The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 18, 1996
Filed:
May. 05, 1995
Frederick J Gardner, Derby, GB;
Rolls-Royce and Associates Limited, Derby, GB;
Abstract
A hydrocarbon fuelled fuel cell power system comprises a fuel cell stack, a reformer and a hydrogen store. The reformer is arranged periodically to supply reformate, which contains hydrogen, to the fuel cell stack and to the hydrogen store. The hydrogen store is arranged to store the hydrogen from the reformate during the periods that the reformer operates. The hydrogen store is arranged to supply hydrogen to the fuel cell stack during periods of low load demands on the fuel cell stack and is capable of supplying hydrogen rapidly to the fuel cell stack for high load demands on the fuel cell stack. The hydrogen store also supplies hydrogen to the reformer to light up the reformer. The hydrogen store buffers the fast response of the fuel cell stack and the relatively slower response of the reformer during relatively large rapid demands on the fuel cell stack and enables the reformer to be operated in an on/off mode.