Readying cooling circuits for use in fuel cells
First Claim
1. Apparatus for cleansing a fuel cell cooling circuit, comprising:
- a flushing system connected to the fuel cell cooling circuit for flushing the cooling circuit of contaminants, said cooling circuit comprising a particulate filter and a deionization filter for removing contaminants from a first coolant flowing to the fuel cell; and
,the flushing system including a supply of second coolant, a filtering system for removing contaminants from the second coolant flowing through the flushing system to the fuel cell cooling circuit, and a pump for circulating a volume of the second coolant between the cooling circuit and the flushing system, said cooling circuit comprising a bypass system for causing the flow of said second coolant to selectively bypass the cooling circuit de-ionization filter wherein the filtering system includes a particulate filter and a de-ionization filter.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A flush and fill process is used to ready a fuel cell cooling circuit for initial use. An external flushing system releasably connected to the cooling circuit circulates flushing coolant through the cooling circuit to remove contaminants from the wetted surfaces of the cooling circuit before the fuel cell is put into use. The flushing system includes a pump for circulating the flushing coolant through the cooling circuit, filters for removing contaminants from the coolant and a heater for elevating the temperature of the coolant. Following the flushing process to remove contaminants, the flushing system is disconnected from the cooling circuit and the cooling circuit is filled with fresh coolant.
11 Citations
19 Claims
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1. Apparatus for cleansing a fuel cell cooling circuit, comprising:
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a flushing system connected to the fuel cell cooling circuit for flushing the cooling circuit of contaminants, said cooling circuit comprising a particulate filter and a deionization filter for removing contaminants from a first coolant flowing to the fuel cell; and
,the flushing system including a supply of second coolant, a filtering system for removing contaminants from the second coolant flowing through the flushing system to the fuel cell cooling circuit, and a pump for circulating a volume of the second coolant between the cooling circuit and the flushing system, said cooling circuit comprising a bypass system for causing the flow of said second coolant to selectively bypass the cooling circuit de-ionization filter wherein the filtering system includes a particulate filter and a de-ionization filter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. Apparatus for cleansing a fuel cell cooling circuit, comprising:
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a flushing system connected to the fuel cell cooling circuit for flushing the cooling circuit of contaminants, said cooling circuit comprising a first particulate filter and a first deionization filter for removing contaminants from a first coolant flowing to the fuel cell; and
,the flushing system including a supply of second coolant, a filtering system for removing contaminants from the second coolant flowing through the flushing system to the fuel cell cooling circuit, and a pump for circulating a volume of the coolant between the cooling circuit and the flushing system; wherein said cooling circuit further comprises a bypass system for causing the flow of coolant to selectively bypass the first de-ionization filter when the flushing system is flushing the cooling circuit of contaminants; wherein the flushing system is releasably connected to the cooling circuit wherein the filtering system includes a second particulate filter and a second de-ionization filter. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. Apparatus for cleansing a fuel cell cooling circuit, comprising:
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a flushing system connected to the fuel cell cooling circuit for flushing the cooling circuit of contaminants, said cooling circuit comprising a first particulate filter and a first deionization filter for removing contaminants from a first coolant flowing to the fuel cell; the flushing system including a supply of second coolant, a filtering system for removing contaminants from the second coolant flowing through the flushing system to the fuel cell cooling circuit, said filtering system comprising a second particulate filter and a second de-ionization filter, and a pump for circulating a volume of the coolant between the cooling circuit and the flushing system; wherein said cooling circuit further comprises a bypass system for causing the flow of coolant to selectively bypass the first de-ionization filter when the flushing system is flushing the cooling circuit of contaminants; wherein the flushing system is releasably connected to the cooling circuit. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification