Chemistry: electrical current producing apparatus – product – and – Fuel cell – subcombination thereof – or method of making or... – Process or means for producing – recycling – or treating...
Reexamination Certificate
2011-01-04
2011-01-04
Michener, Jennifer K (Department: 1795)
Chemistry: electrical current producing apparatus, product, and
Fuel cell, subcombination thereof, or method of making or...
Process or means for producing, recycling, or treating...
C429S408000, C429S428000, C429S443000, C429S444000
Reexamination Certificate
active
07862937
ABSTRACT:
A fuel cell stack (1) performs power generation using an anode gas having hydrogen as its main component, and after a power generation reaction, the anode gas is discharged as anode effluent. The anode effluent is re-circulated into the anode gas through a return passage (5). The return passage (5) comprises a purge valve (8) which discharges the anode effluent to the outside of the passage. In this invention, calculation of a first energy loss caused by an increase in non-hydrogen components in the anode gas while the purge valve (8) is closed (S7, S28), and calculation of a second energy loss which corresponds to the amount of hydrogen lost from the anode gas by opening the purge valve (8) (S8, S29) are performed. By opening the purge valve (8) when the second energy loss equals or falls below the first energy loss, the start timing of purging is optimized.
REFERENCES:
patent: 6242120 (2001-06-01), Herron
patent: 2002/0022167 (2002-02-01), Herron
patent: 2 831 994 (2003-05-01), None
patent: 2000-058092 (2000-02-01), None
patent: 2000-243417 (2000-09-01), None
patent: 2001-006709 (2001-01-01), None
patent: 2003-317752 (2003-11-01), None
Office Action mailed Feb. 2, 2010 in Japanese Application No. 2003-147996.
Chuo Tony
Foley & Lardner LLP
Michener Jennifer K
Nissan Motor Co,. Ltd.
LandOfFree
Anode effluent control in fuel cell power plant does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Anode effluent control in fuel cell power plant, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Anode effluent control in fuel cell power plant will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2715278