Liquid Cooling Patents (Class 429/437)
  • Patent number: 8632923
    Abstract: A battery pack includes at least one battery cell, an evaporator disposed adjacent the at least one battery cell in thermal communication therewith, the evaporator including porous media and a collector in communication with the porous media, and a coolant storage unit in incoming and outgoing fluid communication with the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignees: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Kwon Sohn
  • Patent number: 8623567
    Abstract: A system and method for determining a loss of cooling fluid from a thermal sub-system in a fuel cell system. The method includes monitoring current feedback from a high temperature pump that pumps the cooling fluid through a coolant loop. A measured current from the pump is compared to an expected current for the system operating conditions, and if that current is significantly less than what is expected, then it may be as a result of low cooling fluid. If the measured current is less than the expected current for a predetermined period of time, then the system can take mitigating action as a result of a low cooling fluid. Further, if the pump speed is too low to provide an accurate current measurement, then it can be increased if an overflow tank level sensor indicates a low cooling fluid level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jun Cai, Seth E. Lerner, Loren Devries, Steven R. Falta
  • Publication number: 20130337356
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell; a cooling water passage for cooling the fuel cell; a cooling water tank; a recovered water tank configured to store water produced in the fuel cell system; a water circulating passage configured to allow water circulating between the recovered water tank and the cooling water tank to flow therethrough; a power supply detection unit; a temperature detector provided in at least one of the cooling water passage, the cooling water tank, the recovered water tank, and the water circulating passage; and a controller configured to execute a temperature increasing process for increasing the temperature detected by the temperature detector if the power supply detection unit detects a change from a state in which electric power is not supplied to a state in which the electric power is supplied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigeki Yasuda, Akinari Nakamura, Koichi Kusumura, Takayuki Urata
  • Patent number: 8603693
    Abstract: An output limiting device for a fuel cell, including: an inlet coolant temperature sensor detecting an inlet coolant temperature at a coolant inlet of the fuel cell; an outlet coolant temperature sensor detecting an outlet coolant temperature at a coolant outlet of the fuel cell; and an output limiter limiting power or current extracted from the fuel cell according to the detected inlet coolant temperature and the detected outlet coolant temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ikuhiro Taniguchi, Keisuke Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8592094
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a membrane electrochemical generator (100) characterized by improved electrical insulation and reduced volume. The membrane electrochemical generator (100) is fed with gaseous reactants and comprises a multiplicity of reaction cells (101) assembled in a filter-press configuration. Each of said reaction cells (101) is delimited by a pair of bipolar sheets (102), formed by a metallic central body (110) integrated in a frame (111) made of polymeric material. The polymeric material may be of the thermoplastic or thermosetting type and the frame (111) is laid on the metallic central body (110) by molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Nuvera Fuel Cells Europe S.R.L.
    Inventors: Marcello Liotta, Eduardo Trifoni
  • Patent number: 8586257
    Abstract: A standard phosphoric acid fuel cell power plant has its heat exchanger removed such that a higher temperature coolant flow can be directed from the system to the generator of an absorption chiller to obtain improved efficiency in the chiller. In one embodiment, the higher temperature coolant may flow directly from the fuel cell stack to the generator and then back to the high temperature coolant loop. Either a double effect absorption chiller or a single effect absorption chiller may be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Bhimashankar V. Nitta, Brian Chakulski, Benoit C. Olsommer, Robert J. Braun
  • Publication number: 20130280632
    Abstract: An evaporation cycle heat exchange system for a vehicle cools vehicle electronic components, a fuel cell stack, an internal combustion engine, an automatic transmission, a turbocharger, etc. using an evaporative heat exchanger, thus improving cooling efficiency and reducing the size of components such as a radiator. The evaporation cycle heat exchange system cools coolant circulating through a vehicle cooling system by employing an evaporative heat exchanger in which a working fluid flows by a pressure difference caused by volume expansion and capillary phenomenon. Accordingly, it is possible to improve the cooling efficiency of the entire cooling system, reduce the size of components to comply with pedestrian protection regulations, improve fuel efficiency, and ensure the stability of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Jae Yeon Kim
  • Patent number: 8563181
    Abstract: A fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell having plural membrane-electrode assemblies and plates, fuel and oxidant humidifiers and heater exchanger. Heat exchange between a supply inlet and discharge outlet is carried out between first and second heat exchange mediums. Fuel gas and oxidant gas are directed to flow parallel to each other in the fuel cell. A circulation path is established through the fuel and oxidant humidifiers and the heat exchanger by interconnection among discharge outlet, heat exchanger, fuel and oxidant humidifiers, and inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki Matsubayashi, Mitsuo Karakane, Yasunori Yoshimoto, Akira Hamada
  • Patent number: 8563190
    Abstract: A fuel cell comprises: multiple unit cells stacked upright in a vertical direction or stacked in a vertically inclined orientation; an insulating plate arranged on a vertically upper-side end of the stacked multiple unit cells; a cooling medium supply manifold arranged to distribute a supply flow of a cooling medium into the multiple unit cells and a cooling medium discharge manifold arranged to join together discharged flows of the cooling medium from the multiple unit cells; and a de-airing passage formed to release a gas accumulated in either the cooling medium supply manifold or the cooling medium discharge manifold, wherein the cooling medium supply discharge manifold and the cooling medium discharge manifold are respectively connected to a cooling medium supply piping and a cooling medium discharge piping on a vertically lower-side end of the fuel cell, and the de-airing passage is formed such that a portion of the de-airing passage is made in the insulating plate wherein the portion of the de-airing pa
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koji Katano
  • Patent number: 8557448
    Abstract: The fuel cell of the invention includes an electrolyte assembly, and a separator having one face as a gas flow path-forming face with a gas flow path formed thereon to allow flow of a reactive gas and the other face, which is reverse to the one face, as a refrigerant flow path-forming face with a refrigerant flow path formed thereon to allow flow of a refrigerant. The gas flow path-forming face of the separator has multiple linear gas flow paths that are arranged in parallel to one another, and a gas flow path connection structure that divides the multiple linear gas flow paths into plural linear gas flow path groups and connects at least part of the plural linear gas flow path groups in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Yamamoto, Yuichi Yagami, Jiro Aizaki, Junichi Shirahama, Sogo Goto, Tsuyoshi Takahashi, Tomokazu Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8551666
    Abstract: An electrical generation system, a membrane fuel cell system, suitable for being employed in mobile application, for instance in vehicular applications as a direct electric current generation system comprising at least one polymer membrane fuel cell stack with means for adjusting the temperature of the cells comprising circulating a coolant inside the cells at constant flow-rate, the water and the thermal management of the system being regulated by acting only on the flow-rate of the air feed and on the cell inlet temperature of the coolant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Nuvera Fuel Cells Europe S.R.L.
    Inventor: Antonino Toro
  • Publication number: 20130260273
    Abstract: A fuel cell system (10) comprises a fuel cell (14) and an evaporative cooling system (16), which is in thermal contact with the fuel cell (14), in order that heat generated by the fuel cell (14) during operation of the fuel cell (14) is absorbed through evaporation of a cooling medium and is removed from the fuel cell (14). The fuel cell system (10) further comprises a device (22) for sensing the pressure in the evaporative cooling system (16). A control unit (24) is adapted to control the operating temperature of the fuel cell (14) in dependence on signals that are supplied to the control unit (24) from the device (22) for sensing the pressure in the evaporative cooling system (16), in such a way that the cooling medium of the evaporative cooling system (16) is transferred from the liquid to the gaseous state of matter by the heat generated by the fuel cell (14) during operation of the fuel cell (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventor: Tobias Scheibert
  • Publication number: 20130230786
    Abstract: Coolant velocity greater than zero everywhere within the coolant channels (78, 85) of fuel cells (38) in a fuel cell stack (37) is assured by providing a flow of biphase fluid in the coolant channels, the flow being created by the outflow of a condenser (59). Positive pressure is applied to the coolant inlet (66) of the coolant channels. Biphase flow from an oxidant exhaust condenser, which may be a vehicle radiator (120), renders the coolant return flow more freeze tolerant. Using biphase flow within the coolant channels eliminates the need for a bubble-clearing liquid pump and reduces liquid inventory and other plumbing; this makes the fuel cell power plant more freeze tolerant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Inventors: Michael L. Perry, Robert M. Darling
  • Publication number: 20130224619
    Abstract: A coolant circuit for a fuel cell system of a motor vehicle includes an ion exchange module fluidically coupled to a component of the coolant circuit, which is flowed through by coolant during a cooling operation. The ion exchange module is fixed to an external wall of the component. A fastening element couples the ion exchange module fluidically to the component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Schwienbacher, Mario Mittmann
  • Patent number: 8512904
    Abstract: A fuel cell system a includes a cooling water temperature raising unit that raises the temperature of a fuel cell stack by passing discharge gas of a process burner or hydrogen gas of a fuel processing unit and cooling water that is heated by the discharge gas of the process burner through flow paths formed on opposing surfaces of cooling separators formed of a metal and installed between a plurality of cells in the stack. Thus in the fuel cell system, when the temperature of the stack needs to be rapidly raised, for example, during a start up operation of the fuel cell system, the temperature of the stack can be rapidly raised using discharge gas at a high temperature or combustion heat of hydrogen gas, and heated cooling water, and thereby, significantly reducing the time required for the fuel cell system to be in regular operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Duk-jin Oh, Hyun-chul Lee, Tae-won Song, Dong-kwan Kim, Yong Wang
  • Patent number: 8507137
    Abstract: A fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly comprised of a membrane sandwiched between anode and cathode catalyst structures. An anode separator plate and a cathode separator plate are arranged adjacent to the membrane electrode assembly opposite from one another. The anode and cathode separator plates include opposing sides in which one of the opposing sides of the anode and cathode respectively have fuel and oxidant flow fields in communication with the membrane. The anode separator plate is a structure having a first water permeability and is configured to permit passage of water between its opposing sides and with its flow field, and the cathode separator plate comprises a structure having a second water permeability less than the first water permeability of the anode separator plate. In one example, the anode is provided by a porous separator plate, and the cathode is provided by a non-porous, or solid, plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: UTC Power Corporation
    Inventors: Glenn Michael Allen, Gennady Resnick
  • Patent number: 8501362
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a plurality of fuel cell modules. Each of the fuel cell modules has a first membrane electrode assembly and a second membrane electrode assembly respectively having an electrolyte membrane and being arranged, such that respective first electrodes are opposed to each other. The fuel cell module also has a first reactive gas flow path arranged to supply a first reactive gas to the first electrodes included in the first membrane electrode assembly and the second membrane electrode assembly, a second reactive gas flow path arranged to supply a second reactive gas to the second electrodes included in the first membrane electrode assembly and the second membrane electrode assembly, and a coolant flow path arranged to cool down the second electrodes included in the first membrane electrode assembly and the second membrane electrode assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuki Amemiya
  • Patent number: 8497043
    Abstract: A power generating system for operating below a surface of a body of water includes a fuel cell stack configured to react hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity. An oxygen source is configured to provide oxygen to the fuel cell stack. A hydrogen source is configured to provide hydrogen to the fuel cell stack. The hydrogen source is at least partially submerged in water and incorporates a non-hydride metal alloy that reacts with water to produce hydrogen from the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: MIL3 Inc.
    Inventor: John G. Cleland
  • Patent number: 8492039
    Abstract: A fuel cell system and a control method thereof are capable of preventing anode flooding due to a temperature difference between a stack and reformate upon starting a fuel cell system. The method of controlling a fuel cell system including steps of detecting a temperature of a fuel cell stack, detecting a temperature of reformate that is generated in a fuel reformer and then is supplied to the fuel cell stack through a heat exchanger, and setting the temperature of the reformate to be lower than the temperature of the fuel cell stack during a starting time of the fuel cell system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Man-Seok Han, Dong-Hyun Kim, Ming-Zi Hong, Ju-Yong Kim, Jun-Won Suh, Ria Ju, Yasuki Yoshida, Woong-Ho Cho, Hyun Kim, Jin-Hong An
  • Patent number: 8486575
    Abstract: A fuel cell has a hydrogen flow path adapted to pass hydrogen into communication with an anode catalyst of an MEA. A coolant flow path is adapted to pass coolant through the fuel cell to cool the fuel cell. An enclosure encompasses at least a portion of the hydrogen flow path, the coolant flow path, or both. A hydrogen vent is adapted to vent hydrogen from the enclosure without reliance upon any electrical device. The hydrogen vent can prevent a frame front from passing into the enclosure and can be made of a porous material such as cellulose, plastic (for example, a foamed plastic) or metal (for example a sintered metal). A method of manufacturing a fuel cell includes passively venting hydrogen to maintain a hydrogen concentration level within the enclosure below about 4 percent. Additional enclosures with hydrogen vents may also be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Leroy M Edwards, Clark G Hochgraf
  • Publication number: 20130171536
    Abstract: Fuel cell including several stacks of fuel cell elementary cells, at least part of the stacks being mounted in parallel and in a modular manner in order to allow the electric power level supplied by the cell to be adapted by adapting the number of stacks present in the cell, the cell including a cooling circuit including several legs in parallel for the selective cooling of said stacks by means of heat exchange, a heat-conveying liquid being selectively circulated in the cooling circuit via at least one pump, characterized in that the cooling circuit includes different pumps arranged respectively in several of said legs of the cooling circuit,
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour Etude et Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour Etude et Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
  • Patent number: 8470483
    Abstract: An example fuel cell stack (10, 40) includes a cathode plate (60) having oxidant flow passages (62) and coolant flow passages (64), and a porous anode plate (42) adjacent the coolant flow passages (64). The porous anode plate (42) includes fuel flow passages (46) and a network of pores (44) that fluidly connect the fuel flow passages (46) and the coolant flow passages (64). A membrane electrode arrangement (50) adjacent the fuel flow passages (46) generates electricity in a fuel cell reaction. A hydrophilic gas diffusion layer (48) between the membrane electrode arrangement (50) and the porous anode plate (42) distributes water from the coolant flow passages (64) to maintain or establish a wet seal (70) within the network of pores (44) that limits fuel transport through the network of pores (44) from the fuel flow passages (46) to the coolant flow passages (64).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: UTC Power Corporation
    Inventor: Paravastu Badrinarayanan
  • Patent number: 8470484
    Abstract: A fuel cell system capable of stably supplying hot water to a load is provided. The fuel cell system includes a solid-oxide fuel cell 31, a heat exchanger 40 that exchanges heat between an exhaust gas from the solid-oxide fuel cell 31 and water, a hot water storage tank 42 that reserves the water, circulation pipes 43a and 43b for circulating the water between the hot water storage tank 42 and the heat exchanger 40, and a circulation pump 41 provided to the circulation pipes 43a and 43b. The fuel cell system is provided with a controller 39 that controls the fuel utilization ratio during power generation by the solid-oxide fuel cell 31 in accordance with the used amount of reserved hot water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventor: Taneo Higuchi
  • Patent number: 8445155
    Abstract: A complex power generation system according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a fuel cell module having a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger configured to generate a direct current by means of an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, a first cycle configured to receive hot water in a first temperature range from the first heat exchanger to supply to a heat pump, and receive hot water in a second temperature range from the heat pump to supply to the first heat exchanger, and a second cycle configured to receive hot water in a third temperature range from the heat pump to discharge hot water in a fourth temperature range through the second heat exchanger, thereby enhancing a heating performance and increasing a thermal efficiency of the overall system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Everland Inc.
    Inventor: Soo Young Park
  • Patent number: 8431282
    Abstract: A fuel cell system that employs a closed coolant loop. The system includes an expansion device having a flexible membrane, where a cooling fluid side of the membrane is in fluid communication with the cooling fluid in the coolant loop and an air side of the membrane is in communication with an air pocket. The air side of the expansion device is in air communication with an air compressor so that the pressure of the cooling fluid within the coolant loop changes as the stack pressure changes. The fuel cell system also includes a coolant reservoir that is in fluid communication with the cooling fluid in the coolant loop. Air and hydrogen bubbles within the cooling fluid are vented to the coolant reservoir where they accumulate. The coolant reservoir includes a level sensor indicating the level of the cooling fluid therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Manfred Herrmann
  • Patent number: 8420270
    Abstract: A fuel cell system capable of restraining temperature change in a fuel cell caused by a refrigerant. The fuel cell system has a refrigerant circulating system for circulating the refrigerant. The refrigerant circulating system has flow control means for restraining the inflow of the refrigerant, which has a predetermined difference in temperature from that of the fuel cell, into the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuki Ishigaki, Hironori Noto, Takashi Yamamoto, Masataka Ota
  • Publication number: 20130078543
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack is provided with a pair of refrigerant inlet ports and a pair of refrigerant outlet ports. The refrigerant inlet ports are disposed in the vicinity of an oxidant gas inlet port and a fuel gas inlet port in a manner such that one of the refrigerant inlet ports is disposed on the side of the oxidant gas inlet port and the other refrigerant inlet port is disposed on the side of the fuel gas inlet port. The refrigerant outlet ports are disposed in the vicinity of an oxidant gas outlet port and a fuel gas outlet port in a manner such that one of the refrigerant outlet ports is disposed on the side of the oxidant gas outlet port and the other refrigerant outlet port is disposed on the side of the fuel gas outlet port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroto Chiba, Chikara Iwasawa, Masahiro Mohri, Osamu Ohgami, Junji Uehara, Keiko Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8389170
    Abstract: A method for determining whether a fuel cell stack cooling fluid is flowing at cold fuel cell system start-up. The method monitors the temperature of the cooling fluid outside of the fuel cell stack, and determines whether the temperature of the cooling fluid is increasing properly as the temperature of the stack increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Joseph D. Rainville, Joseph C. Gerzseny, Aaron Rogahn, Loren DeVries
  • Patent number: 8377602
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for regulating the temperature of a fuel cell that is cooled by a cooling fluid traveling through the cell, the system including both first control means for measuring the temperature of the cooling fluid and for controlling the flow rate of the controlling fluid as a function of said measured temperature of said cooling fluid, comprising second control means for measuring the flow rate of the cooling fluid and for controlling the temperature of the cooling fluid as a function of a flow rate difference between the command flow rate specified by said first control means and said corresponding measured flow rate of the cooling fluid such that said command temperature specified by the second control means compensates for said flow rate difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventor: Serge Le Gonidec
  • Patent number: 8361665
    Abstract: A fuel cell system including: a fuel cell which generates electrical power through the reaction of a reaction gas; a reaction gas supply device which supplies the reaction gas to the fuel cell; a cooling device which cools the fuel cell by circulating a coolant through the fuel cell; a fuel cell operating temperature output device which outputs a maximum temperature inside the fuel cell as an operating temperature of the fuel cell; and a fuel cell temperature adjustment device which adjusts a temperature inside the fuel cell so that the operating temperature inside the fuel cell is less than a preset upper temperature limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chihiro Wake, Koichiro Miyata, Jumpei Ogawa
  • Patent number: 8354196
    Abstract: A fuel cell unit is provided having at least one fuel cell to which is connected a coolant circuit associated with a storage unit for storing and providing liquid water coolant at the fuel cell both under normal operating conditions and under frost conditions. The storage unit is set to provide a smaller amount of liquid water coolant under frost conditions than under normal operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Reinhard Artmann
  • Publication number: 20130004877
    Abstract: A fuel cell of the present invention includes an electrolyte layer-electrode assembly (5), a first separator (4A), and a second separator (4C). A cooling water channel (8) is formed on a main surface of at least one of the first separator (4A) and the second separator (4C) so as to communicate with at least one of a first cooling water manifold hole (41) and a second cooling water manifold hole (51). A first channel forming portion (11) is located in at least one of the first cooling water manifold hole (41) and the second cooling water manifold hole (51) when viewed from a thickness direction of an electrolyte layer (1) and is provided so as to be opposed to at least a part of an end surface constituting the first cooling water manifold hole (41) and the second cooling water manifold hole (51).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventor: Shinsuke Takeguchi
  • Patent number: 8343677
    Abstract: A method of starting a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) stack by rapidly increasing its temperature. The PEMFC stack includes: a first flow line connected to cooling plates; a second flow line connected to the cooling plates; a coolant reservoir; a heat exchanger; a by-pass line; a heating element; a first valve installed between the first flow line and the heat exchanger; and a second valve that selectively connects the coolant reservoir, the second flow line, and the by-pass line. The method of starting a PEMFC stack includes: closing the first valve and controlling the second valve so that the second flow line and the by-pass line are connected to each other, and the coolant in the coolant reservoir is not connected to the second flow line and the by-pass line; and heating the coolant in the by-pass line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tae-won Song, Duk-jin Oh, Hyun-chul Lee, Dong-kwan Kim, Yong Wang
  • Publication number: 20120301806
    Abstract: A separator includes a first flow path-forming portion and second flow path-forming portions. The first portion has a corrugated shape including a first groove to form a flow path for a first fluid on a first surface and a second groove to form a flow path for a second fluid on a second surface, which are arranged alternately. The first portion includes at least three linear areas, and plural turned areas, each including a plurality of the first and the second grooves to connect between corresponding grooves in adjacent linear areas, and thereby forms serpentine flow paths for the second fluid. Each of the second portions forms a connection flow path to connect between the flow paths for the first fluid on the first surface and forms a connection flow path to connect between the flow paths for the second fluid on the second surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroki OKABE
  • Patent number: 8318369
    Abstract: A fuel cell cooling system includes a fuel cell having a liquid loop that produces water vapor. An antifreeze cooling loop includes an inductor that receives the water vapor and introduces the water vapor to an antifreeze. The water is separated from the antifreeze and returned to the liquid cooling loop as liquid water after the mixture of condensed water vapor and antifreeze has passed through a radiator. Water in the liquid cooling loop exits the fuel cell and passes through a restricting valve thereby lowering the pressure of the water. A flash cooler downstream from the restricting valve collects the water vapor and provides it to the inductor in the antifreeze cooling loop. The flash cooling in the first cooling loop provides a first cooling capacity that is low temperature and pressure compatible with fuel cell operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: UTC Power Corporation
    Inventor: Leslie L. VanDine
  • Publication number: 20120295178
    Abstract: The pressure drop associated with the coolant flow in the coolant transition regions of a typical high power density, solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack can be significant. This pressure drop can be reduced by enlarging the height of the coolant ducts in this region of the associated flow field plate so that the ducts extend beyond the plane of the plate. The height change can be accommodated by offsetting the ducts in adjacent cells in the stack and by employing non planar MEAs in this region. By reducing the pressure drop, improved coolant flow sharing is obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicants: FORD MOTOR COMPANY, DAIMLER AG
    Inventors: Simon Farrington, Richard Fellows
  • Patent number: 8313867
    Abstract: The fuel cell system in accordance with the invention is used for the generation of current and heat from liquid and gaseous fuels. Said system comprises a reformer and a fuel cell stack having an operating temperature above 120° C. and providing exhaust heat that is utilized for the generation of steam in the evaporation channels (2). The evaporation channels (2) are arranged so as to be in direct thermal contact with the stack (1) that is to be cooled. A pressure-maintaining device at the outlet of the evaporation channels (2) is disposed to adjust the pressure in said channels to a value that results in the desired stack temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: WS Reformer GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim A. Wünning, Hans-Peter Schmid
  • Publication number: 20120282537
    Abstract: A fuel cell comprises a cathode catalyst layer and an anode catalyst layer disposed on each surface of an electrolyte membrane, an oxidant gas passage facing the cathode catalyst layer, and a fuel gas passage facing the anode catalyst layer. The cathode catalyst layer contains a metal catalyst. In a region (A), in which the differential electric potential between the cathode catalyst layer and the electrolyte membrane is larger than in another region, the metal catalyst content of the cathode catalyst layer or the specific surface area of the metal catalyst in the form of minute particles is increased, and thus a deterioration in electric power generation efficiency caused by melting of the metal catalyst due to the large differential electric potential is prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventors: Atsushi OHMA, Yoshitaka ONO, Ryoichi SHIMOI, Kazuya TAJIRI
  • Patent number: 8304123
    Abstract: A fuel cell system is provided that is capable of operating at high temperatures and near-ambient pressure with partial humidification of air supplied to the fuel cell stack. The fuel cells of the stack incorporate gas diffusion barrier layers at the cathode side thereof. The system includes a cooling loop for circulating a liquid coolant through the stack. In some embodiments, an incoming air stream is partially humidified with water vapor transferred from a cathode exhaust stream in a gas-exchange humidifier or enthalpy wheel. In other embodiments, a cathode recycle is employed to partially humidify the incoming air. The humidity of the air and cathode exhaust streams is maintained below a stack saturation point. Methods of operating the fuel cell system are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignees: Daimler AG, Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Richard A. Sederquist, Brian W. Wells, Alexander Mossman, Craig R. Louie
  • Publication number: 20120248252
    Abstract: A cooling system for cooling a fuel cell system in a vehicle is used for thermal connection with fuel in a fuel tank. This results in the use of the fuel in a fuel tank as a heat sink with a high thermal capacity and an essentially constant cooling capacity due to the relatively stable temperature of the fuel. Cooling of the fuel cell system can thus be implemented with very simple means and in a particularly lightweight manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Baker AL-ALI, Moeed Ejaz KHAWAJA
  • Patent number: 8277996
    Abstract: A fuel cell according to the present invention comprises a membrane electrode assembly, a bipolar plate for guiding a reaction gas to the membrane electrode assembly, two layers of coolant flow fields formed on the bipolar plane opposite to another plane on which a reaction gas flow field is formed, and an interlayer separation plate; wherein the interlayer separation plate separates the two layers of coolant flow fields and has permeability or jet orifices so as to allow a coolant to pass through.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Okusawa, Masaya Kozakai, Hidekazu Fujimura, Ko Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20120244450
    Abstract: A fuel cell cooling system includes a fuel cell having a liquid loop that produces water vapor. An antifreeze cooling loop includes an inductor that receives the water vapor and introduces the water vapor to an antifreeze. The water is separated from the antifreeze and returned to the liquid cooling loop as liquid water after the mixture of condensed water vapor and antifreeze has passed through a radiator. Water in the liquid cooling loop exits the fuel cell and passes through a restricting valve thereby lowering the pressure of the water. A flash cooler downstream from the restricting valve collects the water vapor and provides it to the inductor in the antifreeze cooling loop. The flash cooling in the first cooling loop provides a first cooling capacity that is low temperature and pressure compatible with fuel cell operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventor: Leslie L. VanDine
  • Patent number: 8268500
    Abstract: In a fuel cell stack, gas channels and heat medium channels are disposed on one surface and the other surface of one plate, respectively. Gas channels are disposed on the other plate such that they face the gas channels in the one plate. A gas inlet header is disposed at the upper part of the gas channel in the plate and a heat medium inlet header is disposed at the upper part of the heat medium channels such that they face the gas inlet header on the other side. Cooling water as a heat medium is supplied from a heat medium supply manifold hole to a heat medium inlet header. Water vapor in the reaction gas (wet fuel gas) is prevented from being condensed in the inlet area of the gas channels by heating the gas inlet header by heat conduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki Matsubayashi, Mitsuo Karakane, Yasunori Yoshimoto, Akira Hamada
  • Publication number: 20120219830
    Abstract: A method for using an integrated battery and device structure includes using two or more stacked electrochemical cells integrated with each other formed overlying a surface of a substrate. The two or more stacked electrochemical cells include related two or more different electrochemistries with one or more devices formed using one or more sequential deposition processes. The one or more devices are integrated with the two or more stacked electrochemical cells to form the integrated battery and device structure as a unified structure overlying the surface of the substrate. The one or more stacked electrochemical cells and the one or more devices are integrated as the unified structure using the one or more sequential deposition processes. The integrated battery and device structure is configured such that the two or more stacked electrochemical cells and one or more devices are in electrical, chemical, and thermal conduction with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: Sakti3, Inc.
    Inventors: Fabio Albano, Chia Wei Wang, Ann Marie Sastry
  • Patent number: 8252470
    Abstract: A temperature sensor detects the temperature of a coolant circulating in a coolant supply system of a fuel cell. A control unit monitors the temperature detected by the temperature sensor. When the temperature of the coolant is higher than a target temperature, the control section switches a rotary valve to a radiator-side flow path so that a radiator cools the coolant, and when the temperature of the coolant is lower than the target temperature, the control section switches the rotary valve to a bypass-side flow path to raise the temperature of the coolant through FC generation so that the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is equal to the target temperature. During the process above, in a low temperature environment, the target temperature is raised to a temperature that is higher than a target temperature during a normal operation, while a heater heats the coolant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomotaka Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 8246817
    Abstract: A novel deionization filter for removing ions from a coolant in an electric fuel cell vehicle cooling system is disclosed. The deionization filter includes a filter housing having a coolant inlet port, through which the coolant enters the filter housing; and a coolant outlet port, through which the coolant exits the filter housing. An ion exchange bed having positively-charged and negatively-charged ion exchange resin beads is provided in the filter housing for removing negative and positive ions, respectively, from the coolant. At least one filter assembly is typically provided in the filter housing for filtering particles from the coolant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Mukesh Kumar, George Shih, Stephen Fan
  • Patent number: 8241806
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a fluid passage for warming, a gas-liquid separator, a supply passage and a recirculating module. The fuel cell generates power with supply of a reaction gas. The gas-liquid separator separates moisture contained in an anode exhaust gas which is discharged from the fuel cell. The supply passage returns the anode exhaust gas, from which the moisture has been separated by the gas-liquid separator, to an inlet side of the reaction gas. The recirculating module mixes the anode exhaust gas, which is returned via the supply passage, with the reaction gas. The gas-liquid separator lies adjacent to the recirculating module, and the fluid passage for warming is disposed between the gas-liquid separator and the recirculating module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Ichikawa, Kuri Kasuya
  • Patent number: 8241807
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell (1) configured to generate electric power by a reaction between fuel and an oxidizing agent; a cooling passage (3) through which a first heat medium for cooling down the fuel cell (1) flows; a heat exchanger (5) disposed on the cooling passage (3); and an exhaust heat recovery passage (7) through which a second heat medium which exchanges heat with the first heat medium by the heat exchanger (5) flows, wherein a deceleration portion (7c) configured to reduce a flow velocity of the second heat medium and a bubble release portion (7d) configured to discharge bubbles in the deceleration portion (7c) to an outside of the exhaust heat recovery passage (7) are disposed on the exhaust heat recovery passage (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Akinori Yukimasa, Masataka Ozeki, Hideo Ohara, Akinari Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8232016
    Abstract: To mitigate bubble blockage in water passageways (78, 85), in or near reactant gas flow field plates (74, 81) of fuel cells (38), passageways are configured with (a) intersecting polygons, obtuse angles including triangles, trapezoids, or (b) hydrophobic surfaces (111), or (c) differing adjacent channels (127, 128), or (d) water permeable layers (93, 115, 116, 119) adjacent to water channels or hydrophobic/hydrophilic layers (114, 120).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: UTC Power Corporation
    Inventors: Robert M. Darling, Evan C. Rege, Ryan J. Balliet, Jeremy P. Meyers, Craig E. Evans, Thomas D. Jarvi
  • Patent number: 8227125
    Abstract: A stable fuel supply system in a fuel cell system produces heat and electricity by combining hydrogen modified from a major raw material selected from various hydrogen compounds, with oxygen existing in air. A fuel supply device and a fuel supply method in a fuel cell system, which automate a steam to carbon ratio (S/C) control and a lamda control, and achieve a fuel cell system operation efficiently and stably coping with pressure loss and pulsation occurring within the system, while using a minimum number of balance-of-plant (BOP) units. A method more efficiently and precisely supplies fuel during the start-up and operation of the fuel cell system, while preventing flame failure of a burner and maintaining an appropriate carbon monoxide concentration even when an abrupt flow rate variation occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin S. Heo, Takami Higashi, Jae Hyuk Oh