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US 12,573,649 B2Granted
Oxidizing agents for emergency power units
AssigneeHamilton Sundstrand Corporation
InventorsMalcolm P. MacDonald, Ram Ranjan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, an emergency power unit system for an aircraft includes a fuel cell system configured to generate power using a fuel and an oxidant, and an oxidant supply system fluidly connected to the fuel cell system to supply the oxidant to the fuel cell system via an oxidant supply line. The oxidant supply system is fluidly connected to an environmental control system of an aircraft.
Claims20
An emergency power unit system for an aircraft, comprising:
- a fuel cell system configured to generate power using a fuel and an oxidant;
- and
- an oxidant supply system fluidly connected to the fuel cell system and configured to supply the oxidant to the fuel cell system via an oxidant supply line;
- wherein the fuel cell system comprises:
- a fuel cell fluidly connected to the oxidant supply line and configured to receive the oxidant;
- a cabin air compressor configured to receive the oxidant and compress the oxidant upstream of the fuel cell, wherein the oxidant is cabin air compressor exhaust;
- and
- a turbine downstream from the fuel cell and configured to receive exhaust flow, the turbine operatively connected to the cabin air compressor and configured to turn the cabin air compressor;
- and
- wherein the oxidant supply line includes a branch point such that, at the branch point, a portion of the cabin air compressor exhaust is diverted to the fuel cell for oxidation and another portion of the cabin air compressor exhaust is diverted to an aircraft cabin.
7 more elements
An emergency power unit system for an aircraft, comprising:
- a fuel cell system configured to generate power using a fuel and an oxidant;
- an oxidant supply system fluidly connected to the fuel cell system and configured to supply the oxidant to the fuel cell system via an oxidant supply line;
- wherein the fuel cell system comprises:
- a fuel cell fluidly connected to the oxidant supply line and configured to receive the oxidant;
- and
- a cabin air compressor configured to receive the oxidant and compress the oxidant upstream of the fuel cell, wherein the oxidant is cabin air compressor exhaust;
- and
- wherein the oxidant supply line includes a branch point such that, at the branch point, a portion of the cabin air compressor exhaust is diverted to the fuel cell for oxidation and another portion of the cabin air compressor exhaust is diverted to an aircraft cabin;
- and
- a heat exchanger disposed in the oxidant supply line upstream of the branch point, the heat exchanger configured to cool the cabin air compressor exhaust before the cabin air compressor exhaust is diverted to the fuel cell and the aircraft cabin.
7 more elements
A method comprising:
- generating power with a fuel cell system using a fuel and an oxidant;
- supplying the oxidant to the fuel cell system via an oxidant supply line with an oxidant supply system fluidly connected to the fuel cell system;
- wherein the fuel cell system comprises:
- a fuel cell fluidly connected to the oxidant supply line and receiving the oxidant;
- and
- a cabin air compressor receiving the oxidant and compressing the oxidant upstream of the fuel cell, wherein the oxidant is cabin air compressor exhaust;
- and
- wherein the oxidant supply line includes a branch point such that, at the branch point, a portion of the cabin air compressor exhaust is diverted to the fuel cell for oxidation and another portion of the cabin air compressor exhaust is diverted to an aircraft cabin;
- and
- using a heat exchanger disposed in the oxidant supply line upstream of the branch point, cooling the cabin air compressor exhaust before the cabin air compressor exhaust is diverted to the fuel cell and the aircraft cabin.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.