Patent ID: 8227133
Filing Date: 2012-07-24
Classification: B01J,H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell which includes a membrane electrode assembly a catalytic layer on both surfaces of an electrolyte membrane; a gas flow path connected to the catalytic layer; a fuel tank which is connected to the gas flow path to supply a fuel gas to the catalytic layer through the gas flow path; a hydrogenation catalyst which is disposed in a gas distribution path that extends from the fuel tank to the catalytic layer through the gas flow path, and the hydrogenation catalyst hydrogenates a nonsulfur odorant; and means for supplying heat generated by the fuel cell to the hydrogenation catalyst, wherein the fuel cell is a fuel cell stack, which is formed by stacking a plurality of the membrane electrode assembly with a separator sandwiched in between; wherein the gas flow path includes a manifold, which extends within the fuel cell stack and connects to the respective catalytic layers of the plurality of the membrane electrode assembly, and a conduit, which is disposed outside the fuel cell stack and connects the manifold to the fuel tank; and wherein a hydrogenation cell, which contains the hydrogenation catalyst, is integrated into the fuel cell stack, and the hydrogenation cell is positioned between the manifold and the conduit.