US4713303A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fuel cell apparatus with rapid start-up
Assignee: Fuelcell Energy Inc
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Filing: 1987-02-24
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Granted: 1987-12-15
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Expires: 2007-02-24
Abstract
Abstract Fuel cell apparatus with for rapid start-up is realized by including in the stack cooling/heating loop a burner which is situated downstream of the loop blower and by further situating the entry port for replenishing gas to the loop upstream of the blower.
Inventors
- 👤 Mohammad Farooque
- 👤 Lawrence J. Novacco
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 15:50
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M8/00; H01M8/04; H01M8/04007; H01M8/04014; H01M8/02; H01M8/0202; H01M8/0267; H01M8/04223; H01M8/04225; H01M8/24; H01M8/2465; H01M8/2483; H01M8/04022; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
Apparatus comprising: a fuel cell stack including passage means having entry and exit ends, said passage means carrying a gas through the stack from said entry to said exit end; loop means for recirculating a portion of the gas leaving said exit end back to said entry end; blower means within said loop for driving said recirculation; burner means within said loop downstream of said blower means, said burner means being adapted to receive a portion of the gas in said loop and being further adapted to receive fuel from a fuel supply during start-up of said fuel cell stack; and an entry port in said loop means disposed upstream of said blower, for replenishing gas to said loop.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
Apparatus comprising: a fuel cell stack including passage means having entry and exit ends, said passage means carrying a gas through the stack from said entry to said exit end; loop means for recirculating a portion of the gas leaving said exit end back to said entry end; blower means within said loop for driving said recirculation; burner means within said loop downstream of said blower means, said burner means being adapted to receive a portion of the gas in said loop and being further adapted to receive fuel from a fuel supply during start-up of said fuel cell stack; and an entry port in said loop means disposed upstream of said blower, for replenishing gas to said loop.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said entry and exit ends include entry and exit manifolds, respectively; said loop means includes a conduit connecting said entry and exit manifolds.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 further comprising: means for coupling fuel from said fuel supply to said burner during start-up.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein: said coupling means comprises a valve assembly and a duct connecting said valve assembly to said burner.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein: said fuel cell stack includes oxidant and fuel process gas channels; and first and second manifolds for coupling oxidant and fuel gas, respectively to said oxidant and fuel process gas channels.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein: said valve assembly conveys fuel to said second manifold and ceases to convey fuel to said burner subsequent to start-up of said fuel cell stack.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein: said burner comprises a tubular member arranged in said conduit, said tubular member having input and output ends, said portion of said gas in said loop being introduced into said input end of said burner and the remaining gas passing around said tubular member and being combined with the gas exiting said exit end of said tubular member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein: said tubular member is concentrically arranged in said conduit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4310604A
Cited
US4680240A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-12-14 | 1991-06-15 | 1991-12-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-12-14 | 1995-06-15 | 1995-12-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-12-14 | 1999-06-15 | 1999-12-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |