Integration of fuel cell with cryogenic source for cooling and reactant

A spacecraft or aircraft, comprising:

• a fuel cell configured for continuously receiving a first reactant and a second reactant to produce chemical reactions that generate electrical power, water, and heat;
• electronics that are supplied with the electrical power generated by the fuel cell;
• a coolant subsystem configured for circulating a primary coolant in association with the fuel cell, thereby absorbing at least a portion of the heat from the fuel cell;
• wherein the coolant subsystem comprises a primary heat exchanger configured for injecting absorbed heat from the primary coolant into a secondary coolant, and secondary heat exchangers configured for injecting absorbed heat from the primary coolant into the first reactant and the second reactant;
• a water accumulator for storing the water generated by the fuel cell;
• a tertiary heat exchanger configured for injecting absorbed heat from the water accumulator into the secondary coolant;
• a tank configured for storing the secondary coolant;
• a thruster;
• and
• a distribution subsystem configured for conveying the secondary coolant from the tank to the coolant subsystem to remove at least a portion of absorbed heat from the primary coolant, and for conveying the secondary coolant to the thruster after the at least portion of the absorbed heat has been removed from the primary coolant.

A fuel cell-based power system, comprising:

• a fuel cell configured for continuously receiving a first reactant and a second reactant to produce chemical reactions that generate electrical power, water, and heat;
• a tank configured for storing a cryogenic liquid;
• and
• a coolant subsystem configured for circulating a primary coolant in association with the fuel cell, thereby absorbing at least a portion of the heat from the fuel cell;
• wherein the coolant subsystem comprises a primary heat exchanger configured for injecting absorbed heat from the primary coolant into a secondary coolant, and secondary heat exchangers configured for injecting absorbed heat from the primary coolant into the first reactant and the second reactant;
• a water accumulator for storing the water generated by the fuel cell;
• a tertiary heat exchanger configured for injecting absorbed heat from the water accumulator into the secondary coolant;
• a quaternary heat exchanger configured for thermally transforming the cryogenic liquid from the tank into a vapor or gas;
• and
• a reactant distribution subsystem configured for conveying the vapor or gas to the fuel cell as the second reactant, and for conveying the first reactant to the coolant subsystem as the secondary coolant to remove at least a portion of the heat absorbed by the primary coolant.