IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0284904
(2008-09-26)
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등록번호 |
US-8182954
(2012-05-22)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Darling, Robert M.
- Perry, Michael L.
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
0 인용 특허 :
2 |
초록
▼
Water passageways (67; 78, 85; 78a, 85a) that provide water through reactant gas flow field plates (74, 81) to cool the fuel cells (38) may be grooves (76, 77; 83, 84) or may comprise a plane of porous hydrophilic material (78a, 85a), may be vented to atmosphere (99) by a porous plug (69), or pumped
Water passageways (67; 78, 85; 78a, 85a) that provide water through reactant gas flow field plates (74, 81) to cool the fuel cells (38) may be grooves (76, 77; 83, 84) or may comprise a plane of porous hydrophilic material (78a, 85a), may be vented to atmosphere (99) by a porous plug (69), or pumped (89, 146) with or without removing any water from the passageways. A condenser (59, 124) receives exhaust of reactant air that evaporatively cools the stack (37), and may have a contiguous reservoir (64, 128), be vertical (a vehicle radiator, FIG. 2), be horizontal across the top of the stack (37, FIG. 5), or below (124) the stack (120). Condenser air flow may be controlled by shutters (155), or by a controlled, freeze-proof heat exchanger (59a). A deionizer (175) may be used. Sensible heat transferred into the water is removed by a heat exchanger 182; a controller (185) controls water flow (180) and temperature as well as air flow to provide predetermined allocation of cooling between evaporative and sensible.
대표청구항
▼
1. A fuel cell power plant (36) comprising: a stack (37, 120) of fuel cells, each fuel cell including an electrode assembly (72) having an electrolyte with cathode and anode catalyst layers disposed on opposite sides thereof, a fuel reactant gas flow field plate (75) having fuel reactant gas flow ch
1. A fuel cell power plant (36) comprising: a stack (37, 120) of fuel cells, each fuel cell including an electrode assembly (72) having an electrolyte with cathode and anode catalyst layers disposed on opposite sides thereof, a fuel reactant gas flow field plate (75) having fuel reactant gas flow channels (74) extending from a first surface thereof adjacent said anode catalyst layer, with or without another layer between said anode catalyst layer and said fuel flow channels, an oxidant reactant gas flow field plate (81) having oxidant reactant gas flow channels (82) extending from a first surface thereof adjacent said cathode catalyst layer, with or without another layer between said cathode catalyst layer and said oxidant flow channels, at least one of said flow field plates being porous and hydrophilic with at least one water passageway (67; 78, 85; 78a, 85a) disposed on or near a second surface of said at least one flow field plate which is opposite to said first surface thereof;characterized by:said at least one water passageway either being (a) dead-ended within the corresponding fuel cell or (b) vented (69, 89, 99, 145), said water passageway consisting of either (c) at least one fluid conduit (78, 85) in or adjacent to said at least one plate or (d) a material (78a, 85a) contiguous with substantially all of said second surface, said material being conductive, hydrophilic and permeable to water; andsaid fuel cell power plant further comprising:a condenser (59, 124) connected to a reactant gas exit said of at least one of said reactant gas flow field plates of at least one of said fuel cells, the condensate of said condenser in fluid communication with inlets of the at least one water passageway of said fuel cells, whereby water migrates from each of said at least one water passageway through each of said at least one porous, hydrophilic flow field plates and is evaporated to cool said fuel cells. 2. A fuel cell power plant (36) according to claim 1 further characterized in that: each fuel cell has a groove (76, 77; 83, 84) in said first surface of either or both said fuel reactant gas flow field plate (75) and said oxidant reactant gas flow field plate (81), which form said water passageways (78, 85) when the fuel cell stack is assembled. 3. A fuel cell power plant (36) according to claim 1 further characterized in that: said condenser (59) is disposed separately (FIG. 2) from said fuel cell stack. 4. A fuel cell power plant (36) according to claim 1 further characterized in that: the air flow in said condenser (59, 124) is vertical. 5. A fuel cell power plant (36) according to claim 1 disposed in a vehicle wherein: said condenser (59) comprises a vehicle radiator (FIG. 2). 6. A fuel cell power plant (36) according to claim 5 further characterized in that: said condenser (59, 124) has a water reservoir (64, 128) disposed contiguously at the bottom thereof. 7. A fuel cell power plant (36) according to claim 1, further comprising: a water reservoir (64, 128) receiving said condensate, inlets of said passageways (67; 78, 85; 78a, 85a) in fluid communication with said reservoir. 8. A fuel cell power plant (36) according to claim 1 further characterized in that: said at least one water passageway (67; 78, 85; 78a, 85a) of each fuel cell are each connected to a vent (69, 89, 99, 145). 9. A fuel cell power plant (36) according to claim 8 further characterized in that: said vent (69, 99) is at atmospheric pressure. 10. A fuel cell power plant (36) according to claim 8 further characterized in that: the water pressure at said vent (69, 86, 99, 145) is less than or equal to the water pressure at the condenser (59, 124) exit. 11. A fuel cell power plant (36) according to claim 10 further characterized in that: the water pressure at said vent (69, 86, 99, 145) is less than the water pressure at the condenser (59, 124) exit; andthe liquid pressure difference is achieved by pressure of the condenser exhaust gas which pushes water into the water passageways (67; 78, 85; 78a, 85a). 12. A fuel cell power plant (36) according to claim 10, further comprising: a water reservoir (64, 128) receiving said condensate, said passageways in fluid communication with said reservoir (64, 128); and further characterized in that:hydraulic pressure of the water in the condenser (59, 124) pushes water into the water passageways (67; 78, 85; 78a, 85a). 13. A fuel cell power plant (36) according to claim 10 further characterized in that: the liquid pressure at said vent (69, 89, 99, 145) is sufficiently less than the water pressure at the condenser exit (59, 124) to provide a flow of water out of the vent. 14. A fuel cell power plant (36) according to claim 13 further characterized by: a demineralizer (175) receiving a flow of water out of the vent (69, 99, 145), water flowing out of said demineralizer being returned to the proximal ends of said passageways with said condensate. 15. A fuel cell power plant (36) according to claim 14 further characterized by: a check valve (176) disposed in fluid communication between said passageways and said demineralizer to permit water to flow from said vent only toward said demineralizer. 16. A fuel cell power plant (36) according to claim 8 further comprising: a vacuum pump (89, 146) connected to said vent and operated in a manner to ensure coolant level reaches all portions of said water passageways (67; 78, 85; 78a, 85a). 17. A fuel cell power plant (36) according to claim 8 further comprising: a vacuum pump (89, 146) connected to said vent and operated in a manner to ensure coolant level reaches all portions of said water passageways (67; 78, 85; 78a, 85a) without creating flow of water through said vent (69, 89, 99, 145). 18. A fuel cell power plant (36) according to claim 8 further comprising: a vacuum pump (89, 146) connected to said vent and operated in a manner to ensure coolant level reaches all portions of said water passageways (67; 78, 85; 78a, 85a) and providing flow of water through said vent (69, 89, 99, 145). 19. A fuel cell power plant (36) according to claim 18 further characterized by: a deionizer receiving a flow of water out of the vent, water flowing out of said demineralizer being returned to said passageways. 20. A fuel cell power plant (36) according to claim 1 further characterized in that: said condenser (59, FIG. 5) is contiguous with and covers the top of said stack (37). 21. A fuel cell power plant (36) according to claim 1 further characterized in that: said condenser (59, FIG. 5) is below said stack (120). 22. A fuel cell power plant (36) according to claim 21 further characterized in that: said condenser (124) is contiguous with the bottom of said stack (120). 23. A fuel cell power plant (36) according to claim 1 further characterized in that: said stack (37) of fuel cells includes an air inlet manifold (64), the condensate of said condenser (59) being in fluid communication (65a) with said air inlet manifold, whereby said air inlet manifold serves as a reservoir, inlets of said at least one water passageway (67; 78, 85; 78a, 85a) being in fluid communication (65b) with the water in said reservoir. 24. A fuel cell power plant (36) according to claim 1 further characterized in that: water evaporates into the air flowing in said oxidant reactant gas flow channels and the air flow in said channels is held constant (101, 52) at all power levels. 25. A fuel cell power plant (36) according to claim 1 further characterized in that: water evaporates into the air flowing in said oxidant reactant gas channels and the air flow in said channels is controlled (101, 52) as a function of cell temperature (102). 26. A fuel cell power plant (36) according to claim 1 further characterized in that: said condenser is selected from (e) a heat exchanger (59) cooled by an uncontrolled flow of ambient air, (f) a heat exchanger (59) cooled by controlled (155, 157) flow of ambient air, and (g) a heat exchanger (59a) cooled (161) by a fluid other than ambient air. 27. A fuel cell power plant (36) according to claim 26 further characterized in that: said condenser is a heat exchanger (59) cooled by ambient air having an air flow controller (155, 157) to control the flow of ambient air therethrough. 28. A fuel cell power plant (36) according to claim 27 further characterized in that: said air flow controller (155, 157) comprises shutters (155). 29. A fuel cell power plant (36) according to claim 26 further characterized in that: said condenser is a heat exchanger (59a) cooled (161) by a freeze-proof liquid coolant. 30. A fuel cell power plant (36) according to claim 29 further characterized in that: the amount of said liquid coolant flowing through said condenser is controlled (166) by a controller (167). 31. A fuel cell power plant (36) according to claim 29 further characterized in that: said liquid coolant is cooled by ambient air in another heat exchanger (165). 32. A fuel cell power plant (36a) according to claim 1 further characterized in that said stack is sensibly cooled in addition to being evaporatively cooled, said power plant further characterized by: said at least one water passageway (67; 78, 85; 78a, 85a) of each fuel cell are each connected to a vent (69, 89, 99, 145);a controller (185);a controllable pump (180) disposed between said vent and inlets (66) of said water passageways;a controllable heat exchanger (182), disposed between said vent and said inlets of said water passageways, said controller configured to cause said heat exchanger to cool water passing therethrough to a predetermined first temperature; and whereinsaid controller is configured to cause said pump and heat exchanger to provide sufficient water through said water passageways at temperatures at or above said first temperature to selectively provide a combination of a first substantial amount of cooling by transfer of sensible heat into coolant water and a second substantial amount of evaporative cooling of coolant water into the reactant gas flow channels of said at least one porous and hydrophilic flow field plates. 33. A fuel cell power plant according to claim 32 further characterized in that said controller is configured to provide between 20% and 80% of the cooling of said fuel cell stack by transfer of sensible heat and to maintain the temperature of said stack, when said fuel cell power plant is in normal operation, between second and third predetermined temperatures, both higher than said first temperature. 34. A fuel cell power plant according to claim 32 further characterized in that said controller is configured to provide between 20% and 80% of the cooling of said fuel cell stack by evaporation and to maintain the temperature of said stack, when said fuel cell power plant is in normal operation, between second and third predetermined temperatures, both higher than said first temperature. 35. A method of operating a fuel cell power plant having a stack (37, 120) of fuel cells, each fuel cell including an electrode assembly (72) having an electrolyte with cathode and anode catalyst layers disposed on opposite sides thereof, a fuel reactant gas flow field plate (75) having fuel reactant gas flow channels (74) extending from a first surface thereof, an oxidant reactant gas flow field plate (81) having oxidant reactant gas flow channels (82) extending from a first surface thereof, at least one of said flow field plates being porous and hydrophilic, with at least one water passageway (67; 78, 85; 78a, 85a) disposed on or near a second surface of said at least one flow field plate which is opposite to said first surface thereof; exits of said water passageways connected to external water handling apparatus including (a) a water accumulator, (b) a heat exchanger configured to cool water flowing out of said passageways, and (c) a water pump configured to move water through said heat exchanger and said accumulator to inlets of said water passageways;said power plant further including a condenser, connected to exits of said oxidant reactant gas flow channels, the condensate of said condenser collecting in said accumulator, said method comprising:controlling the temperature and the volume of water provided to inlets of said water passageways by said pump to cool said stack by a combination of a first substantial amount of cooling by transfer of sensible heat and a second substantial amount of evaporative cooling. 36. A method characterized by: providing, to a proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack in which each fuel cell has at least one porous, hydrophilic water transport plate with air and fuel gas flow field channels, respectively, on one side and with at least one coolant passageway on an opposite side of one or both water transport plates, sufficient water to the coolant channels at a temperature to provide (a) substantial cooling of the stack by transfer of sensible heat to the coolant, and (b) substantial cooling of the stack by evaporation of coolant into the air flow field channels. 37. A method according to claim 36 further characterized in that: evaporation of coolant provides between 20% and 80% of the cooling and convection of sensible heat provides between 80% and 20% of the cooling. 38. A method according to claim 36 further characterized by: controlling the pressure and amount of air flowing through said air flow field channels to provide a predetermined amount of evaporative cooling.
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