Patent US4585708A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4585708A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fuel cell system with premixing of water miscible hydrocarbon fuel and water
Assignee: Fuelcell Energy Inc
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Filing: 1985-06-11
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Granted: 1986-04-29
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Expires: 2005-06-11
Abstract
Abstract A fuel cell system employing a reformer for developing a fuel process gas from a hydrocarbon fuel-water mixture wherein the mixture is generated by exclusively delivering a water miscible hydrocarbon fuel to a mixing tank when the level of constituents in the mixing tank falls below a first predetermined level, ceasing delivery of the fuel and initiating exclusive delivery of water to the mixing tank when the level of constituents in the mixing tank rises to a second predetermined level, ceasing delivery of water when the constituents in the mixing tank rise to a third predetermined level, with the level in the mixing tank at the third predetermined level, delivering the hydrocarbon fuel-water mixture to a holding tank when the hydrocarbon fuel-water mixture in the holding tank falls below a first predetermined position, and ceasing delivery of the mixture to the holding tank when the level of constituents in the mixing tank falls below said first predetermined level.
Inventors
- 👤 Sandors G. Abens
- 👤 William Keil
- 👤 Mohammad Farooque
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 20:17
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M8/00; H01M8/06; B; B01; B01F; B01F23/00; B01F23/40; B01F23/49; H01M8/0606; H01M8/0612; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
A fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell including an anode for receiving fuel gas and a cathode for receiving oxidant gas; a reformer for receiving a mixture of water and water miscible hydrocarbon fuel for producing said fuel gas from said mixture; a holding tank for holding a supply of said mixture, said holding tank having an inlet section and an outlet; first means coupled to said outlet for delivering said mixture from said holding tank to said reformer; a mixing tank for receiving a water miscible hydrocarbon fuel from a water miscible hydrocarbon fuel supply and for receiving water from a water supply in predetermined volumetric amounts to produce said mixture; and second means for conveying said mixture in said mixing tank to said inlet section of said holding tank.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
A fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell including an anode for receiving fuel gas and a cathode for receiving oxidant gas; a reformer for receiving a mixture of water and water miscible hydrocarbon fuel for producing said fuel gas from said mixture; a holding tank for holding a supply of said mixture, said holding tank having an inlet section and an outlet; first means coupled to said outlet for delivering said mixture from said holding tank to said reformer; a mixing tank for receiving a water miscible hydrocarbon fuel from a water miscible hydrocarbon fuel supply and for receiving water from a water supply in predetermined volumetric amounts to produce said mixture; and second means for conveying said mixture in said mixing tank to said inlet section of said holding tank.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A fuel cell system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising: third means for conveying a portion of said mixture being delivered by said first means to said inlet section of said holding tank.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
172 words
A fuel cell system further comprising: third means for conveying fuel from said fuel supply to said mixing tank; fourth means for conveying water from said water supply to said mixing tank; and fifth means for controlling said second, third and fourth means such that: when the level of constituents in said mixing tank falls below a first predetermined level, mixture is inhibited from being conveyed to said holding tank and fuel exclusively is conveyed to said mixing tank; when the level in said mixing tank is raised to a second predetermined level, fuel ceases to be delivered to said mixing tank and water is exclusively delivered to said mixing tank; when the level in said mixing tank is raised to a third predetermined level, delivery of water to said mixing tank ceases; and after said mixing tank is at said third level, when the level of mixture in said holding tank falls below a first predetermined position, mixture is allowed to be conveyed to said holding tank from said mixing tank.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
172 words
A fuel cell system further comprising: third means for conveying fuel from said fuel supply to said mixing tank; fourth means for conveying water from said water supply to said mixing tank; and fifth means for controlling said second, third and fourth means such that: when the level of constituents in said mixing tank falls below a first predetermined level, mixture is inhibited from being conveyed to said holding tank and fuel exclusively is conveyed to said mixing tank; when the level in said mixing tank is raised to a second predetermined level, fuel ceases to be delivered to said mixing tank and water is exclusively delivered to said mixing tank; when the level in said mixing tank is raised to a third predetermined level, delivery of water to said mixing tank ceases; and after said mixing tank is at said third level, when the level of mixture in said holding tank falls below a first predetermined position, mixture is allowed to be conveyed to said holding tank from said mixing tank.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
80 words
A fuel cell system in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said control means includes: first, second and third switches arranged at said first, second and third predetermined levels in said mixing tank and a fourth switch arranged at said first predetermined position in said holding tank; said second means includes a valve responsive to said control means; said third means comprises a pump responsive to said control means; and said fourth means comprises a valve responsive to said control means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A fuel cell system in accordance with claim 4 wherein: said mixing tank is disposed below said water supply so that water is gravity fed to said mixing tank by said fourth means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A fuel cell system in accordance with claim 5 wherein: said valve of said fourth means when opened causes water to drip into said mixing tank.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A fuel cell system in accordance with claim 6 wherein: said fourth means includes a further valve downstream of said valve of said fourth means for draining the water from said supply.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A fuel cell system in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said water supply includes a condenser for condensing water contained in gases of said system.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of operating a fuel cell system having a fuel cell and a former for generating fuel process gas from a hydrocarbon fuel-water mixture comprising: delivering exclusively water miscible hydrocarbon fuel to a mixing tank when the level of constituents in said mixing tank falls below a first predetermined level; ceasing delivery of said hydrocarbon fuel and initiating delivery exclusively of water to said mixing tank when the level of constituents in said mixing tank reaches a second predetermined level; ceasing delivery of said water to said mixing tank when the level of constituents in said mixing tank reaches a third predetermined level; subsequent to the level of constituents in said mixing tank reaching said third predetermined level, deliverying the hydrocarbon fuel-water mixture to a holding tank when the hydrocarbon fuel-water mixture in the holding tank falls below a first predetermined position; and ceasing delivery of said hydrocarbon fuelwater mixture when said level of constituents in said mixing tank falls below said first predetermined level.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of operating a fuel cell system having a fuel cell and a former for generating fuel process gas from a hydrocarbon fuel-water mixture comprising: delivering exclusively water miscible hydrocarbon fuel to a mixing tank when the level of constituents in said mixing tank falls below a first predetermined level; ceasing delivery of said hydrocarbon fuel and initiating delivery exclusively of water to said mixing tank when the level of constituents in said mixing tank reaches a second predetermined level; ceasing delivery of said water to said mixing tank when the level of constituents in said mixing tank reaches a third predetermined level; subsequent to the level of constituents in said mixing tank reaching said third predetermined level, deliverying the hydrocarbon fuel-water mixture to a holding tank when the hydrocarbon fuel-water mixture in the holding tank falls below a first predetermined position; and ceasing delivery of said hydrocarbon fuelwater mixture when said level of constituents in said mixing tank falls below said first predetermined level.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method in accordance with claim 9 further comprising: extracting the hydrocarbon fuel-water mixture from said holding tank; and delivering a portion of said extracted mixture to said reformer and a portion back to said holding tank.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method in accordance with claim 9 further comprising: developing the water for delivery to said mixing tank by condensing water from gases in said fuel cell system.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method in accordance with claim 9 wherein: delivery of said water is by gravity.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein: delivery of said water occurs by dripping said water into said mixing tank.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-04-28 | 1989-10-28 | 1990-04-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-04-28 | 1993-10-28 | 1994-04-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-04-28 | 1997-10-28 | 1998-04-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |