Abstract: There is provided a fuel cell system which is efficient and does not cause reduction in output even when operation and stopping of a fuel cell are repeated for a long period of time. The fuel cell system is provided with a fuel cell stack including a fuel chamber for supplying a hydrogen gas to a hydrogen electrode and an oxygen chamber for supplying air to an oxygen electrode. The system is provided with gas supply ports for supplying the hydrogen gas into the fuel chamber, gas discharge ports for discharging the hydrogen gas from the fuel chamber, a hydrogen suction pump and the like for sucking the hydrogen gas from the gas discharge ports, a hydrogen circulation pipe and the like for interconnecting the gas discharge ports and the gas supply ports through the hydrogen suction pump and the like, and a first hydrogen discharge pipe and the like for interconnecting the gas discharge ports and an outside gas release port through the hydrogen suction pump and the like.

Abstract: The present invention provides a direct water injection type fuel cell apparatus which can effectively cool an air electrode in a fuel cell main body. The apparatus supplies water to the surface of the air electrode in a liquid state and the amount of process air supplied to the air electrode is controlled to an optimum.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide an efficient cooling by supplying air and cooling water simultaneously while keeping cooling and wetting of a membrane without having a fuel cell large-sized. A fuel cell includes a separator 10B between unit cells 10A adjacent to each other. The separator includes an air pass S1 on a front surface side abutting at least on a cathode of the unit cell and it includes a cooling space S2 supplied with air and water on the rear side thereof to cool the unit cell with latent heat of water evaporated by heat of the unit cell transmitted to the cooling space. Thereby, the unit cell is cooled via the separator and clogging up of the air pass caused by water entering is prevented.

Abstract: A fuel cell power generating apparatus includes a stack of a plurality of fuel cell units each having a cathode and an anode disposed on opposite sides of an electrolyte membrane. A fuel gas supply system supplies fuel gas to the anode, an air supply system supplies air to the cathode and a water supply system supplies liquid water to the cathode. A control unit ensures that, when the apparatus starts up, the cathode is first supplied with air, followed by supply of the liquid water. In a preferred embodiment, the water supply system intermittently sprays the liquid water onto the cathode when the temperature of the fuel cell stack monitored by a temperature sensor falls below a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A fuel cell system has a plurality of fuel cells each having a cathode and an anode disposed on opposite sides of an electrolyte membrane, having an air supply passage through which atmospheric air is supplied to the cathode. A fuel gas supply passage supplies hydrogen gas from a hydrogen storing alloy to the anode; and water spray nozzles spray liquid water directly onto the cathode. The hydrogen storing alloy is heated by heat exchange with the exhaust air at an elevated temperature discharged from the cathode, to facilitate its endothermic reaction in which it produces hydrogen gas to be supplied to the anode. The sprayed water is fed to the hydrogen storing alloy so as to cool the same to thereby enhance its exothermic reaction in which hydrogen gas is stored in the hydrogen storing alloy.

Abstract: A fuel cell power generating apparatus (1) using a fuel cell (10) having a cathode (11) and an anode (13) disposed on opposite sides of an electrolyte membrane (12) has an air supply passage (31) through which atmospheric air is supplied to the cathode. A fuel gas supply passage (22) supplies a fuel gas such as hydrogen gas is supplied to the anode. A water spray nozzle (41) ejects liquid water onto the surface of the cathode and the sprayed water takes heat from the air around the cathode as latent heat of evaporation, which is effective to prevent dehydration of the electrolyte membrane, as well as to cool the cathode which would otherwise become overheated when the fuel cell operates continuously over a long period of time. When starting operation of the apparatus, the nozzle is made operative to eject water onto the cathode before the fuel gas is first supplied to the anode to prevent the supplied fuel gas from reacting with oxygen in air which might remain around the cathode.

Abstract: A fuel cell power generating apparatus includes a stack of a plurality of fuel cell units each having a cathode and an anode disposed on opposite sides of an electrolyte membrane. A fuel gas supply system supplies fuel gas to the anode, an air supply system supplies air to the cathode and a water supply system supplies liquid water to the cathode. A control unit ensures that, when the apparatus starts up, the cathode is first supplied with air, followed by supply of the liquid water. In a preferred embodiment, the water supply system intermittently sprays the liquid water onto the cathode when the temperature of the fuel cell stack monitored by a temperature sensor falls below a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A fuel cell power generating apparatus (1) using a fuel cell stack (2) includes an air intake manifold (45) mounted above the stack for supplying air to a plurality of longitudinally extending air flow passages of fuel cells in stack; one or more of nozzles (55) mounted to side walls of THE air intake manifold for injecting water into the air intake manifold; and water supply system (50) for supplying water to the nozzles. In a preferable embodiment, the nozzles are mounted respectively to a pair of opposite side walls of the air intake manifold at location offset to each other or at different angle of water injection, to facilitate complete dispersion or distribution of water over the entirety of the air intake manifold, which allows smooth entry of the sprayed water to the respective air flow passages of the fuel cells.

Abstract: A fuel cell power generating apparatus (1) using a stack (2) of a plurality of fuel cell units (U) each having a structure such that a cathode (3) and an anode (4) are disposed on opposite sides of an electrolyte membrane (5) has a fuel gas supply system (10) that supplies fuel gas to the anode, an air supply system (40) that supplies air to the cathode and a water supply system (50) that supplies liquid water to the cathode. A control unit (151) controls such that, when the apparatus starts up, the cathode is first subjected to supply of the air, followed by supply of the liquid water. In a preferable embodiment, the water supply system is driven to intermittently spray the liquid water to the cathode when the temperature of the fuel cell stack monitored by a temperature sensor (47) becomes below a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A power supply system 10 with a stack of fuel cells 20 and a storage battery 30 includes a remaining charge monitor 42 for measuring the remaining charge of the storage battery 30. At the time of starting the power supply system 10, the remaining charge monitor 42 detects the remaining charge of the storage battery 30. The power supply system 10 estimates output electric current of the fuel cells 20 based on the observed remaining charge of the storage battery 30 and an amount of electric power required for auxiliary machinery 34, and supplies required amounts of gases to the fuel cells 20 based on the estimated output electric current.

Abstract: The fuel cell disclosed in the present specification is provided with an electrolyte membrane comprising a three-dimensional structure composed of bridged chains of a first polymer stable to water, and a second polymer having a function as an electrolyte. In such an electrolyte membrane, the bridged chains of the first polymer hold the second polymer, and hence the membrane does not swell with water. Furthermore, the electrolyte membrane can be properly designed depending on conditions required of the fuel cell, by choosing the first and second polymers.