초록 ▼

Fuel cell stacks and systems with thermal management systems to deliver a liquid heat exchange fluid into thermal communication with the stack and thereafter recycle the stream. In some embodiments, the system is adapted to selectively apportion the recycled liquid stream between a stream that, prio

Fuel cell stacks and systems with thermal management systems to deliver a liquid heat exchange fluid into thermal communication with the stack and thereafter recycle the stream. In some embodiments, the system is adapted to selectively apportion the recycled liquid stream between a stream that, prior to reuse as a heat exchange stream, is returned to a fluid reservoir and/or selectively cooled, and/or selectively returned to the reservoir and mixed with heat exchange fluid in the reservoir, and a stream that is returned into thermal communication with the stack without returning the stream to the reservoir and/or without heating or cooling and/or without being mixed with additional heat exchange fluid. In some embodiments, the system is adapted to automatically apportion the recycled stream responsive to its temperature. In some embodiments, the system includes a thermostatic valve and/or selectively apportions the recycled stream without requiring an electronic controller or manual input.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A method for regulating the temperature of a fuel cell stack, the method comprising:pumping a stream of liquid heat exchange fluid from a liquid reservoir into thermal communication with the fuel cell stack;withdrawing a recycle stream of the liquid heat exchange fluid

The invention claimed is: 1. A method for regulating the temperature of a fuel cell stack, the method comprising:pumping a stream of liquid heat exchange fluid from a liquid reservoir into thermal communication with the fuel cell stack;withdrawing a recycle stream of the liquid heat exchange fluid from the fuel cell stack; andthermostatically apportioning the recycle stream between a stream that is returned to the liquid reservoir and a bypass stream that is returned into thermal communication with the fuel cell stack without first being returned to the liquid reservoir, wherein the apportioning is responsive directly, to the temperature of the recycle stream withdrawn from the fuel cell stack, and further wherein the apportioning is not directly responsive to a temperature of the liquid heat exchange fluid that is pumped from the liquid reservoir into thermal communication with the fuel cell stack.