Fuel cell system using external heat sources for maintaining internal temperature

• US 20070119638A1
• Filed: 12/27/2006
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies AG
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Grieve, Malcolm
• Granted Patent: US 8,356,682 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.100
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/30 for monitoring or controlling fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/31 for starting of fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/33 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/34 by heating
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/006 of fuel cells with rechargeable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2008/1293 Fuel cells with solid oxide electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/20 Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/402 Combination of fuel cell with other electric generators combination of fuel cells with other electrochemical generator H01M16/003
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/405 Cogeneration of heat or hot water
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/407 Combination of fuel cells with mechanical energy generators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04037 Electrical heating
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04074 Heat exchange unit structures specially adapted for fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04268 Heating of fuel cells during the start-up of the fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2475 Enclosures, casings or containers of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/10 The dispersed energy generation being of fossil origin, e.g. diesel generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/30 The power source being a fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1415 with a generator driven by a prime mover other than the motor of a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/10 Applications of fuel cells in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 : Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 : Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/126 : the energy generation units being or involving electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV], i.e. power aggregation of EV or HEV, vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G]

Abstract

A solid oxide fuel cell system including electric resistance elements for heating of space and components within the “hot zone” enclosure of the system, preferably in combination with means for using “waste” heat from other sources, to assist in warm-up from a cold start and/or to maintain a stand-by temperature of reformer and fuel cell elements within the system and/or to maintain optimum operating temperatures within the system during periods of very low electrical demand on the system. A method is included for using off-peak grid electricity, battery-stored onboard electricity, or vehicle-generated electricity to energize the resistance heaters, as well as utilizing gaseous waste heat sources such as vehicle exhaust gas to complement the resistance heating.

Claims

1. A fuel cell system having an enclosure for keeping components therein at an elevated temperature, comprising at least one electrical resistance heating element disposed within said enclosure for heating other system components within said enclosure.

2. A fuel cell system in accordance with claim 1 comprising a plurality of said electrical resistance heating elements.

3. A fuel cell system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said electrical resistance heating element is energized by electricity from a source outside of said solid oxide fuel cell system.

4. A fuel cell system in accordance with claim 3 wherein said outside source is selected from the group consisting of a battery, an electric grid, an automotive generator, and a second power system.

5. A fuel cell system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a heat exchanger disposed outside said enclosure, wherein one of said other system components within said enclosure includes a fuel cell stack having at least one cathode and at least one anode, and wherein a hot side of said heat exchanger receives hot gas to heat incoming air to said at least one cathode.

6. A fuel cell system in accordance with claim 5 wherein said hot gas is selected from the group consisting of exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine, exhaust gas from a gas turbine engine, exhaust gas from a fuel cell power unit and exhaust gas from a space heater.

7. A fuel cell system having an enclosure for keeping components therein at an elevated temperature, comprising a heat exchanger disposed outside said enclosure for heating other system components within said enclosure, wherein one of said other system components within said enclosure includes a fuel cell stack having at least one cathode and at least one anode, and wherein a hot side of said heat exchanger receives hot gas to heat incoming air to said at least one cathode.

8. A fuel cell system in accordance with claim 7 wherein said

hot gas is selected from the group consisting of exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine, exhaust gas from a gas turbine engine, exhaust gas from a fuel cell power unit and exhaust gas from a space heater.

9. A method for warming a fuel cell system from a cold start and maintaining said system at a stand-by temperature, comprising the steps of:

a) providing at least one electrical resistive heating element within said solid oxide fuel cell system; and

b) electrically energizing said at least one electrical resistive heating element to provide heating of components of said solid oxide fuel cell system.

10. A method in accordance with claim 9 wherein said solid oxide fuel cell system includes an enclosure for keeping components therein at an elevated temperature, said components including a fuel cell stack having at least a cathode, said method comprising the further steps of:

a) providing a heat exchanger disposed outside said enclosure; and

b) passing hot gas through a hot side of said heat exchanger to heat incoming air to said at least one cathode to complement said electrical resistive heating element.

11. A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein said hot gas is selected from the group consisting of exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine, exhaust gas from a gas turbine engine, exhaust gas from a fuel cell power unit and exhaust gas from a space heater.

12. A method for warming a fuel cell system from a cold start and maintaining said system at a stand-by temperature, wherein said solid oxide fuel cell system includes an enclosure for keeping components therein at an elevated temperature, said components including a fuel cell stack having at least a cathode, said method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a heat exchanger disposed outside said enclosure; and

b) passing hot gas through a hot side of said heat exchanger to heat incoming air to said at least one cathode.

13. A vehicle comprising:

a) at least one electric machine,

b) a rechargeable electrical energy source for supplying power to or receiving power from said electric machine; and

c) an auxiliary power unit for recharging said electrical energy source at least when said vehicle is parked,

wherein said vehicle includes a connector for connecting said vehicle to a stationary structure for supplying electric power from said auxiliary power unit to said stationary structure when said vehicle is parked, and

wherein said auxiliary power unit is a solid oxide fuel cell system including an enclosure for keeping components therein at an elevated temperature, and including at least one electrical resistance heating element disposed within said enclosure for heating other system components within said enclosure.

14. A power system used on a vehicle comprising:

a) an internal combustion engine,

b) at least one electric generator powered by said engine and by regenerative energy from deceleration of said vehicle,

c) a rechargeable electrical energy source,

d) a solid oxide fuel cell for providing at least auxiliary electrical power and charging of said rechargeable electrical energy source,

b) resistive elements within a high temperature zone of said solid oxide fuel cell, wherein said generator generates electrical energy to power said resistive elements to warm said solid oxide fuel cell.

15. A power system used on a vehicle comprising:

a) an internal combustion engine,

b) a heat exchanger in fluid communication with an exhaust emitted from said internal combustion engine, and

c) a solid oxide fuel cell wherein said heat exchanger recovers heat from said exhaust and supplies the heat to the solid oxide fuel cell.

16. In a power system used on a vehicle connectible to a regional electrical grid, said power system including a rechargeable electrical energy source, a solid oxide fuel cell, and resistive elements within a high temperature zone of said solid oxide fuel cell for warming said solid oxide fuel cell, a method of warming and operating said solid oxide fuel cell, comprising the steps of:

a) connecting said solid oxide fuel cell to said regional electrical grid; and

b) using the regional electrical grid to charge said rechargeable electrical energy source and to power said resistive elements to warm said solid oxide fuel cell.

17. A method of warming and operating a solid oxide fuel cell in accordance with claim 16, further comprising the step of, alternating with step b), supplying the regional electrical grid with power from the solid oxide fuel cell.