Fuel cell power supply with oxidant and fuel gas switching
Abstract
This invention relates to a fuel cell vehicular power plant. Fuel for the fuel stack is supplied by a hydrocarbon (methanol) catalytic cracking reactor and CO shift reactor. A water electrolysis subsystem is associated with the stack. During low power operation part of the fuel cell power is used to electrolyze water with hydrogen and oxygen electrolysis products being stored in pressure vessels. During peak power intervals, viz, during acceleration or start-up, pure oxygen and pure hydrogen from the pressure vessel are supplied as the reaction gases to the cathodes and anodes in place of air and methanol reformate. This allows the fuel cell stack to be sized for normal low power/air operation but with a peak power capacity several times greater than that for normal operation. 2 figs.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- OSTI Identifier:
- 7152849
- Patent Number(s):
- 4657829
- Application Number:
- PPN: US 6-453249
- Assignee:
- United Technologies Corp., Hartford, CT (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 27 Dec 1982
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION; 33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS; ALCOHOL FUEL CELLS; DESIGN; ELECTRIC-POWERED VEHICLES; HYDROGEN FUEL CELLS; CATALYTIC CRACKING; ELECTROLYSIS; HYDROGEN PRODUCTION; METHANOL; PEAK LOAD; SIZING; WATER; ALCOHOLS; CHEMICAL REACTIONS; CRACKING; DECOMPOSITION; DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS; ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS; FUEL CELLS; HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS; HYDROXY COMPOUNDS; LYSIS; ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; OXYGEN COMPOUNDS; PYROLYSIS; THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES; VEHICLES; 300504* - Fuel Cells- Applications; 300501 - Fuel Cells- Design & Development; 330300 - Advanced Propulsion Systems- Electric-Powered Systems
Citation Formats
McElroy, J F, Chludzinski, P J, and Dantowitz, P. Fuel cell power supply with oxidant and fuel gas switching. United States: N. p., 1987.
Web.
McElroy, J F, Chludzinski, P J, & Dantowitz, P. Fuel cell power supply with oxidant and fuel gas switching. United States.
McElroy, J F, Chludzinski, P J, and Dantowitz, P. Tue .
"Fuel cell power supply with oxidant and fuel gas switching". United States.
@article{osti_7152849,
title = {Fuel cell power supply with oxidant and fuel gas switching},
author = {McElroy, J F and Chludzinski, P J and Dantowitz, P},
abstractNote = {This invention relates to a fuel cell vehicular power plant. Fuel for the fuel stack is supplied by a hydrocarbon (methanol) catalytic cracking reactor and CO shift reactor. A water electrolysis subsystem is associated with the stack. During low power operation part of the fuel cell power is used to electrolyze water with hydrogen and oxygen electrolysis products being stored in pressure vessels. During peak power intervals, viz, during acceleration or start-up, pure oxygen and pure hydrogen from the pressure vessel are supplied as the reaction gases to the cathodes and anodes in place of air and methanol reformate. This allows the fuel cell stack to be sized for normal low power/air operation but with a peak power capacity several times greater than that for normal operation. 2 figs.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1987},
month = {4}
}