IP Library Granted Patent US 11,923,571
Granted Patent B2
US 11,923,571 · App. 17/804,684 · Granted Mar 5, 2024

Air-cooled fuel cell system

Inventor: Nobuaki Nonoyama (Chiryu, JP)
Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
H01M8/04014H01M8/04089H01M8/04201H01M8/04358H01M8/04768H01M2008/1095H01M2220/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,923,571
App. No.
17/804,684
Granted
Mar 5, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

To provide an air-cooled fuel cell system configured to efficiently warm up a fuel cell. An air-cooled fuel cell system, wherein the air-cooled fuel cell system comprises: a fuel cell, a reaction air supplier configured to supply reaction air to a reaction air inlet of the fuel cell, a reaction air supply flow path configured to connect the reaction air supplier and the reaction air inlet of the fuel cell, a reaction air discharge flow path configured to connect a reaction air outlet of the fuel cell and the outside of the air-cooled fuel cell system, a housing, a temperature acquirer configured to acquire a temperature of inside air discharged from a cooling air outlet, and a controller; and wherein, based on the temperature measured by the temperature acquirer, the controller controls opening and closing of the opening and closing unit and an opening degree thereof.

Claims (24)

1. An air-cooled fuel cell system,

wherein the air-cooled fuel cell system comprises:

a fuel cell,

a reaction air supplier configured to supply reaction air to a reaction air inlet of the fuel cell,

a reaction air supply flow path configured to connect the reaction air supplier and the reaction air inlet of the fuel cell,

a reaction air discharge flow path configured to connect a reaction air outlet of the fuel cell and the outside of the air-cooled fuel cell system,

a housing,

an outside temperature sensor;

a temperature acquirer configured to acquire a temperature of inside air discharged from a cooling air outlet, and

a controller;

wherein the fuel cell has a structure that a reaction air manifold and a cooling air manifold are independent of each other;

wherein the housing houses the fuel cell, the reaction air supplier, the reaction air supply flow path, the reaction air discharge flow path and the temperature acquirer;

wherein the housing includes a cooling air circulation flow path configured to connect the cooling air outlet of the fuel cell and a cooling air inlet of the fuel cell;

wherein the cooling air circulation flow path includes a cooling air driver disposed downstream from the cooling air outlet of the fuel cell and configured to supply cooling air to the cooling air inlet of the fuel cell;

wherein the housing includes an air inlet and an air outlet;

wherein a filter is disposed at each of the air inlet and an inlet of the reaction air supply flow path;

wherein the air outlet includes an opening and closing unit;

wherein, based on the temperature measured by the temperature acquirer, the controller is configured to control opening and closing of the opening and closing unit and an opening degree thereof; and

wherein, when it is determined that an outside temperature is less than a predetermined first temperature threshold, the controller is configured to circulate the cooling air in the housing by controlling the opening degree of the opening and closing unit to 0% or more and less than 5%;

wherein, when it is determined that the outside temperature is the predetermined first temperature threshold or more and less than a predetermined second temperature threshold, the controller is configured to circulate part of the cooling air in the housing by controlling the opening degree of the opening and closing unit to 5% or more and 90% or less; and

wherein, when it is determined that the outside temperature is the predetermined second temperature threshold or more, the controller is configured to discharge the cooling air to the outside of the housing by controlling the opening degree of the opening and closing unit to more than 90% and 100% or less.

2. The air-cooled fuel cell system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the predetermined first temperature threshold is 0° C. or less, and

wherein the predetermined second temperature threshold is 10° C. or more.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 31, 2022
From: NONOYAMA, NOBUAKI
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 060057/0117 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2021-092784 · Jun 2, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220393192A1 · Dec 8, 2022