Plural Heat Exchangers Patents (Class 429/435)
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Publication number: 20110053025Abstract: A cooling system for a fuel cell vehicle, may include a stack radiator, an electric drivetrain radiator disposed in series at a side of the stack radiator, an aircon condenser disposed in front of the stack radiator to cover the stack radiator, not the electric drivetrain radiator, and cooling fans disposed behind the stack radiator and the electric drivetrain radiator which are disposed in series.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2010Publication date: March 3, 2011Applicants: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors CorporationInventors: Jaeyeon Kim, Jaesan Kim, Manhee Park
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Patent number: 7892685Abstract: A multi-unit fuel cell system that includes a common-use reforming unit configured to supply hydrogen to multiple fuel cell units that are installed in multiple units, such as apartments within an apartment building. In one example embodiment, a fuel cell system including a common-use reforming unit and multiple fuel cell units is disclosed. The common-use reforming unit is configured to supply hydrogen to the plurality of fuel cell units. Each fuel cell unit includes a stack unit, an air supplying unit, an integral heat exchange unit, a hot-water supplying unit, an auxiliary heat supplying unit, and an electric output unit.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2006Date of Patent: February 22, 2011Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Myung-Seok Park, Yong-Jun Hwang, Seung-Tae Ko, Jung-Gyu Park, Seong-Geun Heo, Ki-Dong Kim, Tae-Won Kim, Sung-Nam Ryoo, Sun-Hoe Kim, Bon-Gwan Gu, Hyung-Kyu Youk, Hyun-Jae Lee, Gil-Yong Lee, Jun-Seong Park, Sun-Gu Kwon, Byung-Tak Park, Sang-Heon Lee, Geun-Ho Jin
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Patent number: 7875401Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a heat exchanger, a reformer, and a casing containing the fuel cell stack, the heat exchanger, and the reformer. A chamber unit is formed at an end plate of the fuel cell stack. The air heated by the heat exchanger temporarily fills the chamber unit. The heat exchanger and the reformer are directly connected to the chamber unit.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2005Date of Patent: January 25, 2011Assignee: Honda Motor, Ltd.Inventors: Tadashi Tsunoda, Hiroki Homma, Tetsuya Ogawa
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Patent number: 7867663Abstract: Disclosed herein is a heat exchange system for battery packs, which controls the temperature of a medium- or large-sized battery pack including a plurality of unit cells such that the battery pack can be operated under the optimum operating conditions. The heat exchange system includes an air inlet port and an air outlet port formed at one side of a housing surrounding the outer surface of the battery pack so as to form a predetermined flow channel, through which air flows, a driving fan mounted in the flow channel for driving the air to flow through the flow channel, and a Peltier element mounted at the air inlet port for controlling the temperature of air introduced into the air inlet port. In the heat exchange system according to the present invention, the thermoelectric element is mounted inside the air inlet port, through which air for cooling the battery pack is introduced into the heat exchange system.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2006Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.Inventors: JongMin Park, Junill Yoon, Heekook Yang, John E. Namgoong, Jaesung Ahn, Hyosang Woo
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Patent number: 7858258Abstract: A device and method to regulate humidification in a cascaded fuel cell stack. The cascaded fuel cell stack includes individual fuel cells placed together in multiple groups. A recirculation loop is fluidly coupled to an anode flowpath to permit the recirculation of hydrogen or a related fuel. A controller and one or more sensors and flow manipulation devices cooperate with one another to selectively increase or decrease the flow of reactant in the recirculation loop in order to manage water levels in one or more of the anode, cathode or electrolyte layer disposed between the anode and cathode.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2006Date of Patent: December 28, 2010Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.Inventor: Victor W. Logan
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Patent number: 7858256Abstract: A fuel cell system (1) is provided and includes a fuel cell stack (3) and a heat transfer device (5) adapted to transfer heat from a cathode exhaust stream of the fuel cell stack (3) to water to be provided to a fuel inlet stream.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2005Date of Patent: December 28, 2010Assignee: Bloom Energy CorporationInventors: Todd M. Bandhauer, Michael J. Reinke, Jeroen Valensa
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Publication number: 20100323256Abstract: A fuel cell system (1), especially in a motor vehicle, is provided with a fuel cell (2), which generates electric current during the operation from anode gas and cathode gas, with a residual gas burner (3), which reacts anode waste gas with cathode waste gas into burner waste gas during the operation; with an air delivery device (17), which feeds air as cathode gas to the fuel cell (2) via a fuel cell air line (12) during the operation; and with a first heat exchanger (14), which couples a waste gas line (13) removing burner waste gas from the residual gas burner (3) with the fuel cell air line (12) in a heat-transmitting operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2010Publication date: December 23, 2010Inventors: Andreas KAUPERT, Markus Willkommen, Karsten Reiners, Valentin Notemann
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Patent number: 7851098Abstract: A reformer fuel cell system having a plurality of components, that are a plurality of partial reformer systems forming a reformer for the generation of a hydrogen-rich gas and a fuel cell for the generation of electric current with use being made of the hydrogen-rich gas. A burner device is arranged outside of the reformer and the fuel cell is provided for the generation of a hot exhaust gas. An exhaust gas supply assembly supplies the exhaust gas to at least two of the components wherein the exhaust gas supply assembly defines the flow path of the exhaust gas such that the exhaust gas flows to and/or through the components according to the level of their particular operating temperature in descending temperature order. In this manner, it is easily possible to directly heat up the individual components to the level of their particular operating temperature in a selective manner.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2006Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: Truma Geratetechnik GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Andreas Schiegl, Reinhard Frank, Sven Butschek, Gunther Kolb
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Patent number: 7811713Abstract: A method and apparatus for thermal control of air flow in a fuel cell system, capable of accurately controlling the temperature of the air stream entering the water vapor transfer unit, maintaining a desired temperature set-point, and minimizing the time required for the air stream to reach the optimum operating temperature.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2006Date of Patent: October 12, 2010Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.Inventors: Jason R. Kolodziej, Seth E. Lerner, Prem C. Menon, Steven D. Burch
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Publication number: 20100248047Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell heating medium circulation circuit for circulating a fuel cell heating medium that exchanges heat with a fuel cell; a condensing coolant circulation circuit for circulating a condensing coolant that exchanges heat with at least one of a fuel off-gas discharged from a fuel electrode, an oxidant off-gas discharged from an oxidant electrode, and a combustion exhaust gas discharged from a reformer; a hot water storage tank for storing stored hot water; and a stored hot water circulation circuit for circulating the stored hot water, which exchanges heat with the condensing coolant circulating through the condensing coolant circulation circuit and the fuel cell heating medium circulating through the fuel cell heating medium circulation circuit. A fuel gas heat exchanger in which the fuel cell heating medium and the fuel gas supplied to the fuel electrode exchange heat is disposed on the fuel cell heating medium circulation circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 11, 2008Publication date: September 30, 2010Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Takashi Ishikawa
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Patent number: 7781115Abstract: A method of operating an atmospheric-pressure solid oxide fuel cell generator (6) in combination with a gas turbine comprising a compressor (1) and expander (2) where an inlet oxidant (20) is passed through the compressor (1) and exits as a first stream (60) and a second stream (62) the first stream passing through a flow control valve (56) to control flow and then through a heat exchanger (54) followed by mixing with the second stream (62) where the mixed streams are passed through a combustor (8) and expander (2) and the first heat exchanger for temperature control before entry into the solid oxide fuel cell generator (6), which generator (6) is also supplied with fuel (40).Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2010Date of Patent: August 24, 2010Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.Inventor: Wayne Lundberg
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METHODS FOR INHIBITING CORROSION IN BRAZED METAL SURFACES AND COOLANTS AND ADDITIVES FOR USE THEREIN
Publication number: 20100196773Abstract: Disclosed are coolants comprising brazed metal corrosion inhibitors. In one embodiment, the disclosed brazed metal corrosion inhibitor will comprise a polycarboxylic acid functional compound having the structure: wherein R1, R2, R3, and R4 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, OH, COOH, C1-C10 alkyl groups, glycol esters, anhydride groups, —COOM, and combinations thereof, wherein M is at least one of H, alkali metal ions, alkali earth metal ions, NH4+, amines, imidazoline, polyalcohol esters, C1 to C12 alkyl groups, and combinations thereof; wherein (1) at least three of R1, R2, R3, and R4 contain the group —COOM, wherein M is defined above; or (2) at least two of R1, R2, R3, and R4 contain an anhydride group, and at least one of R1, R2, R3, and R4 contain the group —COOM, wherein M is defined above.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2010Publication date: August 5, 2010Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Bo Yang, Peter M. Woyciesjes, Aleksei V. Gershun, Filipe J. Marinho -
Patent number: 7740987Abstract: A method of operating a fuel cell cogeneration system comprises the steps of cooling a fuel cell by circulating an internal heat transfer medium through the fuel cell while the fuel cell is generating electric power, storing an external heat transfer medium in a heat utilization portion, detecting remaining calories of the heat utilization portion by a first detector provided at the heat utilization portion, increasing a temperature of the fuel cell to an operating temperature by carrying out a first temperature increasing operation, and increasing the temperature of the fuel cell to the operating temperature by carrying out a second temperature increasing operation.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2009Date of Patent: June 22, 2010Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Shinji Miyauchi, Tetsuya Ueda, Yoshiaki Yamamoto