Readying cooling circuits for use in fuel cells
First Claim
1. A method of readying a fuel cell cooling circuit for use, comprising:
- (A) flushing the cooling circuit to remove contaminants from the cooling circuit; and
, (B) filling the cooling circuit with a volume of fresh coolant after step (A) has been completed.
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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 relasably 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.
10 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of readying a fuel cell cooling circuit for use, comprising:
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(A) flushing the cooling circuit to remove contaminants from the cooling circuit; and
,(B) filling the cooling circuit with a volume of fresh coolant after step (A) has been completed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of readying a fuel cell cooling circuit for use, comprising:
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(A) connecting the cooling circuit to an external coolant flushing system for flushing the cooling circuit;
(B) circulating a volume of coolant between the flushing system and the cooling circuit, the flow of coolant through the cooling circuit resulting in the removal of contaminants from component parts of the cooling circuit;
(C) removing contaminants from the coolant as the coolant circulates through the flushing system; and
,(D) disconnecting the cooling circuit from the flushing system after the cooling circuit has been flushed. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. Apparatus for cleansing a fuel cell cooling circuit, comprising:
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a flushing system connected to the cooling circuit for flushing the cooling circuit of contaminants, the flushing system including a supply of coolant, a filtering system for removing contaminants from the coolant flowing through the flushing system, and a pump for circulating a volume of the coolant between the cooling circuit and the flushing system. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification