IP Library Granted Patent US 9,118,053
Granted Patent B2
US 9,118,053 · App. 13/144,842 · Granted Aug 25, 2015

Fuel cell system and method for performing maintenance on fuel cell system

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,118,053
App. No.
13/144,842
Granted
Aug 25, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A fuel cell system according to the present invention comprises a hydrogen generator including a burner which is detachably accommodated in the hydrogen generator in a manner to allow the burner to be detached from and attached to the hydrogen generator through the top of the hydrogen generator, a stack configured to generate power by causing hydrogen generated by the hydrogen generator and an oxidizing gas to react with each other, and a main body package which includes at least a top plate and within which the hydrogen generator and the stack are disposed. Detachable piping, which is detachably configured, is provided above the hydrogen generator. Space that is formed above the burner when the detachable piping is removed from the main body package has a size larger than or equal to the size of the burner.

Claims (19)

1. A fuel cell system comprising:

a main body package which includes at least a top plate and a detachable side face plate, the detachable side face plate being disposed to cover a side opening of the main body package;

a hydrogen generator disposed in the main body package and including a reformer and a burner, the burner being detachably accommodated in the hydrogen generator in a manner to allow the burner to be detached from and attached to the hydrogen generator through the top of the hydrogen generator;

a stack disposed in the main body package and configured to generate power by causing hydrogen generated by the hydrogen generator and an oxidizing gas to react with each other; and

detachable piping which is disposed in space and is a part of piping that forms at least one of a fuel gas supply passage, an oxidizing gas supply passage, an off oxidizing gas passage, a fuel gas passage, and a cooling water circulation passage, the space being above the hydrogen generator and facing the side opening and having a size larger than or equal to the size of the burner, wherein

the burner is attachable to or detachable from the reformer and the main body package in a side direction of the main body package through the side opening,

a partition plate dividing inner space of the main body package into an upper part and a lower part is disposed at a position above the hydrogen generator, and

an opening through which the upper part and the lower part of the inner space of the main body package are in communication with each other is formed in a portion of the partition plate, the portion overlapping the hydrogen generator when seen from above, wherein the opening of the partition plate is formed such that the opening is larger than the burner.

2. The fuel cell system according to claim 1 , wherein

an auxiliary device is provided above the detachable piping, and

the height of the lower face of the auxiliary device from the upper face of the hydrogen generator is set to be greater than the height of the burner.

3. The fuel cell system according to claim 1 , wherein the detachable piping is piping through which a gas flows.

4. The fuel cell system according to claim 1 , further comprising:

an air inlet formed at a first side face plate of the main body package and configured to introduce air into the main body package; and

an air outlet formed at a second side face plate of the main body package and configured to discharge air to the outside of the main body package, wherein

the air inlet is provided at a position below the stack,

the air outlet is provided at a position above the hydrogen generator such that the air outlet is opposed to the air inlet,

a power supply circuit is disposed in the upper part of the inner space of the main body package, such that the power supply circuit is positioned at the first side face plate side of the main body package, and

a ventilator is provided at the air outlet.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ERRONEOUSLY FILED APPLICATION NUMBERS 13/384239, 13/498734, 14/116681 AND 14/301144 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 034194 FRAME 0143. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Dec 24, 2020
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 056788/0362 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 10, 2014
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 034194/0143 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 26, 2011
From: TANABE, NAOHISA; YUKIMASA, AKINORI
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 026964/0178 →