WO2008038032A3 - Low temperature operation of open cathode fuel cell stacks using air recirculation - Google Patents

Low temperature operation of open cathode fuel cell stacks using air recirculation Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2008038032A3
WO2008038032A3 PCT/GB2007/003727 GB2007003727W WO2008038032A3 WO 2008038032 A3 WO2008038032 A3 WO 2008038032A3 GB 2007003727 W GB2007003727 W GB 2007003727W WO 2008038032 A3 WO2008038032 A3 WO 2008038032A3
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
fuel cell
cathode
low temperature
cell stacks
temperature operation
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2007/003727
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2008038032A2 (en
Inventor
Anthony Newbold
Paul Alan Benson
Tobias Reisch
Original Assignee
Intelligent Energy Ltd
Anthony Newbold
Paul Alan Benson
Tobias Reisch
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Intelligent Energy Ltd, Anthony Newbold, Paul Alan Benson, Tobias Reisch filed Critical Intelligent Energy Ltd
Publication of WO2008038032A2 publication Critical patent/WO2008038032A2/en
Publication of WO2008038032A3 publication Critical patent/WO2008038032A3/en

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04007—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids related to heat exchange
    • H01M8/04014—Heat exchange using gaseous fluids; Heat exchange by combustion of reactants
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/24—Grouping of fuel cells, e.g. stacking of fuel cells
    • H01M8/2465—Details of groupings of fuel cells
    • H01M8/2484—Details of groupings of fuel cells characterised by external manifolds
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04082—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration
    • H01M8/04089—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration of gaseous reactants
    • H01M8/04097—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration of gaseous reactants with recycling of the reactants
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04223—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids during start-up or shut-down; Depolarisation or activation, e.g. purging; Means for short-circuiting defective fuel cells
    • H01M8/04253—Means for solving freezing problems
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04298—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
    • H01M8/04313—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by the detection or assessment of variables; characterised by the detection or assessment of failure or abnormal function
    • H01M8/0432—Temperature; Ambient temperature
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04298—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
    • H01M8/04694—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by variables to be controlled
    • H01M8/04746—Pressure; Flow
    • H01M8/04761—Pressure; Flow of fuel cell exhausts
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/10—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
    • H01M2008/1095—Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04082—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration
    • H01M8/04089—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration of gaseous reactants
    • H01M8/04119—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration of gaseous reactants with simultaneous supply or evacuation of electrolyte; Humidifying or dehumidifying
    • H01M8/04156—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration of gaseous reactants with simultaneous supply or evacuation of electrolyte; Humidifying or dehumidifying with product water removal
    • H01M8/04179—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration of gaseous reactants with simultaneous supply or evacuation of electrolyte; Humidifying or dehumidifying with product water removal by purging or increasing flow or pressure of reactants
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04298—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
    • H01M8/04313—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by the detection or assessment of variables; characterised by the detection or assessment of failure or abnormal function
    • H01M8/0432—Temperature; Ambient temperature
    • H01M8/04335—Temperature; Ambient temperature of cathode reactants at the inlet or inside the fuel cell
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04298—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
    • H01M8/04313—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by the detection or assessment of variables; characterised by the detection or assessment of failure or abnormal function
    • H01M8/0432—Temperature; Ambient temperature
    • H01M8/0435—Temperature; Ambient temperature of cathode exhausts
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
    • Y02E60/50—Fuel cells

Abstract

A method and apparatus for operating an open cathode fuel cell stack. The fuel cell stack has a cathode air inlet and a cathode exhaust. A variable feedback path is provided for returning at least a portion of the cathode exhaust air to the cathode air inlet. Dependent on the ambient temperature conditions, a proportion of the cathode exhaust air is recycled to the air inlet which enables steady state operation even in sub-zero operating ambient conditions.
PCT/GB2007/003727 2006-09-27 2007-09-25 Low temperature operation of open cathode fuel cell stacks using air recirculation WO2008038032A2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0618986.4 2006-09-27
GB0618986A GB2442252B (en) 2006-09-27 2006-09-27 Low temperature operation of open cathode fuel cell stacks using air recirculation

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2008038032A2 WO2008038032A2 (en) 2008-04-03
WO2008038032A3 true WO2008038032A3 (en) 2008-06-19

Family

ID=37434722

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB2007/003727 WO2008038032A2 (en) 2006-09-27 2007-09-25 Low temperature operation of open cathode fuel cell stacks using air recirculation

Country Status (4)

Country Link
AR (1) AR063031A1 (en)
GB (1) GB2442252B (en)
TW (1) TW200836391A (en)
WO (1) WO2008038032A2 (en)

Families Citing this family (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2464274A (en) * 2008-10-07 2010-04-14 Intelligent Energy Ltd Fuel Cell Assembly
NL2002113C (en) 2008-10-20 2010-04-21 Stichting Energie SOFC-STACK WITH CORRUGATED SEPARATOR PLATE.
US8920996B2 (en) * 2010-05-11 2014-12-30 Dcns Systems and methods for regulating fuel cell air flow during low loads or cold temperature operation
WO2012166040A1 (en) * 2011-05-30 2012-12-06 Metacon Ab Energy generation using a stack of fuel cells
GB2488385B (en) 2011-09-23 2014-04-23 Intelligent Energy Ltd Fuel cell system
FR2981510B1 (en) 2011-10-14 2013-12-06 Air Liquide FUEL CELL ELECTRICITY GENERATING DEVICE AND ITS STARTING METHOD
GB2496635A (en) * 2011-11-17 2013-05-22 Intelligent Energy Ltd Fan mounting in fuel cell stack assemblies
GB2499417A (en) * 2012-02-15 2013-08-21 Intelligent Energy Ltd A fuel cell assembly
JP5994376B2 (en) * 2012-05-09 2016-09-21 スズキ株式会社 Fuel cell supply / exhaust structure
FR3014248B1 (en) * 2013-11-29 2020-06-12 Symbiofcell RECIRCULATION DEVICE FOR A FUEL CELL
MX2017011117A (en) * 2015-03-02 2018-06-06 Altergy Systems Integrated recirculating fuel cell system.
FR3051980A1 (en) 2016-05-30 2017-12-01 Commissariat Energie Atomique DEVICE FOR GENERATING ELECTRICITY FROM AN AIR FLOW COOLED PLANAR COMBUSTION CELL
CN112768725B (en) * 2021-01-22 2023-08-22 浙江氢航科技有限公司 Method and device for controlling temperature of fuel cell unmanned aerial vehicle and hydrogen power equipment
CN113594495A (en) * 2021-08-03 2021-11-02 上海宇集动力系统有限公司 Device for improving adaptability of air-cooled fuel cell stack to low-temperature environment

Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS57138780A (en) * 1981-02-19 1982-08-27 Sanyo Electric Co Ltd Cooling device of fuel cell
JPS58128671A (en) * 1982-01-26 1983-08-01 Sanyo Electric Co Ltd Air cooling type fuel cell
JPS59214168A (en) * 1983-05-18 1984-12-04 Sanyo Electric Co Ltd System for cooling cross converter for fuel cell
JPS59215675A (en) * 1983-05-23 1984-12-05 Sanyo Electric Co Ltd Control method of fuel cell
JPS6217961A (en) * 1985-07-15 1987-01-26 Sanyo Electric Co Ltd Air cooled-type fuel cell
JPS62252075A (en) * 1986-04-25 1987-11-02 Fuji Electric Co Ltd Temperature control device of air cooling type fuel cell
JPS63168970A (en) * 1987-01-06 1988-07-12 Ishikawajima Harima Heavy Ind Co Ltd Cooling device for fuel cell
JPS6489156A (en) * 1987-09-30 1989-04-03 Hitachi Ltd Fuel cell plant
EP0459165A2 (en) * 1990-05-01 1991-12-04 Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. Power generation system using molten carbonate type fuel cell
JPH0845526A (en) * 1994-08-03 1996-02-16 Ishikawajima Harima Heavy Ind Co Ltd Multistage reaction type fuel cell
WO2001071842A2 (en) * 2000-03-17 2001-09-27 Allen Engineering Company, Inc. Fuel cell stack assembly

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0696384B1 (en) * 1993-04-30 1996-12-11 Aer Energy Resources, Inc. Cathode air recirculation and moisture control
US5935726A (en) * 1997-12-01 1999-08-10 Ballard Power Systems Inc. Method and apparatus for distributing water to an ion-exchange membrane in a fuel cell
CN1291516C (en) * 2001-08-16 2006-12-20 亚太燃料电池科技股份有限公司 Anode gas circulating system for fuel battery
US7875397B2 (en) * 2003-12-15 2011-01-25 Utc Power Corporation Permeable inlet fuel gas distributor for fuel cells

Patent Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS57138780A (en) * 1981-02-19 1982-08-27 Sanyo Electric Co Ltd Cooling device of fuel cell
JPS58128671A (en) * 1982-01-26 1983-08-01 Sanyo Electric Co Ltd Air cooling type fuel cell
JPS59214168A (en) * 1983-05-18 1984-12-04 Sanyo Electric Co Ltd System for cooling cross converter for fuel cell
JPS59215675A (en) * 1983-05-23 1984-12-05 Sanyo Electric Co Ltd Control method of fuel cell
JPS6217961A (en) * 1985-07-15 1987-01-26 Sanyo Electric Co Ltd Air cooled-type fuel cell
JPS62252075A (en) * 1986-04-25 1987-11-02 Fuji Electric Co Ltd Temperature control device of air cooling type fuel cell
JPS63168970A (en) * 1987-01-06 1988-07-12 Ishikawajima Harima Heavy Ind Co Ltd Cooling device for fuel cell
JPS6489156A (en) * 1987-09-30 1989-04-03 Hitachi Ltd Fuel cell plant
EP0459165A2 (en) * 1990-05-01 1991-12-04 Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. Power generation system using molten carbonate type fuel cell
JPH0845526A (en) * 1994-08-03 1996-02-16 Ishikawajima Harima Heavy Ind Co Ltd Multistage reaction type fuel cell
WO2001071842A2 (en) * 2000-03-17 2001-09-27 Allen Engineering Company, Inc. Fuel cell stack assembly

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0618986D0 (en) 2006-11-08
GB2442252B (en) 2010-10-27
TW200836391A (en) 2008-09-01
GB2442252A (en) 2008-04-02
AR063031A1 (en) 2008-12-23
WO2008038032A2 (en) 2008-04-03

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