# US 2017/0256804 A1 · Fuel cell systems and cooling methods

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- Number: US 2017/0256804 A1
- Document ID: US20170256804A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/061,634
- Filed: 2016-03-04
- Published: 2017-09-07
- Earliest claimed: 2016-03-04
- Assignees: Teledyne Energy Systems, Inc.
- Applicants: Teledyne Energy Systems, Inc.
- Inventors: Michael Miller; Patrick Scott Ferguson; Robert Christopher Utz; Robert K. Wynne
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170256804A1

## CPC

- H01M 8/04067: {Heat exchange or temperature measuring elements, thermal insulation, e.g. heat pipes, heat pumps, fins}
- H01M 8/04029: Heat exchange using liquids
- H01M 8/04208: {Cartridges, cryogenic media or cryogenic reservoirs}
- H01M 8/04358: {of the coolant}
- H01M 8/04753: {of fuel cell reactants}
- Y02E 60/50: 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

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the fuel supply and the oxidant supply comprise cryogenically cooled liquid storage vessels.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The fuel cell system of claim 2, wherein fuel and oxidant stored in the cryogenically cooled liquid storage vessels have a temperature below 100 K.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The fuel cell system of claim 2, further comprising a vent line in fluid communication with the storage vessel.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the fuel supply comprises cryogenically cooled hydrogen.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the thermal actuator is a passive thermal actuator in mechanical engagement with the control valve.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the coolant fluid comprises water, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, methanol, or ethanol, or combinations of any thereof.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein an inlet temperate into the fuel cell is between 330 K and 360 K.

### Claim 9

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.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The fuel cell system of claim 9, wherein the fuel supply and the oxidant supply comprise cryogenically cooled liquid storage vessels.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The fuel cell system of claim 10, wherein fuel and oxidant stored in the cryogenically cooled liquid storage vessels have a temperature below 100 K.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The fuel cell system of claim 10, further comprising a vent line in fluid communication with the storage vessel.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The fuel cell system of claim 9, wherein the fuel supply comprises cryogenically cooled hydrogen.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The fuel cell system of claim 9, wherein the thermal actuator is a passive thermal actuator in mechanical engagement with the control valve.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The fuel cell system of claim 9, wherein the coolant fluid comprises water, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, methanol, or ethanol, or combinations of any thereof.

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

The fuel cell system of claim 9, wherein an inlet temperate into the fuel cell is between 330 K and 360 K.

### Claim 17 (depends on 9)

The fuel cell system of claim 9, further comprising:
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 heat exchanger in which heat transfers from the coolant fluid in the coolant loop to oxidant fluid in the oxidant supply line.

### Claim 18

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.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The fuel cell system of claim 18, wherein the fuel supply and the oxidant supply comprise cryogenically cooled liquid storage vessels.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The fuel cell system of claim 18, further comprising:
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 passive thermal actuator located in the coolant loop downstream from the secondary coolant heat exchanger, wherein the passive thermal actuator mechanically engages with the control valve;
wherein the passive 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.

### Claim 21

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.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The fuel cell system of claim 21, wherein the fuel supply and the oxidant supply comprise cryogenically cooled liquid storage vessels.

### Claim 23 (depends on 21)

The fuel cell system of claim 21, wherein the sensor comprises a passive thermal actuator in mechanical engagement with the control valve.