Patent ID: 6368735
Filing Date: 2002-04-09
Classification: H01M,Y02E,Y02T

Abstract:
A fuel cell power generation system for powering an electric vehicle, the system comprising:a low temperature fuel cell; a reactor system comprising a reformer for converting hydrogen-containing fuel into a reformate gas comprising hydrogen gas and by-product gas, the reactor system further comprising a metal membrane separator for separating the hydrogen gas from the by-product gas, thereby forming a hydrogen gas stream and a by-product gas stream; a metal hydride buffer, in line between the fuel cell and the membrane separator, the metal hydride buffer being capable of selectively storing hydrogen from the hydrogen gas stream and releasing the stored hydrogen; and a metal hydride temperature regulator that selectively directs oxidant exhaust gas and the by-product gas to the metal hydride buffer, the oxidant exhaust gas having a temperature effective to store hydrogen from the hydrogen gas stream in the metal hydride buffer, the by-product gas having a temperature effective to release hydrogen from the metal hydride buffer.