Patent ID: 6576360
Filing Date: 2003-06-10
Classification: B01B,B60L,C01B,F28D,H01M,Y02E,Y02T

Abstract:
A fuel cell system, comprising:a fuel cell generating electric power; a combustor producing heating gas; an evaporator including an evaporating heat transfer surface evaporating fuel with the heating gas to produce fuel vapor, the evaporator including a liquid sump section located in the vicinity of the evaporating heat transfer surface and having a variable volume to vary an amount of liquid in the liquid sump section; a volume control device associated with the liquid sump section to control the volume thereof such that a demanded amount of the fuel vapor is obtained; and a reformer reforming the fuel vapor to produce reformed gas; wherein the fuel cell is supplied with the reformed gas and a gas containing oxygen to generate the electric power.