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:
Aug. 17, 2004
Filed:
May. 22, 2002
Masaru Okamoto, Yokosuka, JP;
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Kanagawa, JP;
Abstract
A fuel cell stack ( ) generates power using hydrogen-rich gas obtained by reforming vaporized methanol in a reformer ( ). The vaporized methanol is generated by vaporizing liquid methanol in a vaporizer ( ). The vaporizer ( ) is heated by combustion gas from a combustor ( ). A sensor ( ) detects a liquid methanol amount supplied to the vaporizer ( ) by a methanol pump ( ). A controller ( ) calculates a prediction temperature of the vaporizer ( ) based on the liquid methanol supply amount, and limits an increase of the liquid methanol supply amount from the methanol pump ( ) so that the prediction temperature does not fall below a predetermined temperature (S A, S B). In this way, temperature drop of the vaporizer ( ) from the predetermined temperature is prevented.