# US 2010/0167148 A1 · Temperature control system for fuel cell

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- Number: US 2010/0167148 A1
- Document ID: US20100167148A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 12/293,592
- Filed: 2007-03-30
- Published: 2010-07-01
- Earliest claimed: 2006-04-10
- Inventors: Kota Manabe
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100167148A1

## CPC

- H01M 8/04768: {of the coolant}
- H01M 8/04029: Heat exchange using liquids
- H01M 8/04268: {Heating of fuel cells during the start-up of the fuel cells}
- H01M 8/0432: Temperature; Ambient temperature
- H01M 2008/1095: {Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes}
- H01M 2250/20: Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
- Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells
- Y02T 90/40: Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

Provided is a temperature control system which can suppress a cell voltage fluctuation even in the case of starting under a low-temperature environment. The temperature control system for a fuel cell according to the present invention circulates a heat transfer medium through the fuel cell to control the temperature of the fuel cell. The system is characterized by including circulation control means for circulating, through the fuel cell, the heat transfer medium having a flow rate larger than that for a normal operation during a low-temperature operation. According to such a constitution, the flow rate of the heat transfer medium (cooling water or the like) for low-temperature start is set to a flow rate larger than that of the heat transfer medium for normal start, so that a temperature fluctuation among cells can be suppressed even in the case of warm-up for the low-temperature start, and as a result, the cell voltage fluctuation can be suppressed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A temperature control system for a fuel cell which circulates a heat transfer medium through the fuel cell to control the temperature of the fuel cell,
the system comprising:
a warm-up control device for warming up the fuel cell by low-efficiency power generation during a low-temperature operation; and
a circulation control device for circulating, through the fuel cell, the heat transfer medium having a flow rate larger than that for a normal operation during a low-temperature operation.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The temperature control system for the fuel cell according to claim 1, further comprising:
a judgment device for detecting the temperature concerning the fuel cell to judge based on the detection result whether to start the system at the low temperature or to normally start the system during the starting of the system,
wherein the circulation control device circulates, through the fuel cell, the heat transfer medium having a flow rate larger than that for the usual start during the low-temperature start.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The temperature control system for the fuel cell according to claim 1,
wherein the ends of the fuel cell are provided with heaters which heat the ends of the fuel cell during the low-temperature operation.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The temperature control system for the fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein a channel of the heat transfer medium is provided with a heater which heats the heat transfer medium during the low-temperature operation.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The temperature control system for the fuel cell according to claim 1, further comprising:
a radiator which performs heat exchange between the heat transfer medium and outside air; and
a control device for regulating the heat radiation of the radiator during the low-temperature operation.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The temperature control system for the fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the flow rate of the heat transfer medium to be circulated during the low-temperature operation is the maximum flow rate allowed by the system.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

The temperature control system for the fuel cell according to claim 3, further comprising:
a temperature control device for controlling the temperatures of the heaters which heat the ends during the low-temperature operation to suppress a temperature fluctuation among cells.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The temperature control system for the fuel cell according to claim 7,
wherein end plates are provided on both ends of the fuel cell, and the ends of the fuel cell include cells positioned in the vicinity of the end plates.