Thermal control of fuel cell for improved cold start
US7534511B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignees
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 21, 2006 |
| Grant date | May 19, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 20, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Improvements in startup time for an electrochemical fuel cell system from freezing and sub-freezing temperatures are obtained by utilizing an insulated fuel cell stack in combination with an thermal control subsystem. Temperature of the insulated electrochemical fuel cell stack, as well as temperature of the ambient environment, are monitored and a heating fluid is heated by thermal transfer with the environment under appropriate thermal conditions. The heated fluid is then passed to the insulated fuel cell in order to increase the temperature of the same, typically to a temperature at or near the temperature of the ambient environment. In this manner, ambient heat from the environment is utilized to increase the temperature of the insulated fuel cell stack, thus improving conditions for subsequent cold start of the insulated fuel cell stack.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.