Fuel cell unit

Abstract

A fuel cell unit is provided with a fuel cell for electric power generation, a mixing tank housing a mixture of fuel and exhaust from the fuel cell, a fuel tank housing the fuel, a pump delivering the mixture and air to the fuel cell, a casing housing the fuel cell, the pump and at least one of the fuel tank and the mixing tank and a partition partitioning an interior of the casing into a first compartment housing the fuel cell and a second compartment. The partition is provided with first, second and third flow paths. The first flow path connects the mixing tank to the fuel cell. The second flow path connects the fuel cell to the pump. The third flow path connects the pump to the mixing tank.

1 . A fuel cell unit comprising:
 a fuel cell for electric power generation, the fuel cell having a cathode and an anode;   a mixing tank housing a mixture of fuel and exhaust from the fuel cell and being connected to the fuel cell, the mixing tank including a porous body disposed along an interior wall of the mixing tank, a cavity portion, an inflow path connecting the fuel cell to the cavity portion, and an outflow path connecting the cavity portion to an outside of the mixing tank;   a fuel tank housing fuel and connected to the mixing tank; and   a pump delivering the mixture and air to the fuel cell.   
   
   
       2 . The fuel cell unit of  claim 1 , wherein the cavity portion comprises an obstruction piece configured to obstruct direct fluid transfer from the inflow path to the exhaust flow path. 
   
   
       3 . The fuel cell unit of  claim 1 , further comprising: an exhaust flow path connecting the fuel cell to the pump. 
   
   
       4 . The fuel cell unit of  claim 3 , wherein the fuel tank is connected to the exhaust flow path or the outflow path. 
   
   
       5 . The fuel cell unit of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a casing housing the fuel cell, the pump and at least one of the fuel tank or the mixing tank; and   a partition partitioning an interior of the casing into a first compartment housing the fuel cell and a second compartment.   
   
   
       6 . The fuel cell unit of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the partition comprises a manifold including the inflow path and the outflow path.   
   
   
       7 . A fuel cell unit comprising:
 a fuel cell for electric power generation, the fuel cell having a cathode and an anode;   a mixing tank housing a mixture of fuel and exhaust from the fuel cell and being connected to the fuel cell;   a fuel tank housing fuel and including a porous body disposed along an interior wall of the fuel tank and a flow path connecting the porous body to the mixing tank; and   a pump delivering the mixture and air to the fuel cell.   
   
   
       8 . The fuel cell unit of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a first flow path connecting the mixing tank to the fuel cell;   a second flow path connecting the fuel cell to the pump; and   a third flow path connecting the pump to the mixing tank.   
   
   
       9 . The fuel cell unit of  claim 8 , wherein the fuel tank is connected to the first flow path or the second flow path. 
   
   
       10 . The fuel cell unit of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a casing housing the fuel cell, the pump and at least one of the fuel tank or the mixing tank; and   a partition partitioning an interior of the casing into a first compartment housing the fuel cell and a second compartment.   
   
   
       11 . The fuel cell unit of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the partition comprises a manifold including the first, second and third flow paths.   
   
   
       12 . A fuel cell unit comprising:
 a fuel cell for electric power generation, the fuel cell having a cathode and an anode;   a mixing tank housing a mixture of fuel and exhaust from the fuel cell and being connected to the fuel cell;   a fuel tank housing fuel and connected to the mixing tank; and   a pump having a suction port and a discharge port, the suction port being connected to both the fuel cell and the fuel tank so as to give negative pressure to the fuel cell and the fuel tank and the discharge port being connected to the mixing tank, whereby the negative pressure causes delivery of the fuel from the fuel tank to the mixing tank and delivery of the mixture from the mixing tank to the anode and air to the cathode.   
   
   
       13 . The fuel cell unit of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a first flow path connecting the mixing tank to the fuel cell;   a second flow path connecting the fuel cell to the pump; and   a third flow path connecting the pump to the mixing tank.   
   
   
       14 . The fuel cell unit of  claim 13 , wherein the fuel tank is connected to the first flow path or the second flow path. 
   
   
       15 . The fuel cell unit of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a casing housing the fuel cell, the pump and at least one of the fuel tank or the mixing tank; and   a partition partitioning an interior of the casing into a first compartment housing the fuel cell and a second compartment.   
   
   
       16 . The fuel cell unit of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the partition comprises a manifold including the first, second and third flow paths.