Patent ID: 6849352
Filing Date: 2005-02-01
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A fuel cell system comprising a plurality of fuel cells, in particular in the form of low temperature fuel cells, which are assembled into a stack and are adapted to permit oxygen or an oxygen containing gas to react with hydrogen or a hydrogen containing gas to generate electricity and produce first exhaust gases containing residual oxygen and second exhaust gases containing residual hydrogen, said system comprising: a cathode side with a cathode inlet for receiving said oxygen or oxygen containing gas and a cathode outlet for said first exhaust gases; an anode side with an anode inlet for receiving said hydrogen or hydrogen containing gas, an anode outlet for said second exhaust gases; a feedback loop for returning at least a part of the second exhaust gases arriving at the anode outlet back to the anode inlet; and a line which leads from the anode side to the cathode side and is designed to supply second exhaust gases to the cathode inlet which, after reaction of said residual hydrogen with oxygen at said cathode side to form water, leave the fuel cell system with said first exhaust gases via said cathode outlet.