# US 10,483,563 B2 · Cathode supply for a fuel cell > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,483,563 B2 - Document ID: US10483563B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/342,835 - Filed: 2016-11-03 - Published: 2017-05-04 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2015-11-04 - Assignees: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft; Audi AG - Applicants: Volkswagen AG - Inventors: Daniel Grundei; Christian Schlitzberger; Christian Lucas; Hannes Scholz; Jan-Philipp Brinkmeier - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10483563B2 ## CPC - H01M 8/04201: {Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes} - B60L 50/72: Constructional details of fuel cells specially adapted for electric vehicles - B60L 58/32: for controlling the temperature of fuel cells, e.g. by controlling the electric load - H01M 8/04089: of gaseous reactants - H01M 8/04111: using a compressor turbine assembly - H01M 8/04134: {by coolants} - H01M 8/04141: {by water containing exhaust gases} - H01M 2250/20: Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane - Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells - Y02T 90/40: Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A cathode supply (30) for a fuel cell (10) of a fuel cell unit (1) for a fuel cell system is provided, the cathode supply (30) including a cathode supply path (31) and a cathode exhaust gas path (32) and at least two fluid pumping devices (33, 133) for pumping a cathode operating medium (5) for the fuel cell (10) are fluido-mechanically coupled into the cathode supply path (31), at least one first fluid pumping device (133) of the at least two fluid pumping devices (33, 133) being drivable only on the basis of an enthalpy in a cathode exhaust gas (6) of the fuel cell (10). A fuel cell unit for a vehicle, in particular, an electric vehicle, a fuel cell system for a vehicle, in particular, an electric vehicle, or a vehicle in particular an electric vehicle, the fuel cell unit, the fuel cell system, or the vehicle including a cathode supply (30) is provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cathode supply for a fuel cell of a fuel cell unit for a fuel cell system, the cathode supply comprising: a cathode supply path; a cathode exhaust gas path; and at least two fluid pumps for pumping a cathode operating medium for the fuel cell being fluido-mechanically coupled into the cathode supply path; at least one first fluid pump of the at least two fluid pumps being drivable by enthalpy in a cathode exhaust gas of the fuel cell. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cathode supply as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one second fluid pump of the at least two fluid pumps is drivable by an electric motor, the second fluid pump being drivable exclusively by the electric motor or by the electric motor and, additionally, by a turbine. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The cathode supply as recited in claim 2 wherein the second fluid pump is drivable by the electric motor and, additionally, by the turbine, the turbine being a cathode turbine. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The cathode supply as recited in claim 1 wherein the cathode supply includes an exhaust gas turbocharger and an electric turbocharger, the exhaust gas turbocharger including the first fluid pump and the electric turbocharger including a second fluid pump of the at least two fluid pumps. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The cathode supply as recited claim 1 wherein the first fluid pump is designed as a first cathode compressor of the exhaust gas turbocharger. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The cathode supply as recited in claim 5 wherein the first cathode compressor is drivable by a cathode turbine of the exhaust gas turbocharger, and the cathode turbine is fluido-mechanically coupled into the cathode exhaust gas path. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The cathode supply as recited in claim 1 wherein two of the at least two fluid pumps are fluido-mechanically connected in series or in parallel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The cathode supply as recited in claim 1 wherein the first fluid pump is fluido-mechanically coupled into the cathode supply path downstream from an air filter, a wastegate, the second fluid pump of the at least two fluid pumps, a humidifier, or a charge air cooler. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The cathode supply as recited in claim 1 wherein the first fluid pump is fluido-mechanically coupled into the cathode supply path upstream from a wastegate, a second fluid pump of the at least two fluid pumps, a humidifier, or an charge air cooler. ### Claim 10 (depends on 3) The cathode supply as recited in claim 3 wherein the cathode turbine is fluido-mechanically coupled into the cathode exhaust gas path downstream from a humidifier or a wastegate. ### Claim 11 (depends on 3) The cathode supply as recited in claim 3 wherein the cathode turbine is fluido-mechanically coupled into the cathode exhaust gas path upstream from a humidifier or a wastegate. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The cathode supply as recited in claim 1 wherein a second fluid pump of the at least two fluid pumps is fluido-mechanically coupled into the cathode supply path downstream from an air filter, a wastegate, a first fluid pump, a humidifier, or an charge air cooler. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The cathode supply as recited in claim 1 wherein a second fluid pump of the at least two fluid pumps is fluido-mechanically coupled into the cathode supply path upstream from a wastegate, the first fluid pump, a humidifier, or an charge air cooler. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The cathode supply as recited in claim 1 wherein a second fluid pump of the at least two fluid pumps is fluido-mechanically coupled into the cathode supply path downstream from a first fluid pump. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The cathode supply as recited in claim 14 wherein the first fluid pump is fluido-mechanically coupled into the cathode supply path upstream and the second fluid pumping device downstream from a humidifier. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The cathode supply as recited in claim 15 wherein the second fluid pump is provided upstream from a charge air cooler. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A fuel cell unit or system for a vehicle comprising the cathode supply as recited in claim 1. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The fuel cell unit or system for a vehicle as recited in claim 17 wherein the vehicle is an electric vehicle. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A vehicle comprising the cathode supply as recited in claim 1. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) An electric vehicle comprising the cathode supply as recited in claim 1. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The fuel cell unit as recited in claim 1 wherein the first fluid pump is drivable exclusively fluido-mechanically by the cathode exhaust gas. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The fuel cell unit as recited in claim 1 wherein the first fluid pump is not driven by electricity.