Fuel cell device with a flushing gas path

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017117562-A1
Application number	US-201415126210-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 18, 2014
Priority date	Mar 18, 2014
Publication date	Apr 27, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A fuel cell device ( 1 ) having a fuel cell ( 2 ) with a housing ( 7 ) and, accommodated therein, a membrane-electrode assembly ( 6 ) with a cathode and an anode, having a cathode gas path ( 3 ) that serves to transport a cathode gas and that extends through the membrane-electrode assembly ( 6 ) on the cathode side, and having a flushing gas path ( 5 ) that serves to transport a flushing gas to flush the housing ( 7 ) during operation and that extends through the housing ( 7 ) is provided. It is provided that a section of the flushing gas path ( 5 ) runs through the cathode gas path ( 3 ). In this manner, the fuel cell device ( 1 ) has a compact structure of just a few parts.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 - 10 : (canceled)

11 : A fuel cell device comprising:
a fuel cell with a housing; a membrane-electrode assembly with a cathode and an anode and accommodated in the housing, the membrane-electrode assembly having a cathode gas path serving to transport a cathode gas and extending through the membrane-electrode assembly on the cathode side; and a flushing gas path serving to transport a flushing gas to flush the housing during operation and extending through the housing, a section of the flushing gas path running through the cathode gas path.

12 : The fuel cell device as recited in claim 11 wherein, in certain sections, the flushing gas path runs through a section of the cathode gas path on an inlet side extending towards the fuel cell or through a further section of the cathode gas path on an outlet side extending away from the fuel cell.

13 : The fuel cell device as recited in claim 11 wherein the flushing gas path has a separate section on an inlet side upstream from the housing and a further separate section on an outlet side downstream from the housing, and the flushing gas path extending through the cathode gas path from an inlet of the cathode gas path to a further inlet of the separate section on an inlet side, or the flushing gas path extends through the cathode gas path from an outlet of the further separate section on the outlet side to an outlet of the cathode gas path.

14 : The fuel cell device as recited in claim 13 wherein a further outlet of the separate section or the outlet of the further separate section opens up into a section of the cathode gas path on the inlet side.

15 : The fuel cell device as recited in claim 13 wherein a further outlet of the separate section or the outlet of the further separate section is connected to a compressor arranged in the cathode gas path on the inlet side so as to convey gas.

16 : The fuel cell device as recited in claim 13 wherein, in the transport direction of the cathode gas path downstream from a cathode filter inlet of a cathode filter, the further inlet of the separate section makes contact with the cathode gas path so as to convey gas.

17 : The fuel cell device as recited in claim 13 wherein the further inlet and the outlet make contact with the cathode gas path at a distance from each other so as to convey gas.

18 : The fuel cell device as recited in claim 17 wherein a continuous section of the cathode gas path connects the further inlet and the outlet to each other so as to convey gas.

19 : The fuel cell device as recited in claim 18 wherein the continuous section is configured so as to generate a pressure differential between the further inlet and the outlet in order to convey the flushing gas during operation of the fuel cell device.

20 : The fuel cell device as recited in claim 11 further comprising a fan to transport the flushing gas.

Assignees

• Volkswagen Ag

Inventors

• Grundei Daniel
• Berger Oliver
• Kleppa Oliver

Classifications

• H01M8/04231 Primary

  Purging of the reactants · CPC title

• H01M8/04179

  by purging or increasing flow or pressure of reactants · CPC title

• H01M2250/20

  Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane · CPC title

• Y02E60/50

  Fuel cells · CPC title

• Y02T90/40

  Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells · CPC title