Fuel cell system
AssigneeAdaptive Energy, LLC
InventorsThomas Westrich, Christopher Ridgard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell and a fuel system. The fuel cell includes a housing and a fuel cell stack positioned in the housing. The fuel cell stack is configured to produce an electrochemical reaction from a fuel and air to output electricity. The fuel system includes a fuel source, a fuel vaporizer, and fuel lines through which fuel flows from the fuel source to the fuel vaporizer and from the fuel vaporizer to the fuel cell stack. The fuel vaporizer includes a conductive tube through which the fuel flows, the conductive tube being in contact with the housing to conduct heat from the housing to the fuel to vaporize the fuel.
Claims19
A fuel cell system comprising:
- a fuel cell having a housing and a fuel cell stack positioned in the housing, the fuel cell stack being configured to produce an electrochemical reaction from a fuel and air to output electricity;
- a fuel system having a fuel source, a fuel vaporizer, and fuel lines through which the fuel flows from the fuel source to the fuel vaporizer and from the fuel vaporizer to the fuel cell stack;
- and
- a second fuel tank and a regulator arranged between the secondary fuel tank and the fuel cell stack, wherein the fuel source is a first fuel tank, and the regulator is selectively operated to control flow of the fuel from the secondary fuel tank to the fuel cell stack;
- wherein the fuel vaporizer includes a conductive tube through which the fuel flows, the conductive tube being in contact with the housing to conduct heat from the housing to the fuel to vaporize the fuel;
- and
- wherein the flow of the fuel from the first fuel tank through the fuel vaporizer to the second fuel tank is controlled by operating the regulator.
An unmanned aerial vehicle comprising:
- a fuselage;
- a propulsion system coupled to the fuselage and configured to propel the unmanned aerial vehicle through the air, the propulsion system including at least one electric motor;
- and
- a fuel cell system configured to provide power to the at least one electric motor, wherein the fuel cell system includes:
- a fuel cell having a housing and a fuel cell stack positioned in the housing, the fuel cell stack being configured to produce an electrochemical reaction from a fuel and air to output electricity;
- and
- a fuel system having a fuel source, a second fuel tank, a fuel vaporizer, and fuel lines through which the fuel flows from the fuel source to the fuel vaporizer and from the fuel vaporizer to the fuel cell stack;
- wherein the fuel vaporizer includes a conductive tube through which the fuel flows, the conductive tube being in contact with the housing to conduct heat from the housing to the fuel to vaporize the fuel;
- and
- wherein the fuel source is a first fuel tank that is positioned at least partially above the second fuel tank, and the first fuel tank includes a fuel outlet that is positioned at an approximate mid-height thereof.
A fuel cell system comprising:
- a fuel cell having a housing and a fuel cell stack positioned in the housing, the fuel cell stack being configured to produce an electrochemical reaction from a fuel and air to output electricity;
- and
- a fuel system having a fuel source, a second tank, a fuel vaporizer, and fuel lines through which the fuel flows from the fuel source to the fuel vaporizer and from the fuel vaporizer to the fuel cell stack;
- wherein the fuel vaporizer includes a conductive tube through which the fuel flows, the conductive tube being in contact with the housing to conduct heat from the housing to the fuel to vaporize the fuel;
- wherein the fuel source is a first fuel tank positioned at least partially above the second fuel tank;
- and
- wherein the primary fuel tank includes a fuel outlet that is positioned at an approximate mid-height.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.