Patent ID: 7651807
Filing Date: 2010-01-26
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell which generates power using liquid fuel and oxidant; a fuel tank which stores the liquid fuel; a cartridge holder in which a plurality of types of cartridges are replaceably loaded; cartridge detecting means which detects the type of cartridge loaded in the cartridge holder; a first passage which supplies the content of the fuel tank to the fuel cell; a second passage which supplies the content of the cartridge to the fuel cell; a third passage which supplies the content of the cartridge to the fuel tank; a fourth passage which passes the effluent from the fuel cell to the fuel tank; a fifth passage which passes the effluent from the fuel cell to the cartridge; first passage control means which switches to one of the first passage and the second passage for supply to the fuel cell in accordance with the type of cartridge detected; and second passage control means which switches to one of the fourth passage and the fifth passage for discharge from the fuel cell in accordance with the type of cartridge detected, wherein when the cartridge detecting means detects that the loaded cartridge contains a fuel, the first passage control means switches to the first passage for supply to the fuel cell, the second passage control means switches to the fourth passage for discharge from the fuel cell, and the content from the cartridge is supplied to the fuel cell via the fuel tank.