Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba

Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation

Utc Fuel Cells, LLC

Utc Power Corporation

Toshiba Fuel Cell Power Systems Corporation

Soichiro Shimotori

Yasuji Ogami

Michael L Perry

Kazuo Saito

Michio Hori

Atsushi Ohma

Atsuo Sonai

Makoto Harada

A fuel cell system according to the present embodiment includes a fuel cell stack, a cooling-water tank having a cooling-water supply port to which a cooling-water supply pipe coupled to a cooling-water inlet manifold is coupled at the other end, a first oxygen-containing-gas discharge pipe coupled at one end to an air outlet manifold being coupled to the cooling-water tank at the other end, the cooling-water tank being configured to supply cooling water from the cooling-water inlet manifold, and a pressure-loss part to which a second oxygen-containing-gas discharge pipe coupled at one end to an air discharge port of the cooling-water tank is coupled at the other end, and to which a fuel-gas discharge pipe coupled at one end to a fuel-outlet manifold provided in a downstream outlet of the fuel-electrode passage is coupled at the other end.

Fuel cell system and method for controlling fuel cell system

A method for operating a fuel cell power plant. The fuel cell can include a reactant passage () with an upstream portion and a downstream portion for providing reactant to an electrode (), at least one liquid passage (), and a plate () made from a porous material that is liquid permeable and conductive. The porous material separates the reactant passage and the liquid passage. A pressure profile is controlled to provide a positive pressure difference in the upstream portion and a negative pressure difference in the downstream portion. A positive pressure difference is one where the liquid pressure is higher than that of the reactant. A negative pressure difference is one where the liquid pressure is less than that of the reactant. The pressure profile can be used to provide enhanced humidification of the reactant in the upstream portion and effective liquid water removal in the downstream portion to maximize both the performance and the life of the fuel cell.

Fuel cell system with improved humidification system

A fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell stack and a fuel reformer for reforming a fuel and supplying a reformed fuel to the fuel cell stack, further comprising a total enthalpy heat exchanger for exchanging heat and moisture between a reacted gas and an unreacted gas from the fuel cell stack, a separator for separating moisture from the fuel gas fed from the fuel cell stack or from an oxidant gas, and a mixer for mixing part of the moisture separated by the separator with a medium having a freezing point of 0&deg; C. or less.

Polymer electrolyte fuel cell system

Separators are formed to have a rectangular outline. A coolant passage is formed in a portion of each separator, which is located around a fuel gas passage or an oxidant gas passage formed in a surface of each separator, and which is substantially parallel to a long side of each separator, so that a coolant flows in a direction perpendicular to the surfaces of each separator.

Polymer electrolyte fuel stack

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Kawasaki, Japan

Soichiro Shimotori