Electrochemical propulsion system

摘要

An electrochemical propulsion system in a vehicle comprises a hydrogen generator for converting fuel into hydrogen-containing gas and a fuel cell stack using the hydrogen-containing gas to produce electricity to power a drive motor for the vehicle. The fuel cell stack is oriented parallel to the vehicle longitudinal direction. The hydrogen generator is arranged longitudinally forward of the fuel cell stack and to the lateral side of the fuel cell stack. The fuel cell stack and the hydrogen generator are located within a front vehicle compartment of the vehicle in a closely adjacent manner. The hydrogen generator comprises a combustor for producing heat, a reformer closely adjacent to the combustor for converting fuel into hydrogen-containing gas using heat from the combustor, and a reactor to reduce carbon monoxide content from the hydrogen-containing gas wherein the reactor is adjacent to and downstream of the reformer. The drive motor is operatively connected to a wheel axle for driving vehicle wheels.