Fuel cell

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9515331-B2
Application number	US-201314064493-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 28, 2013
Priority date	Jun 21, 2013
Publication date	Dec 6, 2016
Grant date	Dec 6, 2016

Abstract

A fuel cell including a stack in which a plurality of cells are stacked includes an air manifold and a hydrogen manifold on a first side and a second side of the stack, respectively, a jet array including a tubular body inserted in the air manifold or the hydrogen manifold and a plurality of orifices formed in the tubular body and arranged in a longitudinal direction of the tubular body, a pump or a valve for supplying air or hydrogen to the jet array; and a controller that operates the pump or the valve.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fuel cell comprising:
a stack in which a plurality of cells are stacked;
an air introduction manifold and an air discharge manifold provided at a first side and a second side of the stack, respectively;
a jet array including a tubular body inserted in the air introduction manifold, wherein a plurality of orifices are formed in the tubular body and arranged in a longitudinal direction along the tubular body;
a humidifier and a first compressor connected to the air introduction manifold;
a second air compressor connected to the jet array; and
a controller configured to operate the second air compressor,
wherein the jet array is arranged in a portion of the air introduction manifold, the first air compressor provides air into a region of the air introduction manifold in which the jet array is not arranged, the second air compressor provides air into the tubular body of the jet array, and the orifices form a jet stream of air.

2. The fuel cell according to claim 1 , wherein the second air compressor is connected to a front stage of the first air compressor.

3. The fuel cell according to claim 1 , wherein the second air compressor is connected between the first air compressor and the humidifier.

4. The fuel cell according to claim 1 , wherein the second air compressor is connected between the humidifier and the air introduction manifold.

5. The fuel cell according to claim 1 , wherein the air discharge manifold is connected to the humidifier, and the second air compressor is connected between the air discharge manifold and the humidifier.

6. The fuel cell according to claim 1 , wherein the second air compressor is connected to a discharge side of the humidifier.

7. The fuel cell according to claim 1 , wherein the second air compressor is connected to the jet array via a jet valve.

8. The fuel cell according to claim 1 , wherein directions of air supplied to the air introduction manifold and the jet array are opposite to each other.

9. The fuel cell according to claim 1 , wherein the controller causes the second air compressor to start operating when the fuel cell stops operating.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Noh Yong Gyu
• Oh Dong Jo
• Kwon Bu Kil

Classifications

• H01M8/2483

  characterised by internal manifolds · CPC title

• H01M8/04126

  Humidifying · CPC title

• H01M8/2485

  Arrangements for sealing external manifolds; Arrangements for mounting external manifolds around a stack · CPC title

• Y02E60/50

  Fuel cells · CPC title

• H01M8/04089 Primary

  of gaseous reactants · CPC title