Method and apparatus for preventing water in fuel cell power plants from freezing during storage
US6797421B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 11, 2002 |
| Grant date | Sep 28, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 21, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A keep warm system for a fuel cell, power plant (10), typically of the PEM type, prevents freeze-sensitive portions of the power plant, such as the cell stack assembly (CSA) (12) and the water management system (28, 30), from freezing under extreme cold external temperatures, during extended storage (CSA shut-down) periods. Pre-stored and pressurized fuel, typically hydrogen (25), normally used to fuel the anode (16) of the CSA, is used as fuel for a catalytic oxidation reaction at a catalytic burner (66) to produce heated gas that convectively passes in heat exchange relation with the freeze sensitive portions (12, 28, 30) of the power plant (10). The convective flow of the heated gases induces the air flow to the burner (66), obviating the need for parasitic electrical loads. Thermal insulating means (64) substantially enclose the freeze-sensitive CSA (12) and/or the water management system (28, 30), and the convective flow of the heated gas from the catalytic burner (66), to improve system thermal efficiency.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.