Mixing tank for fuel cell

Abstract

A mixing tank for a fuel cell is provided with a container housing fuel for the fuel cell, an absorbent member housed in the container, which has a cavity therein, an inlet flow path interconnecting the fuel cell and the container so as to conduct an exhaust from the fuel cell to the container and admix the exhaust with the fuel to form a mixture absorbed in the absorbent member, an exhaust flow path interconnecting the cavity and an outside of the mixing tank so as to conduct gas to the outside and an outlet flow path interconnecting the absorbent member and the fuel cell so as to conduct the mixture absorbed in the absorbent member to the fuel cell.

1 . A mixing tank for a fuel cell, comprising:
 a container housing fuel for the fuel cell;   an inlet flow path interconnecting the fuel cell and the container so as to conduct an exhaust from the fuel cell to the container and admix the exhaust with the fuel to form a mixture;   an exhaust flow path interconnecting the container and an outside of the container so as to conduct gas to the outside;   an outlet flow path interconnecting the container and the fuel cell;   a gas collector flexible tube connected to and communicating with the exhaust flow path;   a floating member attached to the gas collector flexible tube so that an end of the gas collector flexible tube is projected upward from the mixture;   a mixture collector flexible tube connected to and communicating with the outlet flow path; and   a weight attached to the mixture collector flexible tube so that the mixture collector flexible is sunk in the mixture.   
   
   
       2 . The mixing tank of  claim 1 , wherein the gas collector flexible tube includes a gas-liquid separation membrane. 
   
   
       3 . The mixing tank of  claim 1 , wherein the mixture collector flexible tube includes a liquid absorbent member. 
   
   
       4 . A mixing tank for a fuel cell, comprising:
 a container housing fuel for the fuel cell;   an inlet flow path interconnecting the fuel cell and the container so as to conduct an exhaust from the fuel cell to the container and admix the exhaust with the fuel to form a mixture;   a swivel shaft including an outlet flow path and an exhaust flow path therein, penetrating a side of the container and being rotatably attached thereto;   a gas collector tube connected to and communicating with the exhaust flow path;   a mixture collector tube connected to and communicating with the outlet flow path, the mixture collector tube being substantially disposed opposite to the gas collector tube; and   a weight attached to the mixture collector tube so that the mixture collector tube is oriented downward and the gas collector tube is oriented upward.   
   
   
       5 . The mixing tank of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a rotary shaft rotatably attached to the swivel shaft, the rotary shaft including first and second grooves respectively formed on a periphery of the rotary shaft and first and second communication holes respectively formed in the first and second grooves so that the first and second communication holes respectively keep communication with the outlet flow path and the exhaust flow path regardless of a rotational position of the swivel shaft.   
   
   
       6 . The mixing tank of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a second swivel shaft rotatably attached to the rotary shaft, the second swivel shaft including third and fourth grooves respectively formed on a periphery of the second swivel shaft and third and fourth communication holes respectively formed in the third and fourth grooves so that the third and fourth communication holes respectively keep communication with the first and second communication holes regardless of a rotational position of the rotary shaft.   
   
   
       7 . A fuel cell system comprising:
 a fuel cell having an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte membrane put therebetween;   a container housing fuel for the fuel cell;   an inlet flow path interconnecting the fuel cell and the container so as to conduct an exhaust from the fuel cell to the container and admix the exhaust with the fuel to form a mixture;   a swivel shaft including an outlet flow path communicating with the anode and an exhaust flow path therein, and penetrating a side of the container and being rotatably attached thereto;   a gas collector tube connected to and communicating with the exhaust flow path;   a mixture collector tube connected to and communicating with the outlet flow path, the mixture collector tube being substantially disposed opposite to the gas collector tube;   a weight attached to the mixture collector tube so that the mixture collector tube is oriented downward and the gas collector tube is oriented upward; and   an air supply unit supplying air to the cathode.   
   
   
       8 . The fuel cell system of  claim 7 , wherein the gas collector flexible tube includes a gas-liquid separation membrane. 
   
   
       9 . The fuel cell system of  claim 7 , wherein the mixture collector flexible tube includes a liquid absorbent member. 
   
   
       10 . A fuel cell system comprising:
 a fuel cell having an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte membrane put therebetween;   a container housing fuel for the fuel cell;   an inlet flow path interconnecting the fuel cell and the container so as to conduct an exhaust from the fuel cell to the container and admix the exhaust with the fuel to form a mixture;   a swivel shaft including an outlet flow path communicating with the anode and an exhaust flow path therein, and penetrating a side of the container and being rotatably attached thereto;   a gas collector tube connected to and communicating with the exhaust flow path;   a mixture collector tube connected to and communicating with the outlet flow path, the mixture collector tube being substantially disposed opposite to the gas collector tube;   a weight attached to the mixture collector tube so that the mixture collector tube is oriented downward and the gas collector tube is oriented upward; and   an air supply unit supplying air to the cathode.   
   
   
       11 . The fuel cell system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a rotary shaft rotatably attached to the swivel shaft, the rotary shaft including first and second grooves respectively formed on a periphery of the rotary shaft and first and second communication holes respectively formed in the first and second grooves so that the first and second communication holes respectively keep communication with the outlet flow path and the exhaust flow path regardless of a rotational position of the swivel shaft.   
   
   
       12 . The fuel cell system of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a second swivel shaft rotatably attached to the rotary shaft, the second swivel shaft including third and fourth grooves respectively formed on a periphery of the second swivel shaft and third and fourth communication holes respectively formed in the third and fourth grooves so that the third and fourth communication holes respectively keep communication with the first and second communication holes regardless of a rotational position of the rotary shaft.