Patent ID: 6534210
Filing Date: 2003-03-18
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
A fuel cell power generation system comprising:a primary fuel cell stack for generating a first quantity of electric power, the primary fuel cell stack including an anode, a cathode, an electrolytic layer positioned between the anode and the cathode, a fuel flow path adjacent a side of the anode opposite the electrolytic layer, and an oxidant flow path adjacent a side of the cathode opposite the electrolytic layer; an auxiliary fuel cell stack for generating a second quantity of electric power, the auxiliary fuel cell stack including a fuel electrode, an oxygen electrode, an electrolytic member positioned between the fuel electrode and the oxygen electrode, a fuel distribution path adjacent a side of the fuel electrode opposite the electrolytic member, and an oxidant distribution path adjacent a side of the oxygen electrode opposite the electrolytic member; a fuel handling subsystem for feeding a fuel containing hydrogen into the fuel flow path to bring the fuel into contact with the anode of the primary fuel cell stack and for feeding the fuel into the fuel distribution path to bring the fuel into contact with the fuel electrode of the auxiliary fuel cell stack, whereby the contacting of the fuel with the fuel electrode generates the second quantity of electric power from the auxiliary fuel cell stack; an oxidant handling subsystem including a compressor for feeding an oxidant containing oxygen into the oxidant flow path to bring the oxidant into contact with the cathode, whereby the contacting of the fuel with the anode and the contacting of the oxidant with the cathode generates the first quantity of electric power from the primary fuel cell stack; and a controller electrically connected to the primary fuel cell stack, the auxiliary fuel cell stack, the fuel handling subsystem and the oxidant handling subsystem, wherein the controller is operable to sense a startup signal for the fuel cell power generation system, the controller is operable to provide a fuel delivery signal to the fuel handling subsystem to initiate feeding of the fuel into the fuel flow path of the primary fuel cell stack and into the fuel distribution path of the auxiliary fuel cell stack in response to the sensed startup signal, and the controller is operable to apply at least a portion of the second quantity of electric power generated by the auxiliary fuel cell stack to the compressor to run the compressor to feed the oxidant into the oxidant flow path of the primary fuel cell stack in response to the sensed startup signal.