Fuel cell system
AssigneeBallard Power Systems Inc.
InventorsWolfram Fleck, Robert D. Merritt, Ed Peters, Eric Pow
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fuel cell system comprises a reservoir for cryogenic media and a fuel cell unit containing at least one fuel cell connected to receive fuel from the reservoir. At least a first heat exchanger is provided within a cooling circuit for the fuel cell unit, whereby heat from the first heat exchanger (3) is used, at least indirectly, to provide fuel from the reservoir. A heating circuit for the reservoir, designed to heat and/or vaporize the cryogenic medium via the first heat exchanger, is connected directly to the cooling circuit for the fuel cell unit.
Claims8
A fuel cell system comprising:
- a reservoir for cryogenic media for providing a fuel;
- a fuel cell unit containing at least one fuel cell connected to receive fuel from the reservoir;
- a cooling circuit for cooling the fuel cell unit;
- and
- a heating circuit including at least one first heat exchanger for heating cryogenic medium provided from said reservoir to said fuel cell unit, said heating circuit being coupled directly to the cooling circuit for the fuel cell unit.
A method for generating gaseous fuel from a cryogenic medium in a fuel cell system which includes a reservoir for storing said cryogenic medium, a fuel cell unit coupled to receive said gaseous fuel, and a cooling circuit for circulating a cooling medium for cooling said fuel cell unit, said method comprising:
- transferring heat from said cooling medium to said cryogenic medium by means of a heat exchanger connected between said reservoir and said fuel cell unit, by causing cooling medium from said cooling circuit to flow through said heat exchanger.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.