Patent ID: 7381488
Filing Date: 2008-06-03
Classification: B01J,C01B,H01M,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A fuel cell system comprising: a PEM fuel-cell having an anode section and a cathode section and a PEM situated between said anode section and said cathode section; and an oxidizer assembly comprising: a housing having a plurality of inlets and a plurality of outlets, each of said outlets corresponding to a different one of said inlets; a catalyst assembly disposed within said housing and able support gas flow therethrough from each of said plurality of inlets, said catalyst assembly including a catalyst body having a catalyst for promoting oxidation of the carbon monoxide content of a first hydrogen containing gas and being able to be regenerated by a second gas, said catalyst body being adapted to be movable such that successive parts of said catalyst body are able to be brought repeatedly in communication with a first inlet of said plurality of inlets and the corresponding first outlet of said plurality of outlets and then a second inlet of said plurality of inlets and the corresponding second outlet of said plurality of outlets and, where said inlets are at least three and said corresponding outlets are at least three, then a third inlet of said plurality of inlets and the corresponding third outlet of said plurality of outlets; wherein: when said first gas is supplied to said first inlet of said plurality of inlets the part of said catalyst body in communication with said first inlet of said plurality of inlets and the corresponding first outlet of said plurality of outlets and through which said first gas passes causes said carbon monoxide component of said first gas to be oxidized and said first gas then passes through said corresponding first outlet of said plurality of outlets; and when said second gas is supplied to said second inlet of said plurality of inlets the part of said catalyst body in communication with said second inlet of said plurality of inlets and the corresponding second outlet of said plurality of outlets and through which aid second gas passes causes the catalyst in that part of said catalyst assembly to be regenerated and said second gas then passes through said corresponding second outlet of said plurality of outlets; and said first gas output from said first outlet of said plurality of outlets is supplied to said anode section of said PEM fuel cell.