On-board recharging system for battery powered electric vehicles
First Claim
1. A system for recharging a battery, the system comprisinga rechargeable battery,a fuel cell system connected to the battery and adapted for providing power to continuously recharge the battery corresponding to a varying load placed on said battery,means for controlling the temperature of said fuel cell system independently of the power output of said fuel cell system, andmeans for providing a supply of fuel and oxidizer to said fuel cell system, said fuel cell system being adapted for the conversion of said fuel to electricity.
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Abstract
A power supply system for powering an electric motor in an electric vehicle includes a rechargeable battery connected to the motor for driving the motor and a fuel cell assembly connected to the battery for recharging the battery. The system further includes structure for providing a supply of fuel to the fuel cell assembly which in turn converts the fuel to electricity.
72 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A system for recharging a battery, the system comprising
a rechargeable battery, a fuel cell system connected to the battery and adapted for providing power to continuously recharge the battery corresponding to a varying load placed on said battery, means for controlling the temperature of said fuel cell system independently of the power output of said fuel cell system, and means for providing a supply of fuel and oxidizer to said fuel cell system, said fuel cell system being adapted for the conversion of said fuel to electricity.
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8. A fuel cell assembly for converting fuel to electricity in response to a varying load, the assembly comprising
at least one fuel cell head comprising a cooling jacket defining a fuel cell chamber, a fuel cell stack arranged within said fuel cell chamber, and a thermal control cylinder movable within said fuel cell chamber between a deployed position wherein said cylinder presents a high thermal resistance to said fuel cell stack and a stowed position wherein said cylinder presents a low thermal resistance to said fuel cell stack, means for positioning said thermal control cylinder, and means for delivering a mixture of fuel and air to said fuel cell stack.
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13. A power supply system for powering an electric motor in an electric vehicle, the system comprising
a rechargeable battery having an electrical power storage capacity and electrical leads for connection to a motor to deliver electrical power to the motor, a fuel cell system connected to said battery for continuously supplying power to recharge said battery at a rate which is related to the energy drain of said battery, said fuel cell system adapted for selectively providing power off-board of the vehicle, and means for providing a supply of fuel and oxidizer to said fuel cell system, said fuel cell system being adapted for the conversion of said fuel to electricity.
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14. A fuel cell assembly for converting fuel to electricity in response to a varying load, the assembly comprising
at least one fuel cell assembly comprising an interdigitated array of columnar fuel cell elements and columnar cooling elements, and a fuel cell stack disposed within each of said fuel cell elements, means for variably establishing a flow of heat transfer fluid through said cooling elements for presenting a variable thermal resistance to said fuel cell elements, and means for delivering a supply of fuel and air to said fuel cell elements, wherein said cooling elements are adapted for accommodating flow of both cooling fluid and heating fluid so as to enable said cooling elements to selectively remove heat from said fuel cell elements depending upon the load or provide heat to said fuel cell elements depending upon the load.
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15. A fuel cell assembly for converting fuel to electricity in response to a varying load, the assembly comprising
at least one fuel cell assembly comprising an interdigitated array of columnar fuel cell elements and columnar cooling elements, and a fuel cell stack disposed within each of said fuel cell elements, means for variably establishing a flow of heat transfer fluid through said cooling elements for presenting a variable thermal resistance to said fuel cell elements, means for delivering a supply of fuel and air to said fuel cell elements, and a battery element, wherein said at least one fuel cell head produces electricity for recharging said battery.
Specification