Back to results
US 6,296,957 B1Granted
Energy supply unit on board an aircraft
AssigneeXcellsis GmbH
InventorKlaus Graage
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An energy supply unit on board on aircraft comprises a fuel cell (1) as an energy converter for generating electrical energy to power various aircraft electrical systems.
Claims13
Energy supply system for an aircraft for replacing at least one of a main power unit generator, an auxiliary power unit, a ram air turbine and an NiCd battery, said energy supply system comprising:
- a fuel cell for generating direct current;
- means for supplying air to the fuel cell, using one of outgoing air from an aircraft air-conditioning system, ambient air from an intake opening of an aircraft propulsion unit, and ambient air from a pressure stage of the aircraft propulsion unit;
- means for recovering water from air discharged from the fuel cell, to obtain water for the water supply of the aircraft, outgoing fuel cell air being discharged to the aircraft environment;
- and
- means for discharging hydrogen discharged by the fuel cell to the environment external to the aircraft.
2 more elements
A method of using a fuel cell, comprising:
- providing said fuel cell in an aircraft;
- coupling said fuel cell to supply electric energy to an electrical supply system of said aircraft;
- and
- supplying air to said fuel cell from one of outgoing air from an aircraft air conditioning system, ambient air from an intake opening of an aircraft propulsion unit, and ambient air from a pressure stage of the aircraft propulsion unit.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.