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US 2017/0256804 A1Published application
Fuel cell systems and cooling methods
AssigneeTeledyne Energy Systems, Inc.
InventorsMichael Miller, Patrick Scott Ferguson, Robert Christopher Utz, Robert K. Wynne
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fuel cell system is disclosed in which a fuel or oxidant fluid is used as a coolant fluid that functions as a heat sink a fuel cell.
Claims23
A fuel cell system comprising:
- a fuel cell;
- a fuel supply in fluid communication with the fuel cell through a fuel supply line;
- an oxidant supply in fluid communication with the fuel cell through an oxidant supply line;
- a coolant loop in fluid communication with the fuel cell and configured to circulate a coolant fluid through the fuel cell;
- a fuel supply line heat exchanger, wherein the coolant loop and the fuel supply line pass through the fuel supply line heat exchanger in which heat transfers from the coolant fluid in the coolant loop to fuel fluid in the fuel supply line;
- an oxidant supply line heat exchanger, wherein the coolant loop and the oxidant supply line pass through the oxidant supply line heat exchanger in which heat transfers from the coolant fluid in the coolant loop to oxidant fluid in the oxidant supply line;
- a secondary coolant heat exchanger, wherein the coolant loop and a fuel bypass line in fluid communication with the fuel supply pass through the secondary coolant heat exchanger in which heat transfers from the coolant fluid in the coolant loop to fuel fluid in the fuel bypass line;
- a control valve located in the fuel bypass line upstream from the secondary coolant heat exchanger;
- and
- a thermal actuator located in the coolant loop;
- wherein the thermal actuator and the control valve control the flow of fuel through the secondary coolant heat exchanger based on the temperature of the coolant fluid in contact with the thermal actuator.
8 more elements
A fuel cell system comprising:
- a fuel cell;
- a fuel supply in fluid communication with the fuel cell through a fuel supply line;
- an oxidant supply in fluid communication with the fuel cell through an oxidant supply line;
- a coolant loop in fluid communication with the fuel cell and configured to circulate a coolant fluid through the fuel cell;
- a secondary coolant heat exchanger, wherein the coolant loop and a fuel bypass line in fluid communication with the fuel supply through the secondary coolant heat exchanger in which heat transfers from the coolant fluid in the coolant loop to fuel fluid in the fuel bypass line;
- a control valve located in the fuel bypass line upstream from the secondary coolant heat exchanger;
- and
- a thermal actuator located in the coolant loop;
- wherein the thermal actuator and the control valve control the flow of fuel through the secondary coolant heat exchanger based on the temperature of the coolant fluid in contact with the thermal actuator.
6 more elements
A fuel cell system comprising:
- a fuel cell;
- a fuel supply in fluid communication with the fuel cell through a fuel supply line;
- an oxidant supply in fluid communication with the fuel cell through an oxidant supply line;
- a coolant loop in fluid communication with the fuel cell and configured to circulate a coolant fluid through the fuel cell;
- and
- a fuel supply line heat exchanger, wherein the coolant loop and the fuel supply line pass through the fuel supply line heat exchanger in which heat transfers from the coolant fluid in the coolant loop to fuel fluid in the fuel supply line;
- or
- an oxidant supply line heat exchanger, wherein the coolant loop and the oxidant supply line pass through the oxidant supply line exchanger in which heat transfers from the coolant fluid in the coolant loop to oxidant fluid in the oxidant supply line.
5 more elements
A fuel cell system comprising:
- a fuel cell;
- a fuel supply in fluid communication with the fuel cell through a fuel supply line;
- an oxidant supply in fluid communication with the fuel cell through an oxidant supply line;
- a fuel bypass line in fluid communication with the fuel supply and the fuel cell;
- a control valve located in the fuel bypass line;
- and
- a sensor in thermal contact with the fuel cell;
- wherein the sensor and the control valve control the flow of fuel through the fuel bypass line based on the operating temperature of the fuel cell.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.