System and method for rapid preheating of an automotive fuel cell
AssigneeFord Motor Company
InventorsGeorge Steve Saloka, James A. Adams
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system 10 for selectively and rapidly preheating one or more vehicle fuel cells 12 during cold start or freezing conditions. The system 10 includes a bypass valve 26, a controller 30, vehicle sensors 32 and a bypass conduit 54. The controller 30 monitors vehicle attribute data by use of sensors 32 to determine whether a cold start condition exists. Based upon the attribute data, controller 30 may signal valve 26 to bypass heat exchanger 18, and cause compressed air to be delivered directly to fuel cells 12, thereby heating the fuel cells 12.
Claims20
A system for selectively heating a fuel cell within a vehicle, said system comprising:
- an air compressor;
- and
- a conduit system which is communicatively coupled to and receives compressed air from said air compressor and which is further communicatively coupled to said fuel cell, said conduit system being effective to selectively deliver said compressed air directly to said fuel cell during cold start conditions, effective to heat said fuel cell.
A system for supplying air and hydrogen gas to a fuel cell within a vehicle, said system comprising:
- a fuel tank which selectively stores said hydrogen gas;
- a first conduit system which is adapted to be selectively and fluidly coupled said fuel tank to said fuel cell, effective to allow said hydrogen gas to be selectively communicated to said fuel cell;
- a compressor which is effective to receive and compress said air;
- a second conduit system which is adapted to be communicatively coupled to said compressor and to said fuel cell, said second conduit system being effective to receive said compressed air and to allow said compressed air to be selectively communicated to said fuel cell;
- a first heat exchanger which is operatively disposed within said second conduit system and which is effective to selectively cool said compressed air before said compressed air is communicated to said fuel cell;
- and
- at least one bypass valve which is operatively disposed within said second conduit system and which is effective to allow said compressed air to selectively bypass said first heat exchanger.
A method for heating a fuel cell stack within a vehicle having a compressor for selectively compressing air, an air conduit system which is communicatively coupled to and receives compressed air from said compressor and which is further communicatively coupled to said fuel cell stack, and a heat exchanger which is disposed within said air conduit system and which is effective to selectively cool said compressed air, said method comprising the steps of:
- selectively causing said compressed air to bypass said heat exchanger and to be communicated directly to said fuel cell stack, thereby heating said fuel cell stack.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.