Apparatus and method using hydrogen pressure in fuel cell electric vehicle
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsKONSTANTIN S. MAJAROV, THOMAS P. O'MEARA
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Abstract
A hydrogen fuel cell system (100) for charging a battery (116) of an electric vehicle, includes at least one tank (102) for storing hydrogen under pressure. A combined heat exchanger and air engine (104) expands the pressurized hydrogen and converts the expanding hydrogen into mechanical energy. A plurality of fuel cells (106) receive the expanded hydrogen for supplying heat to the heat exchanger and air engine (104) and supplying a first current for charging the battery (116). A generator (108) generates a multi-phase voltage in response to the mechanical energy. A electrical power converter (110) responsive to the multi-phase voltage provides a second current for charging the battery (116).
Claims19
A system for providing an electric current, comprising:
- a combined heat exchanger and air engine for receiving and expanding pressurized gas and converting the expanding gas into mechanical energy;
- a device receiving and consuming the expanded gas;
- a generator generating a multi-phase voltage in response to the mechanical energy;
- and
- an electrical power converter responsive to the multi-phase voltage for providing the electric current,
- wherein heat is supplied to the heat exchanger and air engine from at least one of the device and the electrical power converter.
A hydrogen fuel cell system for charging a battery of an electric vehicle, the battery coupled to propulsion power converters for driving a motor of the electric vehicle, comprising:
- at least one tank capable of containing hydrogen gas under pressure;
- a combined heat exchanger and multi-stage air engine for expanding the pressurized hydrogen, converting the expanded hydrogen gas into mechanical energy, and regulating the hydrogen flow;
- a fuel cell receiving the expanded hydrogen gas for providing a first current for charging the battery;
- a generator converting the mechanical energy into a multi-phase voltage;
- and
- a electrical power converter responsive to the multi-phase voltage for providing a second current for charging the battery,
- wherein heat from at least one of the fuel cell, electrical power converter, and the propulsion power converters is supplied to the combined heat exchanger and multi-stage air engine.
A method for charging a battery of a vehicle, comprises:
- providing pressurized hydrogen to a combined heat exchanger and air engine;
- expanding the pressurized hydrogen in the heat exchanger and air engine;
- transferring heat to the heat exchanger and air engine;
- creating mechanical energy by the heat exchanger and air engine from the expanding hydrogen;
- converting the mechanical energy into a first electric current;
- converting the expanded hydrogen to a second electric current in a fuel cell;
- and
- charging the battery with the first and second electric currents.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.