Integrated platform and fuel cell cooling

• US 20050058867A1
• Filed: 09/15/2003
• Published: 03/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Pokharna, Himanshu, DiStefano, Eric, Rocke, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US10/662,561
• Publication Number:
  US 20050058867A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/435
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 5/10 Liquid materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/003 of fuel cells with other electrochemical devices, e.g. capacitors, electrolysers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/30 Fuel cells in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/86 Inert electrodes with catalytic activity, e.g. for fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04029 Heat exchange using liquids
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04067 Heat exchange or temperature measuring elements, thermal insulation, e.g. heat pipes, heat pumps, fins
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0432 Temperature; Ambient temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04619 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04753 of fuel cell reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04768 of the coolant
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0494 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/10 Applications of fuel cells in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A fuel cell and a platform associated with the fuel cell include a common fluid cooling system.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a fuel cell;

an integrated circuit; and

a cooling system to cool the fuel cell and the integrated circuit;

wherein the cooling system includes a fluid medium to remove heat from the fuel cell and the integrated circuit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fuel cell includes at least one electrode through which the fluid medium passes.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a pump to pump the fluid medium.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one temperature sensor.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the temperature sensor is configured to sense a temperature of the fuel cell.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the temperature sensor is configured to sense a temperature of the integrated circuit.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a control system adapted to modify a fluid flow in response to a temperature sensed by the temperature sensor.

8. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a control system adapted to modify a power output level of the fuel cell in response to a temperature sensed by the temperature sensor.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the integrated circuit comprises a processor.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of heat generating devices coupled to the cooling system.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fluid medium comprises a liquid metal.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cooling system is adapted to have the fluid medium transition through a phase change.

13. An apparatus comprising:

a fuel cell having an electrode with passageways through which a fluid cooling medium can pass; and

a fluid path adapted to be coupled to the passageways and to a heat generating device other than the fuel cell.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a pump coupled to the electrode, the pump configured to pump the fluid cooling medium through the passageways.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising an integrated circuit coupled to the fluid path.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the integrated circuit comprises a graphics circuit.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the integrated circuit comprises a processor.

18. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a temperature sensor.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising a control system to increase the fuel cell output when a temperature sensed by the temperature sensor drops.

20. A method comprising:

sensing a temperature within a cooling system adapted to cool a fuel cell and a device at least partially powered by the fuel cell; and

modifying a fluid flow of the cooling system.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein sensing a temperature comprises sensing a temperature of the fuel cell.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein sensing a temperature comprises sensing a temperature of the at least one other device.

23. A method comprising:

sensing a temperature within a cooling system adapted to cool a fuel cell and at least one other device; and

modifying a power output of the fuel cell.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein sensing a temperature comprises sensing a temperature of the fuel cell.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein sensing a temperature comprises sensing a temperature of the at least one other device.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein modifying a power output comprises increase the power output when the temperature drops.

27. An apparatus including a medium adapted to hold machine-accessible instructions that when accessed result in a machine performing:

sensing a temperature within a cooling system adapted to cool a fuel cell and at least one other device; and

modifying a power output of the fuel cell.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein sensing a temperature comprises sensing a temperature of the at least one other device.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein modifying a power output comprises increase the power output when the temperature drops.

30. An electronic system comprising:

a fuel cell;

an integrated circuit;

a cooling system to cool the fuel cell and the integrated circuit, wherein the cooling system includes a fluid medium to remove heat from the fuel cell and the integrated circuit; and

an antenna coupled to the integrated circuit.

31. The electronic system of claim 30 wherein the electronic system comprises a computer.

32. The electronic system of claim 31 wherein the fuel cell is external to the computer.

33. The electronic system of claim 31 wherein the fuel cell is in a swappable bay of the computer.

34. The electronic system of claim 31 wherein the fuel cell is semi-permanently affixed within the computer.