ARRANGEMENT FOR ELECTROCHEMICAL ENGINE

• Main Authors: O'CONNELL DANIEL B, STRATTON MICHAEL A, MCMANIS JAMES V
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 18.09.2001
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS INVEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OFTRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GASEXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS, IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT OR PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLEDVEHICLES; ELECTRICITY; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES, IN GENERAL; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSIONOF CHEMICAL INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLES IN GENERAL

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To feed hydrogen to a fuel cell without reducing a total occupant cabin and a vehicle storage space. SOLUTION: This electrochemical engine for a vehicle is provided with a fuel cell stack operable to generate electricity when applied with hydrogen and oxygen, an air generator for feeding oxygen to the fuel cell stack, a first storage tank including a hydrogen-retaining material releasing the stored hydrogen to the fuel cell stack when heated to the releasing temperature, and a heat generator generating the heat for the hydrogen-retaining material in the first storage tank and arranged in an underfloor cabin at the vehicle rear below a vehicle floor part. The heat generator and the first storage tank are arranged at the front in the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell stack near the stack, and the air generator is arranged at the rear in the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell stack near the stack.