Temperature control device for a fuel cell

• US 4,500,612 A
• Filed: 04/21/1982
• Issued: 02/19/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Fujii, Masao, Nishiyama, Enju
• Primary Examiner(s): Hearn, Brian E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kalafut, Stephen J.
• Application Number:
  US06/370,548
• Time in Patent Office: 1,035 Days
• Field of Search: 429/20, 429/29, 429/26, 429/120, 165/108, 165/172
• US Class Current: 429/434
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/0266 with separate evaporating and condensing chambers connected by at least one conduit; Loop-type heat pipes; with multiple or common evaporating or condensing chambers F28D15/043 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/0275 Arrangements for coupling heat-pipes together or with other structures, e.g. with base blocks; Heat pipe cores
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2021/0077 for tempering, e.g. with cooling or heating circuits for temperature control of elements
• 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: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A temperature control device for a fuel cell has a heat exchanger piping sandwiched between a pair of temperature control plates in heat exchange relation therewith, said temperature control plates having reaction gas conduit means on surfaces opposite to confronting surfaces thereof. A circulation piping is adapted for circulation by a heat medium and is hermetically connected to an outside piping located outside of said temperature control plates for providing a closed piping system therewith. Said circulation piping contains sealed-in heat medium so that a portion of the inside space of the circulation piping is left for a gaseous phase of the heat medium. Heat exchanger means are provided to said outside piping to effect heat exchange with heat medium in said circulation piping.

Claims

1. A temperature control device for a fuel cell, comprising:

a pair of confronting temperature control plates having reaction gas conduit means on surfaces opposite to the confronting surfaces thereof;

circulation piping adapted for circulation therein of sealed-in liquid heat medium in the inside space thereof, with a portion of said space being left for a gaseous phase of the heat medium, said circulation piping including heat exchanger piping positioned between said temperature control plates, and including outside piping located externally of said temperature control plates hermetically connected to said heat exchanger piping to form a closed piping system therewith; and

heat exchanger means, provided in said outside piping, for effecting heat exchange with the heat medium in said circulation pipe;

said outside piping including shiftable connection piping interposed between said heat exchanger piping and said heat exchanger means for vertically shifting said heat exchanger means with respect to said heat exchanger piping.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said shiftable connection piping is flexible.