Appeal 2007-2192
Application 11/004,487
a fuel cell stack assembly adapted to receive at least a portion of the
product hydrogen stream from the fuel processing assembly and to produce
an electric current therefrom to at least partially satisfy an applied load
having a magnitude, wherein the fuel cell stack assembly includes a plurality
of fuel cell stacks that each have a maximum rated power output, wherein
the fuel cell system is adapted to satisfy an applied load by supplying up to a
maximum desired power output, wherein the fuel cell stack assembly has a
total rated power output that is at least equal to the maximum desired power
output, wherein each of the fuel cell stacks has a plurality of operational
states that include at least a first operational state, in which the fuel cell stack
receives at least a portion of the product hydrogen stream from the fuel
processing assembly and produces an electric current therefrom, and a
second operational state, in which the fuel cell stack is not producing an
electric current, wherein each of the fuel cell stacks has a maximum rated
power output, and further wherein each of the fuel cell stacks is adapted to
selectively receive at least a portion of the product hydrogen stream and to
produce an electric current therefrom; and
a control system with a controller adapted to selectively regulate the
operational states of the plurality of fuel cells stacks, wherein the controller
is adapted to regulate the operational states of the plurality of fuel cell stacks
responsive at least in part to the magnitude of the applied load, and further
wherein the controller is adapted to selectively configure at least one of the
plurality of fuel cell stacks from the first operational state to the second
operational state responsive to an applied load that is less than the maximum
desired power output.
The Examiner relies upon the following references in the rejection of
the appealed claims:
Okamato 5,714,276 Feb. 3, 1998
Kenji (as translated) JP 2168803 Jun. 28, 1990
Horiuchi 5,462,815 Oct. 31, 1995
Tanokura 5,624,768 Apr. 29, 1997
Walsh 6,110,612 Aug. 29, 2000
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