Method and apparatus for controlling a combined heat and power fuel cell system
First Claim
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1. A fuel cell system, comprising:
- a system housing and a heat sink vessel, the heat sink vessel being adapted to circulate a heat sink fluid, wherein at least a portion of the heat sink vessel is contained in an interior of the system housing, and wherein the portion of the heat sink vessel comprises a thermally conductive material; and
a system component comprising at least one of a pump, a valve, a solenoid, a fuel cell stack end plate, a water tank, a blower, and a circuitry housing is fixed onto the portion of the heat sink vessel such that heat is transferred from the system component to the heat sink vessel when a temperature of the system component is greater than a temperature of the portion of the heat sink vessel.
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Abstract
A cogeneration fuel cell system and associated methods of operation are provided that accommodate a demand for heat as well as a demand for electric power. The system is operated among various modes to balance heat and power demand signals. In general, a fuel cell system is coupled to a power sink and a heat sink, and a controller is adapted to respond to data signals from the power sink and the heat sink. As examples, such data signals from the heat sink may include a temperature indication or a heat demand signal (such as from a thermostat), and such data signals from the power sink may include a voltage or current measurement, an electrical power demand signal, or an electrical load.
24 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A fuel cell system, comprising:
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a system housing and a heat sink vessel, the heat sink vessel being adapted to circulate a heat sink fluid, wherein at least a portion of the heat sink vessel is contained in an interior of the system housing, and wherein the portion of the heat sink vessel comprises a thermally conductive material; and
a system component comprising at least one of a pump, a valve, a solenoid, a fuel cell stack end plate, a water tank, a blower, and a circuitry housing is fixed onto the portion of the heat sink vessel such that heat is transferred from the system component to the heat sink vessel when a temperature of the system component is greater than a temperature of the portion of the heat sink vessel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A fuel cell system, comprising:
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a fuel cell stack, a coolant, a coolant circuit, a coolant reservoir and a coolant pump;
wherein the fuel cell stack comprises coolant channels and is adapted to receive a flow of the coolant;
wherein the coolant circuit provides fluid communication between the coolant channels and the coolant reservoir;
wherein the pump is adapted to circulate the coolant within the coolant circuit to remove heat from the fuel cell stack; and
a system component comprising at least one of a valve, a solenoid, a fuel cell stack end plate, a water tank, a blower, and a circuitry housing is fixed onto a surface of the coolant reservoir such that heat is transferred from the system component to the coolant reservoir when a temperature of the system component is greater than a temperature of the coolant reservoir. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of thermally regulating a fuel cell system component, comprising:
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operating a fuel cell stack to generate fuel cell heat;
circulating a coolant through the fuel cell stack to remove a portion of the fuel cell heat;
circulating the coolant through a heat sink to transfer heat from the coolant to the heat sink when a temperature of the coolant is greater than a temperature of the heat sink; and
transferring heat from a system component fixed onto a surface of the heat sink when a temperature of the system component is greater than a temperature of the heat sink. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification