US5976722A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for operating a fuel cell installation and fuel cell installation for carrying out the process
Assignee: Siemens AG
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Filing: 1998-03-11
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Granted: 1999-11-02
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Expires: 2018-03-11
Abstract
Abstract A process for operating a fuel cell installation and a fuel cell installation for carrying out the process include at least one fuel cell block. A process gas for the fuel cell block is fed into the fuel cell block with a liquid ring compressor. In this way, the process gas is humidified at the same time as it is compressed, thus using the compression heat simultaneously as evaporation enthalpy, as well as the heat from the cooling circuit of the fuel cell stack.
Inventors
- 👤 Reinhard Muller
- 👤 Walter Stuhler
- 👤 Christoph Nolscher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 15:36
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M8/00; H01M8/04; H01M8/04082; H01M8/04089; H01M8/04119; H01M8/04007; H01M8/04029; H01M8/04097; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
68 words
A process for operating a fuel cell installation, which comprises: feeding a process gas for at least one fuel cell block into the at least one fuel cell block with a liquid ring compressor; cooling the at least one fuel cell block with cooling water from a cooling water container; and operating the liquid ring compressor with the cooling water from the at least one fuel cell block.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
68 words
A process for operating a fuel cell installation, which comprises: feeding a process gas for at least one fuel cell block into the at least one fuel cell block with a liquid ring compressor; cooling the at least one fuel cell block with cooling water from a cooling water container; and operating the liquid ring compressor with the cooling water from the at least one fuel cell block.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The process according to claim 1, which comprises directing a part of the process gas in a bypass around the liquid ring compressor, for controlling a throughput of the process gas through the liquid ring compressor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process according to claim 1, which comprises heating the process gas in a heat exchanger connected upstream of the liquid ring compressor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process according to claim 1, which comprises heating the process gas with the cooling water from the fuel cell block.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process according to claim 1, which comprises feeding a process off-gas from the fuel cell block to the process gas to heat it.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
90 words
A fuel cell installation, comprising: at least one fuel cell block; a liquid ring compressor for feeding a process gas for said at least one fuel cell block into said at least one fuel cell block; and a cooling water container disposed between said liquid ring compressor and said at least one fuel cell block, for cooling said at least one fuel cell block with cooling water from said cooling water container and operating said liquid ring compressor with the cooling water from said at least one fuel cell block.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
90 words
A fuel cell installation, comprising: at least one fuel cell block; a liquid ring compressor for feeding a process gas for said at least one fuel cell block into said at least one fuel cell block; and a cooling water container disposed between said liquid ring compressor and said at least one fuel cell block, for cooling said at least one fuel cell block with cooling water from said cooling water container and operating said liquid ring compressor with the cooling water from said at least one fuel cell block.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The fuel cell installation according to claim 6, including a bypass for controlling a throughput of the process gas through said liquid ring compressor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The fuel cell installation according to claim 7, including a valve for controlling the throughput of the process gas through said bypass.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The fuel cell installation according to claim 6, including a heat exchanger connected upstream of said liquid ring compressor for heating the process gas.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The fuel cell installation according to claim 6, including a process off-gas feedback system, for feeding a process off-gas from said at least one fuel cell block to the process gas.
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) | 2002-11-01 | 2003-05-03 | 2003-11-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-11-01 | 2007-05-03 | 2007-11-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-11-01 | 2011-05-03 | 2011-11-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |