Patent US5139894A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5139894A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Fuel cell system
Assignee: Yamaha Motor Co Ltd
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Filing: 1990-05-02
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Granted: 1992-08-18
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Expires: 2010-05-02
Abstract
Abstract A number of embodiments of fuel cells including a storage battery which can intermittently supply electrical power to a load. In such embodiment, water vapor generated from the operation of the fuel cell is condensed, purified and returned to the storage battery to replace the water consumed from the electrolyte from the battery operation. The water vapor is reclaimed by a series of condensers and is returned to a purifier. In some embodiments the reclaimed water vapor is delivered to the battery by an intermittently operated pump while in other embodiments the water vapor is returned by a continuously operated pump through some form of overflow device to ensure against dilution of the electrolyte in the battery.
Inventors
- 👤 Yutaka Mizuno
- 👤 Toshiharu Hanajima
- 👤 Hisayoshi Matsubara
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 16:32
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M16/00; H01M16/003; H01M16/006; H01M50/00; H01M50/60; H01M50/609; H01M50/673; H01M8/00; H01M8/04; H01M8/04082; H01M8/04089; H01M8/04119; H01M8/04156; H01M8/06; H01M8/0606; H01M8/0612; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
A fuel cell system for providing electrical power to a load comprising a fuel cell system for generating electrical power from a chemical reaction, a reformer for reforming fuel supplied to a fuel cell of said fuel cell system, said reformer discharging a waste product including water vapor in its operation, an electrical storage battery containing an electrolyte including water, said fuel cell system and said electrical storage battery both being in circuit with said load for supplying electrical power for said load, means for condensing said water vapor, and means for supplying the condensed water from the vapor to said storage battery to replace the water in its electrolyte consumed by its operation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
A fuel cell system for providing electrical power to a load comprising a fuel cell system for generating electrical power from a chemical reaction, a reformer for reforming fuel supplied to a fuel cell of said fuel cell system, said reformer discharging a waste product including water vapor in its operation, an electrical storage battery containing an electrolyte including water, said fuel cell system and said electrical storage battery both being in circuit with said load for supplying electrical power for said load, means for condensing said water vapor, and means for supplying the condensed water from the vapor to said storage battery to replace the water in its electrolyte consumed by its operation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A fuel cell system for providing electrical power as set for in claim 1, wherein water is also reclaimed from the water vapor in the exhaust from the fuel cell system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A fuel cell system for providing electrical power as set forth in claim 1, wherein the water vapor is recovered from the exhaust of the reformer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A fuel cell system for providing electrical power as set forth in claim 3, wherein the water is also reclaimed from the water vapor contained within the reformed fuel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A fuel cell system for providing electrical power as set forth in claim 1, wherein the reclaimed water is passed through a water purifier before being delivered to the electrical storage battery.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A fuel cell system for providing electrical power as set forth in claim 1, wherein the reclaimed water is supplied to the storage battery in response to the change of level of electrolyte in the battery.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A fuel cell system for providing electrical power as set forth in claim 6, wherein the reclaimed water is delivered to the storage battery by an intermittently operated pump.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
A fuel cell system for providing electrical power as set forth in claim 6, wherein the reclaimed water is delivered back to the storage battery through a system having an overflow so that the reclaimed water is continuously returned.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
A fuel cell system for providing electrical power as set forth in claim 8, wherein the reclaimed water is delivered to a storage tank that communicates with the storage battery through a siphon and which has an overflow.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A fuel cell system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the fuel cell is powered by a chemical reaction generated independently of the storage battery.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A fuel cell system for providing electrical power as set forth in claim 10, wherein water is also reclaimed from the water vapor in the exhaust from the fuel cell system.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A fuel cell system for providing electrical power as set forth in claim 10, wherein the water vapor is recovered from the exhaust of the reformer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
A fuel cell system for providing electrical power as set forth in claim 12, wherein the water is also reclaimed from the water vapor contained within the reformed fuel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
A fuel cell system for providing electrical power as set forth in claim 10, wherein the reclaimed water is passed through a water purifier before being delivered to the electrical storage battery.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
A fuel cell system for providing electrical power as set forth in claim 10, wherein the reclaimed water is supplied to the storage battery in response to the change of level of electrolyte in the battery.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
A fuel cell system for providing electrical power as set forth in claim 15, wherein the reclaimed water is delivered to the storage battery by an intermittently operated pump.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
A fuel cell system for providing electrical power as set forth in claim 15, wherein the reclaimed water is delivered back to the storage battery through a system having an overflow so that the reclaimed water is continuously returned.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
A fuel cell system for providing electrical power as set forth in claim 17, wherein the reclaimed water is delivered to a storage tank that communicates with the storage battery through a siphon and which has an overflow.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-08-18 | 1996-02-17 | 1996-08-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-08-18 | 2000-02-17 | 2000-08-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-08-18 | 2004-02-17 | 2004-08-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |