Patent ID: 7501195
Filing Date: 2009-03-10
Classification: B60L,H01M,Y02E,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A power system that comprises fuel cells and a fuel gas generation system for generating a hydrogen-rich fuel gas to be supplied to the fuel cells, and outputs electric power, the fuel gas generation system comprising: a chemical reaction module that generates a hydrogen-containing gaseous mixture from a predetermined material through a chemical process; and a hydrogen separation module that separates hydrogen from the gaseous mixture, the power system further comprising: a hydrogen supply line that supplies the separated hydrogen to the fuel cells; a stop signal input module that receives a stop signal for stopping the supply of hydrogen to the fuel cells; a purge gas supply module that supplies specified purge gas for removal of hydrogen from the hydrogen separation module; a stop control module that selects a hydrogen purge mode that activates and controls the purge gas supply module to remove hydrogen from the hydrogen separation module or a hydrogen no-purge mode that stops the purge gas supply module as a stop control mode, and executes stop control in the stop control mode to stop the supply of hydrogen to the fuel cells; a predetermined material supply line that supplies the predetermined material to the chemical reaction module; a first valve that opens and closes the predetermined material supply line; a purge gas supply line that supplies the specified purge gas to the chemical reaction module; a second valve that opens and closes the purge gas supply line; a non-permeating gas supply line that supplies a non-permeating gas from the hydrogen separation module to a combustion unit; a third valve that opens and closes the non-permeating gas supply line; a fourth valve that opens and closes the hydrogen supply line; an anode off gas supply line that supplies anode off gas from the fuels cells to the combustion unit; and a fifth valve that opens and closes the anode off gas supply line, wherein the stop control module activates and controls (1) the hydrogen no-purge mode to close the first valve, the second valve, the third valve, the fourth valve and the fifth valve, and (2) the hydrogen purge mode to close the first valve and to open the second valve, the third valve, the fourth valve, and the fifth valve.