Thermal management system and method for aircraft fuel cells
AssigneeJoby Aero, Inc.
InventorsRobert Gulliver Lynn, Jeffrey Allen Lotterman, Gregor Veble Mikic, Benjamin Brelje
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fuel cell thermal management system and method for aerodynamic vehicles (such as aircraft) having propulsion systems powered by hydrogen fuel cells. The system and method reduce the overall amount of energy required to operate a propulsion system, which in turn reduces cooling requirements and improves efficiency. A cabin air reuse system uses cabin exhaust air as input air for the fuel cell. Because the cabin exhaust air is compressed, this saves the work involved in compressing air for input to the fuel cell.
Claims20
A method of thermal management of a fuel cell on an aircraft, the aircraft having a pressurized cabin, the method comprising:
- releasing air from the pressurized cabin and capturing the released air as cabin exhaust air;
- adjusting a pressure of the cabin exhaust air to comply with air pressure requirements of input air for the fuel cell to obtain conditioned cabin exhaust air;
- and
- supplying the conditioned cabin exhaust air to the fuel cell for use in the fuel cell to reduce cooling requirements of the fuel cell.
A fuel cell thermal management system for an aircraft, comprising:
- an integrated air-cooling system having a heat exchanger located in a cavity on the aircraft;
- a fuel cell in fluid communication with the heat exchanger for transferring heat from the fuel cell to the heat exchanger;
- at least one compressor on the aircraft for compressing air prior to the air entering the fuel cell;
- and
- a cabin air bleed mechanism for releasing and capturing cabin air from a pressurized cabin of the aircraft and using this cabin exhaust air as input air to the fuel cell.
A method for reusing cabin exhaust air from pressurized cabin of an aircraft, comprising:
- releasing and capturing the cabin exhaust air from the pressurized cabin;
- conditioning the cabin exhaust air to adjust its pressure and temperature to obtain conditioned cabin exhaust air and to comply with air pressure requirements and air temperature requirements of input air for a fuel cell located on the aircraft;
- and
- supplying the conditioned cabin exhaust air to the fuel cell for use by the fuel cell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.