FUEL CELL SYSTEM COMPRISING A HEAT PIPE

Abstract

A fuel cell system having a two-phase cooling system includes at least one fuel cell having a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet, an accumulator in fluid connection with the fuel cell to contain coolant which flows out of the fuel cell in a liquid phase in a first portion and in a gas phase in a second portion, a condenser in fluid connection with the accumulator to condense and supercool the coolant, a thermally conductive element between the coolant inlet and the coolant outlet to transfer heat from the coolant outlet to the coolant inlet.

Claims

1. A fuel cell system having a two-phase cooling system, comprising: at least one fuel cell having a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet; a condenser to condense and supercool the coolant; and a thermally conductive element between the coolant inlet and the coolant outlet, the thermally conductive element being configured to transfer heat from the coolant outlet to the coolant inlet.

2. The fuel cell system of claim 1, further comprising an accumulator for phase separation into gas phase and liquid phase to take place in the accumulator, the accumulator being in fluid connection with the fuel cell and being adapted to contain coolant which flows out of the fuel cell in a liquid phase in a first portion and in a gas phase in a second portion.

3. The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the thermally conductive element comprises copper.

4. The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the thermally conductive element comprises aluminum.

5. The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the thermally conductive element comprises a metal-fiber composite.

6. The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the thermally conductive element comprises fins.

7. The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the thermally conductive element is a heat pipe.

8. The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the at least one fuel cell is a fuel cell stack having at least one base plate, and the base plate comprises the thermally conductive element.

9. The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the at least one fuel cell is a fuel cell stack having a media module, the media module comprising the thermally conductive element.

10. The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the coolant comprises methanol and/or ethanol.

11. An aircraft comprising the fuel cell system of claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0064] Example embodiments of the disclosure herein are discussed in more detail below with reference to the appended drawings. The illustrations are schematic and not true to scale. The same reference signs denote identical or similar elements. In the figures:

[0065] FIG. 1 shows a fuel cell system; and

[0066] FIG. 2 shows an aircraft.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0067] FIG. 1 shows a fuel cell system 10 having a two-phase cooling system. The system 10 comprises at least one fuel cell 12 which has a coolant inlet 14 and a coolant outlet 16. A connection between the coolant inlet and the coolant outlet allows flow of the coolant.

[0068] The system 10 also contains an accumulator 18 which is in fluid connection with the fuel cell 12. The accumulator is designed to receive the coolant which flows out of the fuel cell. The coolant is kept in a liquid phase in the first portion of the accumulator 22, whereas it is in a gas phase in the second portion 24.

[0069] In addition, there is a condenser 26 which is in fluid connection with the accumulator 18. The condenser 26 condenses and supercools the coolant in order to prevent cavitation in the coolant pump.

[0070] A thermally conductive element 28 is provided between the coolant inlet 14 and the coolant outlet 16, the thermally conductive element 28 being adapted to transfer heat from the coolant outlet 16 to the coolant inlet 14.

[0071] FIG. 2 shows an aircraft 100 comprising a fuel cell system 10 as described.

[0072] A positive effect of this configuration is that the temperature distribution in the fuel cell system 10 is improved. The efficient heat transfer between the coolant inlet 14 and the coolant outlet 16 achieves a more uniform distribution of temperatures in the cooling circuit. This reduces supercooling at the inlet, as a result of heating of the cooling fluid 20 via the thermal element 28. As a result, a pre-heater/recuperator can be dispensed with, which leads to advantageous reductions in weight.

[0073] It should additionally be pointed out that comprising or having does not rule out other elements or steps, and a, an or one does not rule out a multiplicity. It is furthermore pointed out that features or steps that have been described with reference to one of the above example embodiments may also be used in combination with other features or steps of other example embodiments described above. Reference signs in the claims should not be interpreted as restricting.

[0074] While at least one example embodiment of the present invention(s) is disclosed herein, it should be understood that modifications, substitutions and alternatives may be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art and can be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. This disclosure is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the example embodiment(s). In addition, in this disclosure, the terms comprise or comprising do not exclude other elements or steps, the terms a, an or one do not exclude a plural number, and the term or means either or both. Furthermore, characteristics or steps which have been described may also be used in combination with other characteristics or steps and in any order unless the disclosure or context suggests otherwise. This disclosure hereby incorporates by reference the complete disclosure of any patent or application from which it claims benefit or priority.

TABLE-US-00001 List of reference signs 10 Fuel cell system 12 Fuel cell 14 Coolant inlet 16 Coolant outlet 18 Accumulator 20 Coolant 22 First portion 24 Second portion 26 Condenser 28 Thermal element 32 Pump 100 Aircraft