IP Library Granted Patent US 12,228,073
Granted Patent B2
US 12,228,073 · App. 18/441,122 · Granted Feb 18, 2025

Recirculation fan turbocharger assembly and fuel cell system

Inventor: Vincent Hernandez-Gonzalez (Kirchheimbolanden, DE)
Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
F02C6/12F02C7/04H01M8/04097F05D2220/40H01M2250/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,228,073
App. No.
18/441,122
Granted
Feb 18, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A recirculation fan turbocharger assembly ( 23 ) recycles hydrogen and supplies air in a fuel cell system. The assembly ( 23 ) includes a fan ( 25 ), a compressor ( 27 ), and an electric drive ( 31 ) and/or a turbine ( 29 ). The fan ( 25 ) has an impeller ( 255 ) which is designed to convey a hydrogen containing recycle stream ( 250 ) to a fuel cell unit ( 1 ). The compressor ( 27 ) has a compressor wheel ( 275 ) which is designed to compress an air stream ( 270 ) for a fuel cell unit. The compressor wheel ( 275 ) and the impeller ( 255 ) are coupled to one another in a rotationally fixed manner. The electric drive ( 31 ) and/or a turbine ( 29 ) is/are designed to drive the impeller ( 255 ) and the compressor wheel ( 275 ) simultaneously.

Claims (18)

1. A recirculation fan turbocharger assembly for a hydrogen recycle and an air supply in a fuel cell system, the recirculation fan turbocharger assembly comprising: a fan having an impeller configured to convey a hydrogen containing recycle stream to a fuel cell unit, a compressor having a compressor wheel configured to compress an air stream for the fuel cell unit, wherein the compressor wheel and the impeller are coupled to one another in a rotationally fixed manner, and an electric drive and a turbine, with both the electric drive and the turbine coupled to the impeller and the compressor wheel to drive the impeller and the compressor wheel simultaneously,

wherein the turbine is configured to be driven by a fuel cell exhaust gas stream, and

wherein the electric drive is configured to electrically assist the turbine in driving the fan and the compressor.

2. The recirculation fan turbocharger assembly according to claim 1 ,

wherein the turbine comprises a turbine wheel which is coupled to the impeller and the compressor wheel so that a rotation of the turbine wheel is transmitted to the impeller and the compressor wheel.

3. The recirculation fan turbocharger assembly according to claim 2 ,

further comprising a shaft which is coupled to the impeller, the compressor wheel and the turbine wheel, wherein the electric drive is coupled to the shaft between two of the impeller, the compressor wheel and the turbine wheel.

4. The recirculation fan turbocharger assembly according to claim 3 ,

wherein an electric motor is arranged between the turbine wheel and the impeller and is coupled to the shaft, and wherein the compressor wheel is arranged on the side of the impeller facing away from the electric motor.

5. The recirculation fan turbocharger assembly according to claim 2 ,

wherein two of the impeller, the compressor wheel and the turbine wheel each include a rear face and are arranged back-to-back such that the rear faces face each other.

6. A fuel cell system comprising a recirculation fan turbocharger assembly according to claim 1 and a fuel cell unit which are coupled to one another such that hydrogen from the fuel cell unit can be conveyed through the fan back to the fuel cell unit, and an air stream can be supplied through the compressor.

7. The fuel cell system according to claim 6 , wherein the fan has a fan inlet and a fan outlet, the compressor has a compressor inlet for the inflow of air and a compressor outlet, and the fuel cell unit is coupled to the fan inlet on an output side of the fuel cell unit and to the fan outlet and the compressor outlet on an input side of the fuel cell unit.

8. The fuel cell system according to claim 6 , wherein the fan has a fan inlet and a fan outlet, the compressor has a compressor inlet for the inflow of air and a compressor outlet, the turbine has a turbine inlet and a turbine outlet, and the fuel cell unit is coupled to the turbine inlet and the fan inlet on an output side of the fuel cell unit, and to the fan outlet and the compressor outlet on an input side of the fuel cell unit.

9. The recirculation fan turbocharger assembly according to claim 2 ,

wherein the impeller and the turbine wheel each include a rear face and are arranged back-to-back such that the rear faces face each other.

10. The recirculation fan turbocharger assembly according to claim 2 ,

further comprising a shaft which is coupled to the impeller, the compressor wheel and the turbine wheel, wherein the electric drive is coupled to the shaft between the impeller and the turbine wheel, and wherein the compressor wheel is arranged on the side of the impeller facing away from the electric drive.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 15, 2024
From: HERNANDEZ-GONZALEZ, VINCENT
To: BORGWARNER INC.
Reel/Frame 066458/0863 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 102022114838.6 · Jun 13, 2022 · national
Continuity (2)
Division 18098795 · Jan 19, 2023
Related Publication 20240183308A1 · Jun 6, 2024
References Cited (4)
US 20050266293A1 · Delzanno · 2005 [cited by examiner]
US 20080187796A1 · Rainville et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20190145416A1 · Donato · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20230399976A1 · Hernandez-Gonzalez · 2023 [cited by applicant]