HV Battery Cooling with Exhaust Flow of Fuel Cell Systems

• US 20080196956A1
• Filed: 02/19/2007
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Koenekamp, Andreas, Wilpsbaeumer, Reiner
• Granted Patent: US 7,686,111 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/06 with air cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/005 the electric storage means
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6563 with forced flow, e.g. by blowers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/663 the system being an air-conditioner or an engine
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/667 the system being an electronic component, e.g. a CPU, an inverter or a capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/003 of fuel cells with other electrochemical devices, e.g. capacitors, electrolysers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/20 Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

A fuel cell system for a hybrid vehicle that includes a high voltage battery, where the system uses a cathode exhaust gas airflow from a fuel cell stack to draw air through a battery compartment in which the battery is mounted to provide battery cooling. An air intake line is in fluid communication with the passenger compartment of the vehicle and the battery compartment. An ejector line is in fluid communication with the battery compartment and the cathode exhaust gas pipe. The flow of the cathode exhaust gas around the injector pipe creates a low pressure area, which draws air through the battery compartment from the passenger compartment. In one embodiment, a compressor that provides the cathode inlet air to the fuel cell stack is used at low stack output loads, such as during vehicle idle, to direct air through the cathode exhaust gas pipe, and cool the battery system under low load conditions.

Claims

1. A vehicle system comprising:

a passenger compartment;

a battery sub-system including a battery and battery components mounted in a battery compartment;

a fuel cell stack including a cathode input line and a cathode output line, said cathode input line receiving a cathode input airflow and said cathode output line receiving a cathode exhaust gas flow from the stack;

a cooling line in fluid communication with the passenger compartment and the battery compartment; and

an injector line in fluid communication with the battery compartment and the cathode output line, wherein the cathode exhaust gas flow through the cathode output line creates reduced pressure in the cathode output line proximate the injector line that draws air from the passenger compartment through the battery compartment and into the cathode output line.

2. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a compressor that provides the cathode input airflow to the fuel cell stack.

3. The system according to claim 2 further comprising a by-pass line that is coupled to the cathode input line and the cathode output line, and allows air from the compressor to by-pass the fuel cell stack.

4. The system according to claim 3 wherein a portion of the compressor air by-passes the fuel cell stack on the by-pass line when the stack output power requires less compressor airflow than a minimum compressor airflow.

5. The system according to claim 4 wherein the compressor is a turbo-type compressor.

6. The system according to claim 1 wherein the cathode output line includes a narrow portion, and wherein the injector line is coupled to the cathode output line proximate the narrow portion.

7. A fuel cell system comprising:

a battery positioned within a battery housing;

a fuel cell stack including a cathode input line and a cathode output line, said cathode output line receiving a cathode exhaust gas flow from the stack; and

a pipe in fluid communication with the battery housing and the cathode output line, wherein the cathode exhaust gas flow through the cathode output line creates a partial vacuum in the cathode output line that draws air through the battery compartment and into the cathode output line.

8. The system according to claim 7 wherein the fuel cell system is on a fuel cell hybrid vehicle.

9. The system according to claim 7 further comprising a compressor that provides a cathode input airflow to the cathode input line.

10. The system according to claim 9 further comprising a by-pass line that is coupled to the cathode input line and the cathode output line, and allows air from the compressor to by-pass the fuel cell stack.

11. The system according to claim 10 wherein a portion of the compressor air by-passes the fuel cell stack on the by-pass line when the stack output power requires less compressor airflow than a minimum compressor airflow.

12. The system according to claim 11 wherein the compressor is a turbo-type compressor.

13. The system according to claim 7 wherein the cathode output line includes a narrow portion, and wherein the pipe is coupled to the cathode output line proximate the narrow portion.

14. A fuel cell hybrid vehicle comprising:

a passenger compartment;

a battery sub-system including a battery and battery components mounted in a battery compartment;

a fuel cell stack including a cathode input line and a cathode output line, said cathode output line receiving a cathode exhaust gas flow from the stack;

a compressor for providing cathode input airflow to the cathode input line;

a by-pass line in fluid communication with the cathode input line and the cathode output line that allows air from the compressor to by-pass the fuel cell stack;

a cooling line in fluid communication with the passenger compartment and the battery compartment; and

an injector line in fluid communication with the battery compartment and the cathode output line, wherein the cathode exhaust flow through the cathode output line creates a reduced pressure area in the cathode output line proximate the injector line that draws air from the passenger compartment through the battery compartment and into the cathode output line, and wherein compressor air that by-passes the fuel cell stack on the by-pass line also creates a reduced pressure area in the cathode output line proximate the injector line that draws air from the passenger compartment through the battery compartment and into the cathode output line.

15. The system according to claim 14 wherein the compressor is a turbo-type compressor.