FUEL CELL SYSTEM

The fuel cell system addresses water accumulation in fuel gas flow paths by using controlled gas pressure differentials between stacks to efficiently drain water, preventing flooding and maintaining efficiency.

DE102021116052B4Active Publication Date: 2026-05-28TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
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Patent Information

Application Number
DE102021116052
Authority / Receiving Office
DE · DE
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2020-06-26
Filing Date
2021-06-22
Publication Date
2026-05-28
Estimated Expiration
2041-06-22

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing fuel cell systems face challenges in efficiently removing water accumulation in the fuel gas flow path, leading to flooding, which can cause power generation failure and reduce fuel efficiency, particularly in low-current operations.

Method used

A fuel cell system design that includes two fuel cell stacks, circulation and bypass flow paths with on/off valves, and a controller to manage gas pressure differentials between the stacks, allowing for efficient water drainage without additional power consumption.

Benefits of technology

The system effectively prevents flooding by creating pressure differentials between stacks, reducing the risk of fuel gas shortages and maintaining power generation efficiency by quickly draining accumulated water, thus averting irreversible deterioration.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

Fuel cell system (100), comprising: a first fuel cell stack (11), a second fuel cell stack (21), a fuel gas supply device (30) that supplies fuel gas to the first and second fuel cell stacks (11, 21), a first supply flow path (12) connecting the fuel gas supply device (30) and the first fuel cell stack (11), a first circulation flow path (13) that captures a first fuel exhaust gas emitted from fuel electrodes of the first fuel cell stack (11) and returns the first fuel exhaust gas as the first circulation gas to the first fuel cell stack (11), a second supply flow path (22) connecting the fuel gas supply device (30) and the second fuel cell stack (21), a second circulation flow path (23) that captures a second fuel exhaust gas emitted from fuel electrodes of the second fuel cell stack (21) and returns the second fuel exhaust gas as a second circulation gas to the second fuel cell stack (21), a first bypass flow path (42) comprising a first on / off valve (41) which allows it to connect the first circulation flow path (13) and the second supply flow path (22), bypass the first fuel cell stack (11) and supply the first circulation gas to the second fuel cell stack (21), a second bypass flow path (44) comprising a second on / off valve (43) which allows it to connect the second circulation flow path (23) and the first supply flow path (12), bypass the second fuel cell stack (21) and supply the second circulation gas to the first fuel cell stack (11), a temperature detector (51) that detects a system temperature, a current detector (52) that detects a system current, a voltage detector (53) that detects a stack voltage, and a controller (50), wherein the controller (50) closes the first and second on / off valves (43) in a normal operating mode; wherein the controller (50) performs a first step in which, if the system temperature is lower than a predetermined temperature and the system current is lower than a predetermined threshold, one of the first and second fuel cell stacks (11, 21) is operated at a higher gas pressure than the other fuel cell stack (11, 21) for a predetermined time; and wherein the controller (50) performs a second step in which, if the stack voltage of at least one of the first and the second fuel cell stack (11, 21) is below a previously determined voltage value after the first step, the first on / off valve (43) is opened if the fuel cell stack (11, 21) operated at the higher gas pressure in the first step is the first fuel cell stack (11), and the second on / off valve (43) is opened if the fuel cell stack (11, 21) operated at the higher gas pressure in the first step is the second fuel cell stack (21).
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Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • Fuel cell system

    JP2006294402A

  • Power generator

    JP2016031841A

  • Fuel cell system

    DE102019127006A1