Patent US5532072A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5532072A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Serially arranged fuel cells for large scale power generation
Assignee: Dornier GmbH
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Filing: 1994-07-25
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Granted: 1996-07-02
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Expires: 2014-07-25
Abstract
Abstract A serially arranged construction of individual fuel cells implements large-scale systems for generating power. The fuel cells are packed with high density but in an exchangeable manner. Only the fuel gas is fed to the block of fuel cells by special conduits and connecting elements whereas the oxidation gas (e.g. air) is fed by an outside pressure difference between the front and rear sides of the fuel cell blocks. A large number of blocks can be mounted on a carrier plate in which fuel gas ducts are integrated to form a reinforcement and to directly feed the fuel gas into the blocks via pipe pieces mounted from the outside.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard Spaeh
- 👤 Manfred Westphal
- 👤 Erich Erdle
- 👤 Klaus-Peter Zurell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 11:55
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M8/00; H01M8/24; H01M8/241; H01M8/2425; H01M8/06; H01M8/0606; H01M8/0612; H01M8/0625; H01M8/02; H01M8/0271; H01M8/2432; H01M8/2465; H01M8/247; H01M8/14; H01M2008/147; H01M2300/00; H01M2300/0017; H01M2300/0048; H01M2300/0051; H01M8/249; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A serially arranged fuel cell apparatus for power generation, comprising fuel cells in a flat configuration in blocks constituting modular units and operatively associated with fuel gas and oxidation gas conducting devices, electric connections, carrier structures, sealing elements and thermal insulation, gastight connection elements operatively associated with the modular units for fuel gas and exhaust gas and pipes are associated with the elements for feeding fuel gas and returning exhaust gas, wherein a front side and a rear side of the fuel cell blocks are physically separated to provide a pressure difference therebetween so that air flows through the corresponding ducts of individual fuel cells, without connection elements for conducting incoming and outgoing air, and a carrier plate arranging to separate spaces between the front side and the rear side and for fixing the fuel cell blocks and the associated fuel gas feeding pipes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
A serially arranged fuel cell apparatus for power generation, comprising fuel cells in a flat configuration in blocks constituting modular units and operatively associated with fuel gas and oxidation gas conducting devices, electric connections, carrier structures, sealing elements and thermal insulation, gastight connection elements operatively associated with the modular units for fuel gas and exhaust gas and pipes are associated with the elements for feeding fuel gas and returning exhaust gas, wherein a front side and a rear side of the fuel cell blocks are physically separated to provide a pressure difference therebetween so that air flows through the corresponding ducts of individual fuel cells, without connection elements for conducting incoming and outgoing air, and a carrier plate arranging to separate spaces between the front side and the rear side and for fixing the fuel cell blocks and the associated fuel gas feeding pipes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein elastic insulation arranged between each fuel cell block in a housing to compensate for thermal deformations between the housing and the block and to thermally insulate the block with the air-side gas pressure to the rear side of the fuel cell being sealed off.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein incoming air cools metallic components and the carrier structures of the fuel cell blocks.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fuel cells are electrolytic cells.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fuel cell blocks are electrically connectable one of in series and in parallel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein fuel cell blocks are stacked directly on one another.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the carrier plate is a flat plate and is integrated in a tank comprising flat structural elements.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the carrier plate is one of a polygonal shape or a cylindrical shape, and is enclosed by a cylindrical tank.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the carrier plates are arranged in pressure tanks.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the carrier plates are arranged in a tank integrated into pressure tanks.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of tanks are configured to form, in operative association with integrated fuel cell modules, power units and power plant systems.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
173 words
A serially arranged fuel cell apparatus for power generation, comprising fuel cells in a flat configuration in blocks constituting modular units and operatively associated with fuel gas and oxidation gas conducting devices, electric connections, carrier structures, sealing elements and thermal insulation, gastight connection elements operatively associated with the modular units for fuel gas and exhaust gas and pipes are associated with the elements for feeding fuel gas and returning exhaust gas, wherein a front side and a rear side of the fuel cell blocks are physically separated to provide a pressure difference therebetween so that air flows through the corresponding ducts of individual fuel cells without connection elements for conducting incoming and outgoing air, and a carrier plate arranging to separate spaces between the front side and the rear side and for fixing the fuel cell blocks and the associated fuel gas feeding pipes wherein means is provided for at least a partial prereforming of the fuel gases in a metallic tank with a required reforming heat being extracted from the outgoing air.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
173 words
A serially arranged fuel cell apparatus for power generation, comprising fuel cells in a flat configuration in blocks constituting modular units and operatively associated with fuel gas and oxidation gas conducting devices, electric connections, carrier structures, sealing elements and thermal insulation, gastight connection elements operatively associated with the modular units for fuel gas and exhaust gas and pipes are associated with the elements for feeding fuel gas and returning exhaust gas, wherein a front side and a rear side of the fuel cell blocks are physically separated to provide a pressure difference therebetween so that air flows through the corresponding ducts of individual fuel cells without connection elements for conducting incoming and outgoing air, and a carrier plate arranging to separate spaces between the front side and the rear side and for fixing the fuel cell blocks and the associated fuel gas feeding pipes wherein means is provided for at least a partial prereforming of the fuel gases in a metallic tank with a required reforming heat being extracted from the outgoing air.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4342816A
Cited
US5079105A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-07-02 | 2000-01-01 | 2000-07-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-07-02 | 2004-01-01 | 2004-07-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-07-02 | 2008-01-01 | 2008-07-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |