Fuel Cell System and Method for Operating the Same

Simple SummaryContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

The invention is a fuel cell system and method where at least one fuel cell is mounted on a rotatable shaft. By rotating the fuel cell, centrifugal force is used to distribute the fuel and oxidant within the cell regardless of the system's position relative to gravity, allowing for orientation-independent operation. Additional components such as the heat exchanger for condensing cathode exhaust can also be rotated, and all such components can be powered by a single drive source, leading to a more compact design and reduced energy consumption for auxiliary systems.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Portable electronics such as laptops and mobile phones requiring compact and orientation-flexible power sources
• Fuel cell-powered vehicles, including drones, automobiles, and aviation where orientation constantly changes
• Backup or emergency power supplies that may be moved or tilted during use
• Space applications where gravity cannot be relied upon for fluid distribution
• Military or field-deployable fuel cell systems requiring robust and simple operation in varying orientations

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Orientation-independent operation of fuel cells (works regardless of gravity or position in space)
• More compact systems due to shared drive source and fewer auxiliary components
• Reduced installation space, critical for mobile and portable applications
• Lower parasitic energy consumption by eliminating separate pumps and fans
• Improved reliability and easier maintenance since there is only one main drive source
• Higher power density per unit volume, allowing for miniaturization
• Simplifies the recovery and management of water produced in the fuel cell

Technical Classifications (CPCs)

Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

The invention relates to a fuel cell system and a method for operating a fuel cell system. Owing to a rotation of at least one fuel cell (1), the centrifugal force can be utilized in order to distribute fuels in the fuel cell (1). As a result, the operation of the fuel cell system is positionally independent. If, in order to condense exhaust cathode gas, a heat exchanger (6) is provided, this can also be rotated, which likewise makes the discharge of condensate positionally independent. The fuel cell (1), the heat exchanger (6) and the apparatuses for supplying fuel and oxidant can be driven by one and the same drive source (3). This saves a large amount of installation space, in particular in the case of small fuel cell systems for mobile applications, and at the same time avoids the parasitic energy consumption of a plurality of additional drive sources.