Method to cold-start fuel cell system at sub-zero temperatures
US8841040B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 4, 2005 |
| Grant date | Sep 23, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 5, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
In a method to cold-start a fuel cell system at sub-zero temperatures, the fuel cell system comprises a fuel cell stack, upstream of which is connected a heating device to heat a cooling agent to be circulated by a coolant pump. To reduce the demand for stored electrical energy, the cold fuel cell stack is operated at such a capacity that it generates power that is sufficient only to operate the heating device and the coolant pump. The power generated by the fuel cell stack is used to operate the heating device for heating the cooling agent as well as the coolant pump, whereby the coolant pump circulates the cooling agent between the fuel cell stack and the heating device. The heating device is switched off as soon as the fuel cell stack reaches a preset temperature that is higher than the original temperature.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.