| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 429436000 | Heat exchange means external to fuel cell | 26 |
| 20100173213 | ADVANCED SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL STACK DESIGN FOR POWER GENERATION - The present invention concerns improved configurations for a fuel cell army. The contacts for the positive electrode and the negative electrode are made outside the higher temperature active reaction space in a cooler area. Thus different more common materials are used which have a longer lifetime and have less stresses at their lower operating temperature. The invention utilizes tubular cell components connected with spines for efficient electron transfer and at least two manifolds outside the reaction zone, which may be cooled by external means. The external protruding connectors are thus at a lower operating temperature. This invention improves fuel cell life span, provides for lower cost, use of more common materials, and reduces the number thermal defects during operation. | 07-08-2010 |
| 20100323261 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system having a fuel cell, a coolant supply device for circulating a supply of the coolant through a coolant path for cooling the fuel cell, a fuel cell temperature detector for detecting a temperature of the fuel cell, a coolant temperature detector for detecting a temperature of the coolant in the coolant path, and a controller for controlling the amount of coolant circulated by the coolant supply device. The controller selects an operation mode of the fuel cell between a power generation mode and a power generation stop mode and calculates the difference between the detected coolant temperature and detected fuel cell temperature. While the operation mode is the power generation stop mode, the controller increases the amount of the coolant circulated as the difference between the detected coolant temperature and the detected fuel cell temperature increases. | 12-23-2010 |
| 20110159393 | VEHICLE FUEL CELL COOLING SYSTEM - A system includes a radiator side flow path ( | 06-30-2011 |
| 20120028155 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR STARTING AND OPERATING FUEL CELL SYSTEMS IN SUBFREEZING TEMPERATURES - Systems and methods for initiating use of, or starting up, fuel cell stacks in subfreezing temperatures. The fuel cell stacks include a thermal management system that is adapted to deliver a liquid heat exchange fluid into thermal communication with a fuel cell stack, such as to heat the stack during startup of the stack when the stack is at a subfreezing temperature or operated in a subfreezing environment. In some embodiments, the thermal management system includes a heat exchange circuit that is configured to provide delivery of the liquid heat exchange fluid to the fuel cell stack even when the conduits are at a subfreezing temperature. In some embodiments, the fuel cell system is configured to deliver liquid heat exchange fluid from the fuel cell stack and heat exchange circuit when the thermal management system is not being utilized. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120100450 | HEATING DEVICE FOR END PLATE OF FUEL CELL STACK - The present invention provides a heating device for an end plate of a fuel cell stack, which can prevent a decrease in temperature of unit cells around the ends of the fuel cell stack by providing a structure for circulating high temperature coolant discharged from the fuel cell stack in the end plate. Non-uniform temperature distribution in the fuel cell stack can thereby be prevented. In particular, a heating device for an end plate of a fuel cell stack is provided wherein high temperature coolant flowing from the upstream of a coolant outlet manifold to the downstream is allowed to circulate through the inside of the end plate and to be discharged to the outside such that the thermal energy of the coolant is supplied to the end plate and, at the same time, transferred to unit cells adjacent to the end plate. | 04-26-2012 |
| 20130029241 | ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM - An energy storage system is disclosed. The energy storage system comprises an energy storage device configured to operate above ambient temperature, and a thermal insulator at least partially surrounding the energy storage device, wherein heat losses from one or more other devices are received within the thermal insulator to provide heat energy to the energy storage device. Utilising heat losses from one or more other devices, such as associated electronic components, enables the energy storage device to be maintained at its elevated operational temperature for longer providing extended battery life. In the application of wireline logging, this results in more data log available per trip in a well. | 01-31-2013 |
| 20130065148 | COOLING SYSTEM FOR FUEL CELL VEHICLE - Disclosed is a cooling system for a fuel cell vehicle which employs a single integrated radiator disposed on a front side of the vehicle and configured to cool cooling fluid by exchanging heat using exterior air to integrally manage a fuel cell stack and an electrical power apparatus. More specifically, the integrated radiator is divided into a first high temperature region and a second low temperature region according to a flow requirements so that the fuel cell stack is cooled with cooling fluid flowing through the high temperature region and the electrical power apparatus is cooled with cooling fluid flowing through the low temperature region. | 03-14-2013 |
| 20130209910 | EXPLOSION-PROTECTED FUEL CELL - A fuel cell arrangement operable in environments that are prone to explosions including a fuel cell stack | 08-15-2013 |
| 20130309589 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system according to the present invention includes: a power generation unit; a hot water storage unit; a display; and a controller. A control device of the display is configured such that when an alarm signal is inputted from the controller, the control device causes a display device to display both thermal information and alarm information, the thermal information containing at least one of a set temperature of hot water supply from the hot water storage unit, a remaining hot water amount in the hot water storage unit, and an operation state of a heating device configured to heat hot water in the hot water storage unit, the alarm information indicating a content associated with the alarm signal. Thereafter, when an operating device is operated, the control device causes the display device to display both the alarm information and detailed alarm information which indicates a more detailed content than the alarm information. | 11-21-2013 |
| 20140065505 | FREEZE-RESISTANT FUEL CELL CONDENSERS - Cathode exhaust of an evaporatively cooled fuel cell stack ( | 03-06-2014 |
| 20140106253 | FUEL CELL WITH IMPROVED THERMAL MANAGEMENT - A fuel cell including at least two stacks of electrochemical cells, a heat management system including a circuit for flowing a coolant into each of the stacks fed in parallel, and an outside circuit for flowing the coolant outside the stacks. The outside circuit includes a first subcircuit including a heat exchanger and a second subcircuit directly connected to an inlet of the inside circuit, and controlling valves for controlling flow of the coolant toward either or both subcircuits as a function of temperature of the coolant at an output of each of the stacks. The second outside subcircuit includes a mechanism increasing its head loss such that it is close or equal to that of the first outside subcircuit. | 04-17-2014 |
| 20140193733 | SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL POWER PLANT HAVING A FIXED CONTACT OXIDATION CATALYZED SECTION OF A MULTI-SECTION CATHODE AIR HEAT EXCHANGER - The multi-section cathode air heat exchanger ( | 07-10-2014 |
| 20140220468 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COOLING A FUEL CELL-POWERED VEHICLE - A fuel cell system, including a plurality of bipolar plate assemblies, each assembly including a first plate and a second plate with an internal coolant flow path disposed therebetween, a flow path for a first reactant gas on a side of the first plate opposite the internal coolant flow path, and a flow path for a second reactant gas on a side of the second plate opposite the internal coolant flow path, and a cooling system configured to place coolant in thermal communication with the plurality of bipolar plate assemblies, wherein cycling pressure differentials between the internal coolant flow path and the external reactant gas flow paths cause expansion and contraction of a volume of coolant disposed within the bipolar plate assembly, thereby pumping coolant through the cooling system. A method of cooling a fuel cell-powered vehicle is also provided. | 08-07-2014 |
| 20140370408 | SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING TEMPERATURE IN A FUEL CELL - Methods, articles, and systems for controlling the internal operating temperature of fuel cell systems, such as planar fuel cell arrays. The heat management system conducts heat away from the fuel cell without disturbing the flow of gases around the fuel cell layer and without the need for the equipment to disturb the flow of gases around the fuel cell layer. The present invention also provides a heat transfer system that has a low thermal mass relative to the fuel cell layer or is thermally isolated from the fuel cell layer such that the heat transfer system will not remove substantial amounts of heat from a fuel cell layer during star-up and can be activated to dissipate heat from the fuel cell only as needed. | 12-18-2014 |
| 20150017560 | Functional Module for a Coolant Circuit of a Fuel Cell System and Method for Producing a Functional Module and Container for a Coolant Circuit of a Fuel Cell System - A functional module for a coolant circuit of a vehicle fuel cell system includes a container having an ion-exchange material and a pump device for the coolant fluidically coupled to each other in such a manner that a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet of the pump device are connected to a coolant outlet and a coolant inlet of the container. The container surrounds at least one region of the pump device that has a conveying unit of the pump device at least in certain areas around the outer circumference. | 01-15-2015 |
| 20150050574 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING COGENERATION SYSTEM - In a cogeneration system that stores hot water heated by exhaust heat of a generator in a hot water storage tank, during return to normal control from anti-freezing control, the return to the normal control is rapidly performed and freezing of water in a water circulating passage is also suppressed, suppressing the drop in system efficiency. When a freezing condition, indicating a risk of freezing of the water in the water circulating passage such as a radiator unit, is met, the anti-freezing control is executed. When a cancellation condition of the anti-freezing control is met, a heat recovery temperature target value (first return target value) SVTf2 at the outlet of the generator is set to a minimum target temperature SVTf2_min. Until an actual heat recovery outlet temperature (actual temperature) PVTf2 reaches a standard target value Tf2_std, every time the actual temperature PVTf2 reaches a value obtained by subtracting a predetermined temperature x from the first return target value SVTf2, the first return target value SVTf2 is updated to a value obtained by adding a predetermined temperature y (>x). | 02-19-2015 |
| 20150072259 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A radiator cap is connected to a circulating circuit at a connecting point located upstream of a water pump in a flow direction of coolant and that regulates a pressure in the circulating circuit to be within a predetermined pressure range that is higher than or equal to an atmospheric pressure at the connecting point. A rotary valve is disposed in the circulating circuit at upstream of the connecting point of the radiator cap in the flow direction of coolant. Accordingly, a cavitation is restricted from occurring, and the water pump can perform enough efficiency. A communication passage that has an upstream end and a downstream end connected to the circulating circuit may be disposed instead of the radiator cap. In this case, a pressure regulating valve is disposed in the communication passage. | 03-12-2015 |
| 20150072260 | Operating Method for a Fuel Cell System - An operating method is provided for a fuel cell system, in particular a fuel cell system in a motor vehicle. The system includes a cooling system via which waste heat of fuel cells of the fuel cell system is ultimately dissipated into the surrounding air, and a tank withstanding an internal pressure of the order of 150 bar and more. In the tank, fuel for the fuel cell system is stored in the cryogenic state, in particular as a cryogen, which tank has a heat exchanger in its storage volume, via which, in order to compensate for the pressure reduction resulting from the removal of fuel from the tank, heat can be supplied to the stored fuel in a controlled manner by way of a heat transfer medium. At operating points or in operating states of the fuel cell system in which the waste heat of the fuel cell system cannot be dissipated to the surroundings to the required extent, at least a portion of the waste heat from the fuel cells is supplied to the heat exchanger in the tank storing the fuel until a predefined limit value for the internal pressure in the tank is reached. | 03-12-2015 |
| 20150104726 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR HEATING FUEL CELL STACK AND FUEL CELL SYSTEM HAVING THE DEVICE - Provided is device and method for heating fuel cell stack and fuel cell system having the device. The fuel cell system includes: a power generating unit having fuel cell stacks arranged with an interval defined between the stacks; an outlet manifold unit provided outside each fuel cell stack and guiding a reaction mixture discharged from each stack to outside; an inlet manifold unit provided on each stack at a location opposed to the outlet manifold unit based on the stack, the inlet manifold unit supplying fuel and air supplied through a fuel supply pipe and an air supply pipe into the stack; and a subsidiary fuel supply unit for supplying subsidiary fuel into the outlet manifold unit such that the subsidiary fuel is burnt in the outlet manifold unit so as to heat both the outlet manifold unit and the stack coming into contact with the outlet manifold unit. | 04-16-2015 |
| 20150333346 | FUEL CELL STACK - A fuel cell stack includes a stacked body, a fluid manifold, a first terminal plate, a first insulator, a first end plate, a terminal electrode, and a heat pipe assembly. The first terminal plate is provided on a first end of the stacked body in a stacking direction. The first insulator is provided on the first terminal plate in the stacking direction. The first end plate is provided on the first insulator in the stacking direction. The terminal electrode is connected to the first terminal plate and protrudes from the first end plate in the stacking direction. The heat pipe assembly includes a heat receiving portion and a heat dissipation portion. The heat receiving portion is disposed in the fluid manifold to receive heat from a fluid. The heat dissipation portion is connected to the terminal electrode to release heat received at the heat receiving portion to the terminal electrode. | 11-19-2015 |
| 20160036084 | FUEL CELL STACK - Disclosed herein is a fuel cell stack. The fuel cell stack includes: at least one unit stack comprising an assembly of unit cells and an enclosure protecting the unit stack. In particular, reaction gas inlet/outlet channels for supplying reaction gas to the unit stack are formed on a first side surface of the enclosure, and coolant inlet/outlet channels for supplying coolant to the unit stack are formed on a second side surface of the enclosure. | 02-04-2016 |
| 20160039309 | VEHICULAR FUEL CELL COOLING SYSTEM - A cooling system for a vehicular fuel cell utilizes packet pumps to electrically isolate the fuel from a grounded radiator. Fluid in a packet pump is transported from an inlet port to an outlet port in discrete packets. Because these packets are physically separated from one another, electricity does not flow through the fluid from the inlet port to the outlet port. Packet pumps include peristaltic pumps and external gear pumps. | 02-11-2016 |
| 20160133956 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell; a coolant circulation passage; a radiator; a water pump; a flow dividing valve; a fan; and a controller that, when a first prescribed period elapses in a state where a temperature of a coolant is equal to or more than a first prescribed temperature and an opening degree of the flow dividing valve makes the flow rate of the coolant flowing into the radiator equal to or more than a prescribed flow rate, gives a priority to the rise in a driving voltage of the fan over the increase in a flow rate by the water pump, and when a second prescribed period elapses in a state where the temperature of the coolant is equal to or more than a second prescribed temperature after the driving voltage of the fan is raised, increases the flow rate by the water pump. | 05-12-2016 |
| 20160141645 | Fuel Cell System, Fuel Cell Vehicle and Control Method of Fuel Cell System - A fuel cell system comprises: a fuel cell; a cooling system circuit including a cooling liquid supply path configured to supply a cooling liquid to the fuel cell, a radiator configured to cool down the cooling liquid, a radiator fan, and a cooling liquid pump provided in the cooling liquid supply path to feed the cooling liquid to the fuel cell; a controller; and a speedometer configured to obtain a speed of the fuel cell vehicle, wherein the controller is capable of performing a first cooling control that sets an upper limit value of driving amount of the radiator fan according to the speed of the fuel cell vehicle and regulates a flow rate of the cooling liquid pump or the driving amount of the radiator fan under the upper limit value of the driving amount of the radiator, so as to cool down the fuel cell. | 05-19-2016 |
| 20160190630 | H2-Cl2 PROTON EXCHANGE MEMBRANE FUEL CELLS, FUEL CELL ASSEMBLIES INCLUDING THE SAME AND SYSTEMS FOR COGENERATION OF ELECTRICITY AND HCL - Fuel cells and, more particularly, the H | 06-30-2016 |
| 20160380279 | UTILIZING PHASE CHANGE MATERIAL, HEAT PIPES, AND FUEL CELLS FOR AIRCRAFT APPLICATIONS - A heat transfer system includes a fuel cell module that produces heat and water, and a thermal energy storage module that stores the heat produced by the fuel cell module. The thermal energy storage module includes a phase-change material. A conduit couples the fuel cell module to the thermal energy storage module. The conduit is oriented to channel the water produced by the fuel cell module through the thermal energy storage module. | 12-29-2016 |
