Electrical automobile having a fuel cell, and method of powering an electrical automobile with a fuel cell system

摘要

The present invention features a system and a method for operating an electrical automotive vehicle. The system has an electrically-powered automotive vehicle with electrical drive motors. The electricity to power the drive motors is supplied onboard by a hydrogen- air fuel cell which operates by a hydrogen-oxygen reaction. The hydrogen for fueling the fuel cell is generated onboard the automobile by using a fuel storage compartment that supplies iron to a reactor bed. The reactor bed is either a fluidized bed or a catalyzed bed. The vehicle's operator obtains a fresh charge of iron for the fuel storage compartment from an iron fuel station. The iron charge is made up of pellets, sponge iron or particles of iron. The system contains a means for grinding the iron particles, or a catalyst, or both, so that their reactivity with respect to water will become enhanced. The vehicle has a tank for containing a supply of water, as well as a means for heating the water to reactive temperatures. The heated water is conveyed from the water tank to the reactor bed, where it reacts with the iron to form hydrogen and iron oxide. The hydrogen is conveyed to the hydrogen-air fuel cell, where it reacts with oxygen from the air to generate the electricity for powering the drive motors and the pumps of the vehicle, as well as provide water for resupplying the water tank, at least in part.