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:
Sep. 21, 2004
Filed:
Nov. 19, 2002
Wilhelm Amrhein, Eberdingen, DE;
Gesine Arends, Gerlingen, DE;
Robert Bosch GmbH, Stuttgart, DE;
Abstract
The fuel cell apparatus has a fuel-producing unit ( ) for producing hydrogen-enriched fuel ( ) and a fuel cell or fuel cell stack ( ) for production of electrical energy from the hydrogen-enriched fuel and air. It also includes at least one compressor ( ) for providing the fuel cell or fuel cell stack with an over-pressure, in order to decisively reduce the danger due to leakage and to guarantee reduced energy consumption and reduced costs for supply of the apparatus. Since at least one operating pressure is less than atmospheric air pressure, the apparatus provides these advantages. The apparatus also preferably includes at least one burner unit ( ) for consuming excess hydrogen-containing fluid. In a preferred embodiment one compressor unit is arranged between an outlet of the fuel cell or fuel cell stack and an outlet of the apparatus for exhaust gas in order to provide a low pressure to draw in hydrogen-enriched fuel. Another separate compressor unit is optionally arranged upstream of an entrance to the fuel cell for a second oxygen-containing fluid stream.