Apparatus and method using hydrogen pressure in fuel cell electric vehicle
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsKonstantin S. Majarov, Thomas P. O'Meara
Life of this patent
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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 a first electric current,
- wherein heat from the device is supplied to the heat exchanger and air engine from at least one of the device and the electrical power converter for heating the pressurized gas, and the device provides a second electric current from the expanded gas.
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 gas 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
- an 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 for heating the pressurized hydrogen.
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;
- providing the expanded pressurized hydrogen to a fuel cell;
- transferring heat from the fuel cell to the heat exchanger and air engine for heating the pressurized hydrogen;
- creating mechanical energy by the heat exchanger and air engine from the expanding hydrogen;
- converting the mechanical energy into a first electric current by a generator coupled to the heat exchanger and air engine;
- converting the expanded hydrogen to a second electric current in the fuel cell;
- and
- charging the battery with the first and second electric currents.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.