Abstract:
There is provided a fuel cell system comprising a reformer for generating hydrogen from hydrogen-containing fuel and at least one electricity generator for generating electric energy through an electrochemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen. The reformer includes a plurality of reaction sections for generating hydrogen from hydrogen-containing fuel; a plurality of heating sections which supply thermal energy to the plurality of heating sections and which have a catalyst; and a main body receiving the plurality of reaction sections and the plurality of heating sections. The respective heating sections generate different amounts of thermal energy necessary for the reactions of the respective reaction sections.
Abstract:
A fuel reforming apparatus including reaction substrates is provided. The reaction substrates of the present invention is made of stainless steel, nickel steel, or chromium steel. Each of the reaction substrates has a channel formed on the surface of the reaction substrate. Reactant for oxidation reaction or for fuel reforming reaction flow through the channel. A catalyst containing layer is formed on the surface of the channel by directly oxidizing the surface of the channel. Therefore, the catalyst containing layer is formed with oxidized steel. A catalyst layer is formed on the catalyst containing layer. A pair of substrates can be laminated to make one substrate a thermal source unit and another a reforming reaction unit.
Abstract:
A plate-type heat exchanger for use in a fuel cell system that has a fuel cell stack and a reformer is provided. The heat exchanger includes a substrate and a pair of cover plates. The substrate has a first face and a second face opposite to the first face. The substrate is disposed between the cover plates, and combined with the cover plates to form a first passageway and a second passageway. The first passageway is formed in the first face and circulates steam discharged from the fuel cell stack. The steam or water condensed from the steam is supplied to a water supply source. The second passageway is formed in the second face, and circulates water supplied from the water supply source. The water is supplied to the reformer after the circulation. The heat exchanger of the present invention improves performance and efficiency of a fuel cell system.
Abstract:
There is provided a fuel cell system comprising: a stack including at least one electricity generator generating electric energy through a reaction between hydrogen and oxygen and a fuel processing unit which is integrally coupled to the electricity generator and which generates hydrogen from fuel and supplies the generated hydrogen to the electricity generator; a fuel supply unit supplying the fuel to the fuel processing unit; and an oxygen supply unit supplying oxygen to the electricity generator and the fuel processing unit.
Abstract:
A fuel cell system includes an electricity generator for generating electric energy through a reaction of hydrogen and oxygen, a reformer for generating a reforming gas containing the hydrogen from a fuel through a catalytic reaction using thermal energy and for supplying the reforming gas to the electricity generator, a burner for generating the thermal energy and for supplying the thermal energy to the reformer, a fuel supply unit for supplying the fuel to the reformer, and an air supply unit for supplying air to the electricity generator. The fuel supply unit includes a main fuel tank for storing the fuel, at least one auxiliary fuel tank connected with the main fuel tank and the reformer, and a heating unit disposed in connection with the auxiliary fuel tank to heat the fuel stored in the auxiliary fuel tank.
Abstract:
A burner for a reformer of a fuel cell system includes a body having a catalyst inside thereof; and a heating member partially embedded within the catalyst to provide an auxiliary thermal source to the catalyst.
Abstract:
A fuel cell system includes at least one electricity generating element to generate electrical energy through an electrochemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen, and a reaction source supplier adapted to connect to the electricity generating element and to provide a hydrogen-containing fuel and oxygen-containing air to the electricity generating element. The reaction source supplier includes a first divided region for storing compressed air, a second divided region for storing the fuel, and a storage region having an elastic partition adapted to divide the adjacent first and second divided regions.
Abstract:
A fuel cell system includes: a reformer adapted to generate hydrogen from a fuel containing hydrogen through a chemical catalytic reaction using thermal energy; at least one electricity generator adapted to generate electric energy through an electrochemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen; a fuel supply unit adapted to supply the fuel to the reformer; and an air supply unit adapted to supply oxygen to the reformer and the at least one electricity generator. The reformer includes a plurality of plates stacked with each other and forming at least one passage adapted to allow a fuel or a gas to flow therethrough and at least one catalyst layer coated on inner surfaces of the at least one passage. In the reformer, the at least one catalyst layer is formed to have a plurality of grooves extending substantially in a same direction as of the at least one passage.
Abstract:
A fuel cell system includes: a reformer for generating hydrogen from hydrogen-containing fuel; at least one electricity generator for generating electric energy through an electrochemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen; a fuel supply unit for supplying the fuel to the reformer; and an oxygen supply unit for supplying the oxygen to the reformer and the at least one electricity generator. The reformer includes: a plurality of reaction sections, wherein at least one of the reaction sections has a channel; at least one cover plate; and a bonding joint between two of the reaction sections and between the at least one of the reaction sections and the at least one cover plate to couple the at least one of the reaction sections and the at least one cover plate to each other.
Abstract:
A fuel cell system includes a reformer for generating hydrogen gas from fuel containing hydrogen using a chemical catalytic reaction and thermal energy. At least one electricity generator generates electrical energy by an electrochemical reaction of the hydrogen gas and oxygen. A fuel supply assembly supplies fuel to the reformer, and an oxygen supply assembly supplies oxygen to the at least one electricity generator. A heat exchanger is connected to the reformer and to the at least one electricity generator. The heat exchanger supplies thermal energy of the reformer, during initial operation of the system, to the at least one electricity generator so as to pre-heat the at least one electricity generator.