FUEL CELL SYSTEM

Abstract

A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a fuel tank, a first passage which supplies liquid fuel from the fuel tank to the fuel cell, a cartridge holder in which a plurality of types of cartridges are replaceably loaded, a second passage which supplies the content discharged from the cartridge to the fuel cell, a cartridge detector which detects the type of cartridge loaded in the cartridge holder, and a passage control means which controls the passages in accordance with the type of cartridge detected.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fuel cell system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates the structure of the fuel cell system.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a process performed when the fuel cell system is started or when a cartridge is exchanged.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the fuel cell system equipped with an initial process cartridge.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process performed when the initial process cartridge is loaded.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the fuel cell system equipped with a fuel cartridge.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a process performed when the fuel cartridge is loaded.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the fuel cell system equipped with a cleaning cartridge.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a process performed when the cleaning cartridge is loaded.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the fuel cell system equipped with an inactivating process cartridge.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a process performed when the inactivation process cartridge is loaded.

FIG. 12 is block diagram of a fuel cell system according to a variation of the embodiment.

Claims

1. A fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell which generates power using liquid fuel and oxidant;a fuel tank which stores the liquid fuel;a first passage which supplies the liquid fuel from the fuel tank to the fuel cell;a cartridge holder in which a plurality of types of cartridges are replaceably loaded;a second passage which supplies the content discharged from the cartridge to the fuel cell;cartridge detecting means which detects the type of cartridge loaded in the cartridge holder; andpassage control means which controls the passages in accordance with the type of cartridge detected.

2. The fuel cell system according to claim 1, wherein the passage control means controls the passages so that the liquid fuel discharged from the cartridge is supplied to the fuel tank, and collects effluent from the fuel cell in the fuel tank.

3. The fuel cell system according to claim 1, wherein the passage control means controls the passages so that cleaning liquid discharged from the cartridge is supplied to the fuel cell, and collects effluent from the fuel cell in the cartridge.

4. The fuel cell system according to claim 1, wherein when the cartridge detecting means detects that the cartridge loaded includes first and second containers, the first container including, for supply to the fuel tank, purified water or liquid fuel diluted to a predetermined concentration, and the second container being for collecting effluent from the fuel cell,the passage control means controls the passages so that the content discharged from the cartridge is supplied to the fuel tank, and collects, in the second container, the liquid fuel in the fuel tank or inert gas in the fuel cell, by collecting the effluent from the fuel cell in the cartridge, andthe passage control means further controls the passages so that the content discharged from the cartridge is supplied to the fuel cell, and supplies, to the fuel tank, the purified water or the liquid fuel diluted to the predetermined concentration stored in the first container, by collecting the effluent from the fuel cell in the fuel tank.

5. The fuel cell system according to claim 1, wherein when the cartridge detecting means detects that the cartridge loaded includes first and second containers, the first container storing inert gas for preventing degradation of the fuel cell, and the second container being for collecting effluent from the fuel cell,the passage control means controls the passages so that the content discharged from the cartridge is supplied to the fuel tank, and collects, in the second container, the liquid fuel in the fuel tank, by collecting the effluent from the fuel cell in the cartridge, andthe passage control means further controls the passages so that the content discharged from the cartridge is supplied to the fuel cell, and supplies, to the fuel tank, the inert gas stored in the first container, by collecting the effluent from the fuel cell in the fuel tank.