On-board oxygen booster for peak power in fuel cell systems
AssigneeZeroAvia, Inc.
InventorsValery Miftakhov, Henry Grishashvili
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Recognizing the fact of extremely low utilization of peak power (especially in the aviation use case), we propose a novel approach to significantly reduce the size and weight of the system by downsizing the main air compressor to match the air flow required to produce the desired continuous power (e.g., 55% of the peak power rating for the aviation applications, etc.), and provide the supplemental oxygen flow from an on-board high-pressure oxygen tank.
Claims14
A method of boosting power in an aircraft fuel cell system on demand, the method comprising:
- operably coupling a compressed air source to a hydrogen fuel cell to initiate hydrogen fuel cell startup, the compressed air source supplying compressed air at a continuous flow rate until a voltage of the hydrogen fuel cell is high enough to power an air compression system;
- introducing an auxiliary on-board oxygen supply into the air compression system utilizing an oxygen-air mixing and pressure regulating system, the oxygen-air mixing and pressure regulating system configured to supply oxygen to the hydrogen fuel cell, the hydrogen fuel cell operably coupled to a hydrogen source, the air compression system, and a motor;
- and
- coupling the oxygen-air mixing and pressure regulating system with a powertrain control system to provide additional oxygen from the on-board oxygen supply to boost power to the motor on demand from the powertrain control system during aircraft takeoff and initial climb.
A method of boosting power in an aircraft fuel cell system on demand, the method comprising:
- introducing an auxiliary on-board oxygen supply into an air compression system utilizing an oxygen-air mixing and pressure regulating system, the oxygen-air mixing and pressure regulating system configured to supply oxygen to a hydrogen fuel cell operably coupled to a hydrogen source, the air compression system, and a motor;
- supplying a main air compressor with the air compression system configured to produce an air flow to the hydrogen fuel cell at an air flow rate based on a percentage of a peak power rating of the aircraft;
- and
- operably coupling a compressed air source to the hydrogen fuel cell to initiate hydrogen fuel cell startup, the compressed air source supplying compressed air at a continuous flow rate until a voltage of the hydrogen fuel cell is high enough to power the main air compressor of the air compression system.
A method of boosting power in an aircraft fuel cell system on demand, the method comprising:
- introducing an auxiliary on-board oxygen supply into an air compression system utilizing an oxygen-air mixing and pressure regulating system, the oxygen-air mixing and pressure regulating system configured to supply oxygen to a hydrogen fuel cell operably coupled to a hydrogen source, the air compression system, and a motor;
- coupling the oxygen-air mixing and pressure regulating system with a powertrain control system to provide additional oxygen from the on-board oxygen supply to boost power to the motor on demand from the powertrain control system during aircraft takeoff and initial climb;
- and
- operably coupling a compressed air source to the hydrogen fuel cell to initiate hydrogen fuel cell startup.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.