Fuel gas for a fuel cell

Abstract

A fatty acid such as an acetic acid or a butyric acid is added to a fuel gas for a fuel cell as an odorant. This makes it possible to add an odor to the fuel gas without poisoning an electrode catalyst and an electrolyte, and to prevent the odor from remaining in an exhaust gas emitted from the fuel cell.

1 . A fuel gas supply method for a fuel cell, comprising: 
 adding a water-soluble odorant to a reaction gas;    supplying the reaction gas to the fuel cell to produce electricity by a chemical reaction of the reaction gas; and    dissolving the odorant using water produced from the chemical reaction;    wherein the odorant is added in an amount such that the odorant is detectable by the human nose before the chemical reaction takes places, but is undetectable in an exhaust gas emitted from the fuel cell after the chemical reaction takes place.    
   
   
       2 . The fuel cell supply method of  claim 1 , wherein the odorant is a fatty acid having an odor.  
   
   
       3 . The fuel cell supply method of  claim 2 , wherein the fatty acid includes acetic acid.  
   
   
       4 . The fuel cell supply method of  claim 2 , wherein the fatty acid includes butyric acid.  
   
   
       5 . The fuel cell supply method of  claim 4 , wherein the butyric acid is added in an amount of approximately 2 to 10 ppm.