Abstract:
The present invention provides a fuel cell system that comprises a stack that generates electricity through a reaction between hydrogen and oxygen and a fuel processing device that is connected to the stack to generate the hydrogen from fuel and supplies the hydrogen to the stack. It further comprises a fuel supply unit that supplies the fuel to the fuel processing device and an air supply unit that supplies air to the stack and the fuel processing unit, respectively. The fuel processing device comprises a first reformer that generates byproducts along with the hydrogen through an electrolysis reaction of the fuel using electric energy and a second reformer that generates the hydrogen through a reformation reaction of the fuel using thermal energy.
Abstract:
A reformer of a fuel cell system and a fuel cell system including a reformer are disclosed. The reformer includes a reformation unit comprising a pipe through which fuel passes. The pipe is formed from a material adapted to induce a catalytic reformation reaction in the pipe. The reformer includes a heat source unit for heating and evaporating the fuel by heating the pipe. The fuel cell system includes such a reformer, a stack for generating electricity through an electrochemical reaction between oxygen and hydrogen, a fuel supply unit, and an air supply unit.
Abstract:
A composite material for a bipolar plate of fuel cells is comprised of conductive carbon dispersed in polybenzoxazine matrix. The present invention also provides a composite material for preparing a bipolar plate for fuel cells comprising a polymer where a volume reduction percent is less than 5%, preferably 3%, and more preferably 1% after polymerization of the monomers with respect to total volume of the monomers before the polymerization thereof, and conductive carbon. The polymers of the present invention have good workability since there is little volume change during polymerization, and good mechanical and chemical properties, and they can be manufactured at a low cost.
Abstract:
A method of driving a heating unit for a fuel cell reformer, a reformer applied with the method for driving the heating unit, and/or a fuel cell system including the reformer. The method includes: supplying an oxidant to the heating unit and absorbing the oxidant by a fuel oxidizing catalyst of the heating unit; supplying a fuel at an excessive amount to the heating unit and absorbing the fuel by the fuel oxidizing catalyst of the heating unit; and supplying the fuel and the oxidant to the heating unit at a stoichiometric ratio of the fuel to the oxidant ranging from 1:1 to 2:1, wherein the heating unit generates heat through an oxidizing catalyst reaction between the fuel and the oxidant.
Abstract:
A solid electrolyte is disclosed. The solid electrolyte includes a main portion that includes β-alumina or β″-alumina, and an edge portion integrally provided with the main portion. The edge portion has a mixed portion that includes α-alumina and includes β alumina or β″-alumina. A concentration gradient of the α-alumina in the edge portion decreases in a first direction from the edge portion to the main portion.
Abstract:
There is provided a fuel cell system comprising: a stack for generating electric energy through a reaction between hydrogen and oxygen; a reformer for generating hydrogen from fuel through a catalytic reaction of the fuel using thermal energy and for supplying the generated hydrogen to the stack; a fuel supply unit for supplying the fuel to the reformer; and an oxygen supply unit for supplying oxygen to the reformer and the stack. The reformer comprises: a tubular reactor body; a heat source section which is formed in the inner space of the tubular reactor body and which generates thermal energy in a predetermined temperature range through an oxidation reaction of fuel; a reforming reaction section which is formed successive to the heat source section and which generates hydrogen from the fuel through a reforming reaction using the thermal energy; and a heat delivery unit which is provided in contact with the tubular reactor body and which delivers the thermal energy to the fuel supplied to the reforming reaction section.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a reformer for a fuel cell. The reformer for a fuel cell includes a reforming reactor generating reformed gas having abundant hydrogen gas by reforming fuel and steam and a standing shape of a water gas shift reactor coupled to the reforming reactor for lowering the concentration of carbon monoxide contained in the reformed gas. The water gas shift reactor has an opening. A pipe is coupled to the opening and has a portion located below the opening. Liquid water which may stay in the inside at the time that the operation stops can be drained out of the water gas shift reactor to prevent the water gas shift catalyst from being submerged in liquid water.
Abstract:
A fuel reforming system and a fuel cell system including the same, the fuel reforming system including: a fuel reformer adapted to produce a reformed gas having hydrogen as a main component from a fuel containing hydrogen; a carbon monoxide (CO) remover adapted to remove carbon monoxide from the reformed gas; a heat source adapted to supply heat energy to the reformer and the CO remover; and a moving unit adapted to move the heat source between the fuel reformer and the CO remover. With this configuration, the fuel reformer and the CO remover can be directly heated by a heat source. Then, when the temperature of the CO remover reaches a catalyst activation temperature, the heat source can be moved to directly heat only the fuel reformer, thereby enhancing a reforming effect and a power generation efficiency of the fuel reforming system.
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 fuel supply device for a fuel cell and a fuel cell system using the same that prevent H2O, used in reforming from reaching and collecting in the fuel cell stack. The fuel supply device for a fuel cell includes a fuel reformer adapted to generate reformate via a reforming reaction, a gas-liquid separator coupled to an outlet of the fuel reformer, the gas-liquid separator being adapted to receive the reformate and control a moisture amount included within the reformate, a pipe coupled to an outlet of the gas-liquid separator, the pipe being adapted to pass the reformate and a condensed water removing device coupled with the pipe, the condensed water removing device being adapted to prevent condensed water within the reformate within the pipe from passing to an outside.