Patent ID: 7147951
Filing Date: 2006-12-12
Classification: F24H,H01M,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A cogeneration apparatus, comprising: a polymer electrolyte fuel cell operable to generate electric power using a fuel gas and an oxidizing gas; an internal circulation circuit operable to circulate an internal heat transport medium through said fuel cell; an internal circulating unit operable to circulate the internal heat transport medium; a waste heat collecting pipe operable to circulate an external heat transport medium; a heat exchanging unit operable to exchange heat of the internal heat transport medium circulating inside said internal circulation circuit with heat of the external heat transport medium circulating inside said waste heat collecting pipe; a heat utilizing unit operable to utilize heat of the external heat transport medium heat-exchanged by said heat exchanging unit through said waste heat collecting pipe; an external heat transport medium circulating unit operable to circulate the external heat transport medium inside said waste heat collecting pipe; a temperature detecting unit operable to detect a temperature of said internal heat transport medium; and a fuel cell cooling water temperature controlling unit operable to control the temperature of said internal heat transport medium to a predetermined temperature, by adjusting a flow rate of said external heat transport medium circulating unit based on the detected temperature of said internal heat transport medium.