Deionization filter for fuel cell vehicle coolant

• US 20050274676A1
• Filed: 06/10/2004
• Published: 12/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Original Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Inventors: Fan, Stephen, Kumar, Mukesh, Shih, George
• Granted Patent: US 8,246,817 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/681
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 47/04 Mixed-bed processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 47/14 Controlling or regulating
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/005 the electric storage means
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2008/1095 Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04044 Purification of heat exchange media
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A novel deionization filter for removing ions from a coolant in an electric fuel cell vehicle cooling system is disclosed. The deionization filter includes a filter housing having a coolant inlet port, through which the coolant enters the filter housing; and a coolant outlet port, through which the coolant exits the filter housing. An ion exchange bed having positively-charged and negatively-charged ion exchange resin beads is provided in the filter housing for removing negative and positive ions, respectively, from the coolant. At least one filter assembly is typically provided in the filter housing for filtering particles from the coolant.

Claims

1. A deionization filter for de-ionizing a coolant in a vehicle, comprising:

a filter housing having a coolant inlet port and a coolant outlet port;

at least one filter assembly provided in said filter housing for filtering particles from the coolant;

an ion exchange bed provided in said filter housing for removing ions from the coolant; and

a conductivity meter system comprising a first conductivity meter confluently connected to said coolant inlet port, a second conductivity meter confluently connected to said coolant outlet port and a conductivity analyzer box operably connected to said first conductivity meter and said second conductivity meter for determining said ion-removing efficiency of said ion exchange bed.

2. The deionization filter of claim 1 further comprising a visual meter connected to said conductivity analyzer box for indicating an ion-removing-efficiency of said ion exchange bed.

3. The deionization filter of claim 1 wherein said at least one filter assembly comprises a first filter assembly provided adjacent to said coolant inlet port and a second filter assembly provided adjacent to said coolant outlet port.

4. The deionization filter of claim 3 further comprising a visual meter connected to said conductivity analyzer box for indicating an ion-removing-efficiency of said ion exchange bed.

7. The deionization filter of claim 1 wherein said at least one filter assembly comprises an outer filter and an inner filter provided adjacent to said outer filter.

8. The deionization filter of claim 7 further comprising a visual meter connected to said conductivity analyzer box for indicating an ion-removing-efficiency of said ion exchange bed.

9. The deionization of claim 7 wherein said at least one filter assembly comprises a first filter assembly provided adjacent to said coolant inlet port and a second filter assembly provided adjacent to said coolant outlet port.

10. The deionization filter of claim 9 further comprising a visual meter connected to said conductivity analyzer box for indicating an ion-removing-efficiency of said ion exchange bed.

5-6. -6. (canceled)

11-12. -12. (canceled)

13. A deionization filter for de-ionizing a coolant in an electric fuel cell vehicle, comprising:

a filter housing;

a coolant inlet port including an inlet port end cap carried by said filter housing and an inlet conduit provided in, fluid communication with said inlet port end cap;

a coolant outlet port including an output port end cap carried by said filter housing and an outlet conduit provided in fluid communication with said outlet port end cap;

at least one filter assembly provided in said filter housing for filtering particles from the coolant;

an ion exchange bed provided in said filter housing for removing ions from the coolant; and

a conductivity meter system comprising a first conductivity meter confluently connected to said coolant inlet port, a second conductivity meter confluently connected to said coolant outlet port, a conductivity analyzer box operably connected to said first conductivity meter and said second conductivity meter for determining said ion-removing efficiency of said ion exchange bed, and a visual meter operably connected to said conductivity analyzer box.

16. The deionization filter of claim 13 wherein said at least one filter assembly comprises a first filter assembly provided adjacent to said coolant inlet port and a second filter assembly provided adjacent to said coolant outlet port, and wherein said first filter assembly and said second filter assembly each comprises an outer filter and an inner filter provided adjacent to said outer filter.

14-15. -15. (canceled)

17. A method of removing ions from a coolant in a vehicle coolant system of a vehicle, comprising:

providing a deionization filter having an ion exchange bed in said vehicle;

distributing said coolant through said deionization filter; and

monitoring an opening efficiency of said deionization filter by connecting conductivity meters to inlet and outlet ends, respectively, of said deionization filter and a conductivity analyzer box to said conductivity meters and determining a pre-ionization conductivity and a post-ionization conductivity of said coolant.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising filtering particles from said coolant by providing, at least one filter assembly in said deionization filter and distributing said coolant through said at least one filter assembly.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising visually indicating said operating efficiency of said deionization filter.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising filtering particles from said coolant by providing at least one filter assembly in said deionization filter and distributing said coolant through said at least one filter assembly.