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:
May. 30, 2006
Filed:
Jan. 09, 2002
Osamu Tajima, Osaka, JP;
Katsuya Oda, Osaka, JP;
Tatsuji Hatayama, Osaka, JP;
Ryuji Yukawa, Osaka, JP;
Taketoshi Ouki, Osaka, JP;
Akira Fuju, Osaka, JP;
Koji Shindo, Osaka, JP;
Kazuhiro Tajima, Osaka, JP;
Satoshi Yamamoto, Osaka, JP;
Katsuyuki Makihara, Osaka, JP;
Keigo Miyai, Osaka, JP;
Masataka Kadowaki, Osaka, JP;
Masatoshi Ueda, Osaka, JP;
Osamu Tajima, Osaka, JP;
Katsuya Oda, Osaka, JP;
Tatsuji Hatayama, Osaka, JP;
Ryuji Yukawa, Osaka, JP;
Taketoshi Ouki, Osaka, JP;
Akira Fuju, Osaka, JP;
Koji Shindo, Osaka, JP;
Kazuhiro Tajima, Osaka, JP;
Satoshi Yamamoto, Osaka, JP;
Katsuyuki Makihara, Osaka, JP;
Keigo Miyai, Osaka, JP;
Masataka Kadowaki, Osaka, JP;
Masatoshi Ueda, Osaka, JP;
Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Osaka-fu, JP;
Abstract
Proton-exchange membrane fuel-cell power generating equipment includes a heat exchanger coupled to a process burner and, therethrough, to a fan. When water needs to be heated, such as during startup, the water is circulated through the heat exchanger and the process burner is operated (ignited) to heat the water. When the water needs to be cooled, such as when a hot water reserving tank is full, the water is circulated through the heat exchanger and the fan is operated, but the process burner is not operated, to cool the water. Water is circulated through part or all of a water system to prevent freezing while the system is stopped. Optionally, the process burner is operated to heat the circulated water. The heat exchanger and other heat exchangers in the system are arranged to efficiently recover heat from burners, a fuel-cell cooling system and exothermic processes.