Turbocompressor shutdown mechanism

• US 7,700,207 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2006
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Hild, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Alejandro; Raymond
• Application Number:
  US11/558,102
• Publication Number:
  US 20080110685A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,258 Days
• Field of Search: 429/34, 429/38, 429/39, 429/19, 429/22, 429/25, 429/12, 429/30, 417/423.1, 607/98, 608/05
• US Class Current: 429/415
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 21/00 Shutting-down of machines or engines, e.g. in emergency; Regulating, controlling, or safety means not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 6/12 Turbochargers, i.e. plants for augmenting mechanical power output of internal-combustion piston engines by increase of charge pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/40 in turbochargers
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/90 Braking
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 17/246 related to wear, e.g. sensors for measuring wear
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2008/1095 Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/402 Combination of fuel cell with other electric generators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04111 using a compressor turbine assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04228 during shut-down
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04303 applied during shut-down
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/10 Applications of fuel cells in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

Turbocompressors 1 comprise a turbine 10, a compressor 30, a rotatable shaft 20 connecting the turbine 10 and compressor 30 at opposite ends of the shaft 20, and an electric motor 50 coupled to the compressor 30. The turbine 10 comprises an inlet port 14 configured to receive an air feed, and a turbine wheel 12 connected to the shaft 20 and configured to rotate in response to a torque (τ_M) provided by the air feed. The rotation of the turbine wheel 12 is rotates the rotatable shaft 20 and a compressor wheel 32 of the compressor 30 connected thereto. The compressor 30 comprises an inlet port configured to receive and compress an air feed. The electric motor 50 may deliver a torque (τ_M) to the compressor wheel 32 in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of the rotatable shaft 20 in order to shut down the turbocompressor 1.

Claims

1. A proton exchange membrane fuel cell system comprising:

a turbocompressor comprising a turbine, a compressor, a rotatable shaft connecting the turbine and compressor at opposite ends of the shaft, and an electric motor coupled to the compressor wherein the turbine comprises an inlet port configured to receive a turbine air feed; and

a turbine wheel connected to the shaft and configured to rotate in response to a torque (τ

_A) provided by the turbine air feed, the rotation of the turbine wheel being configured to rotate the rotatable shaft;

the compressor comprises an inlet port configured to receive a compressor air feed;

a compressor wheel connected to the shaft and configured to rotate with the rotatable shaft, the rotation of the compressor wheel being configured to compress the compressor air feed; and

an outlet port configured to output the compressed air;

the electric motor is configured to deliver a torque (τ

_M) to the compressor wheel in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of the rotatable shaft, wherein the torque (τ

_M) is operable to assist in stopping the rotation of the compressor wheel, the shaft, and the turbine wheel; and

at least one fuel cell reactor configured to generate electric power and comprising at least one fuel cell stack and a fuel cell inlet port, wherein the inlet port is in fluid communication with the outlet port of the compressor and is configured such that the compressed air outputted from the compressor is delivered to the fuel cell stack via the fuel cell inlet port.

2. A proton exchange membrane fuel cell system according to claim 1 further comprising at least one lubrication device, at least one cooling device, or both.

3. A proton exchange membrane fuel cell system according to claim 1 further comprising at least one pump configured to deliver air to the compressor, the turbine, or both.

4. A proton exchange membrane fuel cell system according to claim 1 further comprising at least one bearing surrounding the rotatable shaft, and adjacent the turbine wheel, the compressor wheel or both.

5. A proton exchange membrane fuel cell system according to claim 1 wherein the bearings comprise air bearings, foil bearings, fluid bearings, thrust bearings or combinations thereof.

6. A proton exchange membrane fuel cell system according to claim 1 wherein the bearing comprises a coating comprising PTFE.

7. A proton exchange membrane fuel cell system according to claim 1 further comprising a control unit configured to detect whether air is being delivered to the turbocompressor and is further configured to trigger the motor to deliver the torque (τ

_M) when the control unit detects no air being delivered to the turbocompressor.

8. A proton exchange membrane fuel cell system according to claim 1 wherein the turbine wheel is configured to rotate at a speed of about 30,000 to about 150,000 rpm.

9. A fuel cell system according to claim 1 wherein the fuel cell reactor provides power to the electric motor.

10. A fuel cell system according to claim 1 wherein the fuel cell reactor further comprises a fuel cell exhaust port in fluid communication with the turbine inlet port and being configured such that air exhausted from the fuel cell stack is delivered to the turbine via the turbine inlet port.