Vehicles containing and methods for using a pre-heater to reduce emissions, and for warming fuel cells at low ambient temperatures
First Claim
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1. A vehicle comprising:
- a fuel cell that generates electricity, which is activated for a period of time sufficient to maintain the fuel cell at a set temperature or within a set range of temperatures;
a pre-heater electrically coupled to the fuel cell, which is configured to receive a portion of the electricity prior to initiating an electrical arc that starts the vehicle, wherein the pre-heater provides an output; and
a component configured to receive a portion of the output, wherein a temperature of the component is changed through receipt of the portion.
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Abstract
A vehicle includes a fuel cell that generates electricity, a pre-heater electrically coupled to the fuel cell, wherein the pre-heater provides an output, and a component configured to receive a portion of the output, wherein a temperature of the component is changed through receipt of the portion of the output. In addition, a method is described for operating a fuel cell in a vehicle that includes: generating electricity from the fuel cell, and providing a portion of the electricity to a pre-heater, which provides an output to a vehicular component, thereby pre-heating the component.
37 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A vehicle comprising:
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a fuel cell that generates electricity, which is activated for a period of time sufficient to maintain the fuel cell at a set temperature or within a set range of temperatures;
a pre-heater electrically coupled to the fuel cell, which is configured to receive a portion of the electricity prior to initiating an electrical arc that starts the vehicle, wherein the pre-heater provides an output; and
a component configured to receive a portion of the output, wherein a temperature of the component is changed through receipt of the portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for operating a fuel cell in a vehicle comprising:
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activating the fuel cell for a period of time sufficient to maintain the fuel cell at a set temperature or within a set range of temperatures, thereby generating electricity; and
providing a portion of the electricity to a pre-heater, which pre-heater provides an output to a vehicular component to pre-heat the component and which preheater is configured to receive a portion of the electricity prior to initiating an electrical arc that starts the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
measuring a temperature;
decreasing the portion of electricity provided to the pre-heater when the measured temperature is below a minimum set point; and
increasing the portion of electricity provided to the pre-heater when the measured temperature is above a maximum set point.
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13. The method of claim 11 further comprising operating the fuel cell at a calibrated load point.
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14. The method of claim 13 wherein the vehicular component is a catalytic converter.
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15. The method of claim 11 further comprising:
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measuring a temperature; and
activating the fuel cell when the measured temperature is below a minimum set point.
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16. The method of claim 15 further comprising operating the fuel cell at a calibrated load point.
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17. The method of claim 15 further comprising deactivating the fuel cell when a maximum set point is reached.
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18. The method of claim 17 wherein the minimum set point exceeds the freezing point of water.
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19. The method of claim 17 wherein the maximum set point is a maximum operating temperature of the fuel cell.
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20. The method of claim 17 wherein the maximum set point exceeds the minimum set point by less than 50 degrees Centigrade.
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21. The method of claim 17 wherein the component comprises a catalytic converter.
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22. The method of claim 17 wherein the component comprises a reformer selected from the group consisting of a gasoline reformer and a methanol reformer.
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23. The method of claim 17 wherein the component comprises a catalytic converter and a reformer.
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24. A method for reducing vehicular emissions comprising:
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activating the fuel cell for a period of time sufficient to maintain the fuel cell at a set temperature or within a set range of temperatures, thereby generating electricity; and
providing a portion of the electricity to a pre-heater, which pre-heater provides an output to a catalytic converter, thereby pre-heating the catalytic converter, and which preheater is configured to receive a portion of the electricity prior to initiating an electrical arc that starts a vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
measuring a temperature; and
activating a fuel cell when the measured temperature is below a minimum set point.
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26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:
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starting an internal combustion engine;
generating an exhaust containing pollutants; and
converting about 50% of the pollutants to non-pollutants in less than about 30 seconds from the starting of the engine.
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27. The method of claim 24 further comprising:
operating the fuel cell at a calibrated load point.
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28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:
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starting an internal combustion engine;
generating an exhaust containing pollutants; and
converting about 50% of the pollutants to non-pollutants in less than about 30 seconds from the starting of the engine.
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29. The method of claim 28 further comprising:
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measuring a temperature; and
activating a fuel cell when the measured temperature is below a minimum set point.
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Specification