EFFICIENT MICRO FUEL CELL SYSTEMS AND METHODS

WIPO Patent Application WO2005004257

A3

Described herein are fuel cell systems (10, 400, 420, 440, 460) and methods of using fuel cell systems. The systems include a fuel cell (20) that generates electrical energy using hydrogen and a fuel processor (15) that produces hydrogen from a fuel source (16). The fuel processor (15) includes a reformer (32) and a burner (30) that heats the reformer (32). One heat efficient fuel cell system described herein heats internal portions of a fuel cell (20) using a heating medium from a fuel processor (15). The heating medium may comprise gases exhausted at high temperatures from the fuel processor (15), which are then transported to the fuel cell (20). The heating medium may also include a gas that reacts catalytically in the fuel cell (20) to produce heat. Systems and methods for expediting fuel cell system start up are provided. Methods for shutting down a fuel cell system are also described that reduce the amount of moisture and gases in the reformer (32) and in one or more fuel cell components. One hydrogen efficient fuel cell system described herein transports hydrogen to an inlet of a burner (30). The hydrogen may comprise unused hydrogen from a fuel cell (20)and/or hydrogen produced in a reformer (32). The burner (30) comprises a catalyst that facilitates production of heat in the presence of the hydrogen.

KAYE IAN W (US)
TUCKER GERRY (US)

PCT/US2004/020517

May 19, 2005

June 25, 2004

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ULTRACELL CORP (US)
KAYE IAN W (US)
TUCKER GERRY (US)

H01M8/04; B01J19/00; B01J19/24; C01B3/24; C01B3/38; C08F4/636; C08F4/649; C08F4/651; C08F4/654; H01M8/06; H01M8/10; H01M; (IPC1-7): H01M8/04; H01M8/06

US20020071972A1	2002-06-13
US20030082423A1	2003-05-01
US20030235732A1	2003-12-25

See also references of EP 1639660A4

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