Parks ,  Wieslaw J. Zielinski ,  Eric T. White ,  Robert A. Sinuc

IPC分类号： H01M8/04 ,  H01M8/06

CPC分类号： C01B3/32 ,  C01B2203/0205 ,  C01B2203/04 ,  C01B2203/0415 ,  C01B2203/066 ,  C01B2203/0811 ,  C01B2203/0822 ,  C01B2203/0827 ,  C01B2203/1288 ,  F17C11/005 ,  H01M8/04089 ,  H01M8/04201 ,  H01M8/04225 ,  H01M8/04302 ,  H01M8/04619 ,  H01M8/04776 ,  H01M8/0612 ,  H01M8/0662 ,  H01M8/241 ,  H01M8/2457 ,  H01M2008/1095 ,  Y02E60/321 ,  Y02P20/128

摘要： Fuel cell systems and associated methods of operation are provided whereby application of a fuel cell is coordinated with a fuel processor and a hydrogen separator. One such method includes the following steps: (1) operating a fuel processor to convert a hydrocarbon to reformate; (2) reacting the reformate in a fuel cell to generate electrical power; (3) supplying the electrical power to an electrical load, wherein the electrical load has a power requirement threshold; (4) determining whether the electrical power from the fuel cell is below the power requirement threshold; (5) increasing a flow of reformate from the fuel processor to the fuel cell when the electrical power from the fuel cell is below the power requirement threshold; (6) flowing a portion of the reformate from the fuel processor to a hydrogen separator; (7) storing hydrogen from the hydrogen separator in a hydrogen storage vessel; (8) monitoring an amount of hydrogen stored in the hydrogen storage vessel; and (9) adjusting a proportional valve upstream from the fuel cell toward a closed position when the amount of hydrogen in the hydrogen storage tank is below a predetermined threshold to increase a proportion of the reformate from the fuel processor that is flowed to the hydrogen separator.

摘要翻译： 提供燃料电池系统和相关联的操作方法，由此燃料电池的应用与燃料处理器和氢气分离器协调。 一种这样的方法包括以下步骤：（1）操作燃料处理器以将碳氢化合物转化为重整产物; （2）使重整产物在燃料电池中反应以产生电力; （3）向电负载供电，其中所述电负载具有功率需求阈值; （4）确定来自燃料电池的电力是否低于功率需求阈值; （5）当来自燃料电池的电力低于功率需求阈值时，增加从燃料处理器到燃料电池的重整产物流; （6）使一部分重整产物从燃料处理器流到氢分离器; （7）将来自所述氢分离器的氢存储在氢存储容器中; （8）监测储存在氢存储容器中的氢的量; 和（9）当储氢箱中的氢气量低于预定阈值时，将燃料电池上游的比例阀调节到关闭位置，以增加重整产物从流向氢气分离器的燃料处理器的比例 。

公开(公告)号：US07011903B2

公开(公告)日：2006-03-14

申请号：US10251133

申请日：2002-09-20

申请人： Glen E. Benson ,  Arne W. Ballantine ,  John W. Parks ,  Wieslaw J. Zielinski ,  Eric T. White ,  Robert A. Sinuc

发明人： Glen E. Benson ,  Arne W. Ballantine ,  John W. Parks ,  Wieslaw J. Zielinski ,  Eric T. White ,  Robert A. Sinuc

IPC分类号： H01M8/04

CPC分类号： C01B3/32 ,  C01B2203/0205 ,  C01B2203/04 ,  C01B2203/0415 ,  C01B2203/066 ,  C01B2203/0811 ,  C01B2203/0822 ,  C01B2203/0827 ,  C01B2203/1288 ,  F17C11/005 ,  H01M8/04089 ,  H01M8/04201 ,  H01M8/04225 ,  H01M8/04302 ,  H01M8/04619 ,  H01M8/04776 ,  H01M8/0612 ,  H01M8/0662 ,  H01M8/241 ,  H01M8/2457 ,  H01M2008/1095 ,  Y02E60/321 ,  Y02P20/128

摘要： Fuel cell systems and associated methods of operation are provided whereby application of a fuel cell is coordinated with a fuel processor and a hydrogen separator. One such method includes the following steps: (1) operating a fuel processor to convert a hydrocarbon to reformate; (2) reacting the reformate in a fuel cell to generate electrical power; (3) supplying the electrical power to an electrical load, wherein the electrical load has a power requirement threshold; (4) determining whether the electrical power from the fuel cell is below the power requirement threshold; (5) increasing a flow of reformate from the fuel processor to the fuel cell when the electrical power from the fuel cell is below the power requirement threshold; (6) flowing a portion of the reformate from the fuel processor to a hydrogen separator; (7) storing hydrogen from the hydrogen separator in a hydrogen storage vessel; (8) monitoring an amount of hydrogen stored in the hydrogen storage vessel; and (9) adjusting a proportional valve upstream from the fuel cell toward a closed position when the amount of hydrogen in the hydrogen storage tank is below a predetermined threshold to increase a proportion of the reformate from the fuel processor that is flowed to the hydrogen separator.

公开(公告)号：US06299996B1

公开(公告)日：2001-10-09

申请号：US09405689

申请日：1999-09-24

申请人： Eric T. White ,  Edward W. Nestler, Jr. ,  Chock Karuppaiah

发明人： Eric T. White ,  Edward W. Nestler, Jr. ,  Chock Karuppaiah

IPC分类号： H01M804

CPC分类号： H01M8/241 ,  H01M8/0258 ,  H01M8/04119 ,  H01M8/04223 ,  H01M8/2457 ,  H01M8/2483 ,  H01M2300/0082

摘要： The invention relates to a fuel cell system. The system has one operational state in which a fuel gas supply is connected to the anode flow field plates along a flow path. The system also has a different operational state in which the anode flow field plates are disconnected from the fuel gas supply and connected to an oxidant gas supply along a flow path. The fuel cell system can use a valve and a control system to switch the operational state of the system.

摘要翻译： 本发明涉及燃料电池系统。 该系统具有一个操作状态，其中燃料气体供应沿着流动路径连接到阳极流场板。 该系统还具有不同的操作状态，其中阳极流场板与燃料气体源断开并且沿着流动路径连接到氧化剂气体源。 燃料电池系统可以使用阀门和控制系统来切换系统的运行状态。

公开(公告)号：US07264895B2

公开(公告)日：2007-09-04

申请号：US10265025

申请日：2002-10-04

申请人： Eric T. White

发明人： Eric T. White

IPC分类号： H01M8/04

CPC分类号： H01M8/04037 ,  H01M8/04014 ,  H01M8/04358 ,  H01M8/04365 ,  H01M8/04731 ,  H01M8/04947 ,  H01M2008/1095 ,  H01M2220/10 ,  Y02B90/14

摘要： The invention provides fuel cell systems and methods of operation where a fuel cell system is used as a backup power supply in a cold environment where the system must be maintained at a suitable temperature to allow the fuel cell to operate when needed. In one embodiment, the invention provides a thermal protection system for a fuel cell backup power generator. An enclosure houses a fuel cell and a coolant circuit. The coolant circuit is coupled to the fuel cell. A temperature sensor is provided that is adapted to indicate a system temperature. A heater is provided to increase the system temperature when actuated. For example, the heater can be an electric resistive heater or a burner coupled to a combustible fuel supply such as a propane tank. The heater can be located in the interior of the enclosure, in the coolant circuit, etc. A control circuit is provided that is adapted to actuate the heater when the system temperature is below a predetermined threshold.

摘要翻译： 本发明提供燃料电池系统和操作方法，其中燃料电池系统在冷环境中用作备用电源，其中系统必须保持在合适的温度以允许燃料电池在需要时操作。 在一个实施例中，本发明提供了一种用于燃料电池备用发电机的热保护系统。 一个外壳装有一个燃料电池和一个冷却液回路。 冷却剂回路连接到燃料电池。 提供适于指示系统温度的温度传感器。 提供加热器以在致动时增加系统温度。 例如，加热器可以是电阻加热器或连接到诸如丙烷罐的可燃燃料供应器的燃烧器。 加热器可以位于外壳的内部，冷却剂回路等中。提供了当系统温度低于预定阈值时适于致动加热器的控制电路。