FUEL CELL CABINET HEAT MANAGEMENT AND THERMAL CONTROL SYSTEM
A fuel cell cabinet is provided. The fuel cell cabinet includes a housing, a fuel cell contained in an interior of the housing, and a heat management system that manages and controls an internal air temperature of the housing to be one of at a predetermined temperature and within a predetermined temperature range.
1 . A fuel cell cabinet comprising:
a housing;
a fuel cell contained in an interior of the housing; and
a heat management system that manages and controls an internal air temperature of the housing to be one of at a predetermined temperature and within a predetermined temperature range.
2 . The fuel cell cabinet according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined temperature is equal to or greater than 5° C. and equal to or less than 65° C.
3 . The fuel cell cabinet according to claim 1 , wherein the heat management system includes at least one of an insulation system, a sealing system, a heater system, and a control loop system.
4 . The fuel cell cabinet according to claim 1 , wherein the heat management system includes a heater system, and
wherein the heater system includes one or more heaters.
5 . The fuel cell cabinet according to claim 4 , wherein the one or more heaters include a resistance heater.
6 . The fuel cell cabinet according to claim 4 , further comprising:
a liquid to liquid heat exchanger,
wherein at least one of the one or more heaters is on the liquid to liquid heat exchanger.
7 . The fuel cell cabinet according to claim 4 , wherein at least one of the one or more heaters is one of on and adjacent to the fuel cell.
8 . The fuel cell cabinet according to claim 4 , wherein at least one of the one or more heaters is one of on and adjacent to a base of the housing.
9 . The fuel cell cabinet according to claim 1 , wherein the heat management system includes an insulation system, and
wherein the insulation system includes an insulating material on an inside surface of one or more of a door of the housing, a wall of the housing, a base of the housing, and a top of the housing.
10 . The fuel cell cabinet according to claim 9 , wherein the insulation system includes an insulating material on an inside surface of each door of the housing, each wall of the housing, a base of the housing, and a top of the housing.
11 . The fuel cell cabinet according to claim 1 , wherein the heat management system includes a sealing system, and
wherein the sealing system includes sealing means for sealing an opening in one of a door, a wall, a base, and a top of the housing.
12 . The fuel cell cabinet according to claim 11 , wherein the sealing means seals substantially all openings each door of the housing, each wall of the housing, a base of the housing, and a top of the housing.
13 . The fuel cell cabinet according to claim 1 , wherein the heat management system includes a sealing system, and
wherein the sealing system includes sealing means for sealing a perimeter of a door of the housing to a surface of the housing surrounding a door opening of the housing.
14 . The fuel cell cabinet according to claim 4 , wherein the heat management system includes a control system, and
wherein the control system selectively turns on and off the one or more of the heaters to maintain the internal air temperature of the housing.
15 . The fuel cell cabinet according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a fan assembly on the housing, wherein the fan assembly includes one or more fans,
wherein the heat management system includes a control system, and
wherein the control system selectively turns on and off the one or more fans to maintain the internal air temperature of the housing.
16 . The fuel cell cabinet according to claim 14 , further comprising:
a fan assembly on the housing, wherein the fan assembly includes one or more fans, and
wherein the control system selectively turns on and off the one or more of the heaters and fans to maintain the internal air temperature of the housing.
17 . The fuel cell cabinet according to claim 4 , wherein the heat management system includes a control system, and
wherein the control system selectively controls an operating condition of one or more heaters and fans of the fuel cell cabinet.
18 . A fuel cell cabinet heat management and thermal control system, comprising:
a housing;
a fuel cell contained in an interior of the housing; and
a heat management system that manages and controls an internal air temperature of the housing.
19 . A fuel cell cabinet comprising:
a housing;
a fuel cell contained in an interior of the housing; and
means for managing and controlling an internal air temperature of the fuel cell cabinet.
20 . A method of managing and controlling an internal air temperature of a fuel cell cabinet, the method comprising:
selectively controlling an operating condition of a heater and a fan of the fuel cell cabinet based on at least one predetermined factor to maintain the internal temperature of the fuel cell cabinet one of at a predetermined temperature and within a predetermined temperature range.
21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the predetermined factor is one of an outside temperature of the fuel cell cabinet, an inside temperature of the fuel cell cabinet, and a solar exposure condition of the fuel cell cabinet.
22 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the predetermined temperature is equal to or greater than 5° C. and equal to or less than 65° C.