Thermal management system for an electrochemical engine

• US 6,443,253 B1
• Filed: 08/24/2000
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Whitehead, Lee Curtis, Daum, Ronald J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwartz, Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SY, MARIANO ONG
• Application Number:
  US09/644,506
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• Field of Search: 180/68.1, 180/68.2, 180/68.3, 180/68.4, 165/41, 165/44, 165/51, 165/127
• US Class Current: 180/68.1
• 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: H01M 2250/20 Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/00 Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04007 related to heat exchange
• 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 thermal management system for an electrochemical engine in a vehicle comprises a coolant pump and a radiator. The radiator is oriented substantially parallel to a plane defined by longitudinal and lateral vehicle axes and defined by an inlet face as the upper surface and an outlet face as the lower surface. The radiator is packaged in a rear underbody compartment of the vehicle to allow a large cooling surface area. An air duct delivers air from outside the vehicle to the inlet face of the radiator. A fan forces air from the air duct through the radiator. A coolant circuit extends between a fuel cell stack of the electrochemical engine, the coolant pump, and the radiator.

Claims

1. A thermal management system for an electrochemical engine in a vehicle, comprising:

a coolant pump, a radiator oriented substantially parallel to a plane defined by longitudinal and lateral vehicle axes and having an inlet face as the upper surface and an outlet face as the lower surface, said radiator packaged in a rear underbody compartment of said vehicle to allow a large cooling surface area, an air duct to deliver air from outside said vehicle to said inlet face of said radiator, said radiator having an associated fan to force air from said air duct through said radiator, and a coolant circuit extending between a fuel cell stack of said electrochemical engine located in a front rail compartment, said coolant pump, and said radiator and including a radiator inlet line and a radiator outlet line packaged in a frame rail of said vehicle.

2. A thermal management system, as defined in claim 1, wherein said air duct has air duct inlets in a side rear body panel of said vehicle to provide cooling air.

3. A thermal management system, as defined in claim 2, wherein said air duct is comprised of a generally horizontal inlet portion extending from said air duct inlets, a generally vertical duct portion extending from said inlet portion, and a horizontal delivery portion extending from said vertical duct portion to a plenum chamber provided between a vehicle floor and said inlet face of said radiator for distributing air flow to said inlet face.

4. A thermal management system, as defined in claim 3, wherein said plenum chamber further includes turning vanes to direct and turn the air flow to said inlet face of said radiator.

5. A thermal management system, as defined in claim 3, further comprising an auxiliary coolant circuit having an auxiliary radiator parallel and adjacent to said radiator to receive cooling air from said air duct for cooling auxiliary, lower temperature-operating devices.

6. A thermal management system, as defined in claim 5, further comprising a condenser parallel and adjacent to said auxiliary radiator to receive cooling air from said air duct.