Autonomous aircraft fuel cell system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10040569-B2
Application number	US-201514963850-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 9, 2015
Priority date	Dec 9, 2014
Publication date	Aug 7, 2018
Grant date	Aug 7, 2018

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to systems and methods for providing improved aircraft fuel cell systems. In one embodiment, the system provides separate zones, maintaining various equipment components in separate controlled hydrogen concentration zones. In one embodiment, the fuel cell system provided may be simpler such that it functions without a power converter and autonomous such that it functions without need for power from any aircraft supply.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An aircraft fuel cell system, comprising
a high pressure hydrogen concentration zone;
a low pressure hydrogen concentration zone;
each of the high pressure hydrogen concentration zone and the low pressure hydrogen concentration zone comprising a hydrogen concentration sensor; and
a blower system configured to provide dilution air to one or both of the zones based on hydrogen-containing gas concentration detected by the hydrogen concentration sensor.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the high pressure hydrogen concentration zone houses one or more hydrogen-containing sources.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the one or more hydrogen containing sources comprise one or more hydrogen cylinders.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the low-pressure hydrogen concentration zone houses a fuel-cell.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the blower system comprises one or more fans associated with a heat exchanger associated with the fuel-cell system.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more conduits for delivering air from the blower system to one or both of the a high pressure hydrogen concentration zone and the a low pressure hydrogen concentration zone.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a controller that receives hydrogen concentration information from the one or more hydrogen concentration sensors.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a venting line.

9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a hybrid regulator that provides a single stage regulation of pressure in the fuel-cell.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the hybrid regulator comprises a first hybrid regulator on a hydrogen supply line and a second hybrid regulator on an oxygen supply line.

11. A method for diluting a hydrogen-containing gas atmosphere, comprising:
providing the aircraft fuel cell system of claim 1 ;
detecting a hydrogen concentration within at least one of the zones;
if the hydrogen concentration is above a predetermined level, delivering dilution gas to the zone with the detected hydrogen concentration level.

Assignees

• Zodiac Aerotechnics

Inventors

• Filangi Sébastien
• D'Arbigny Julien
• Bouillo Loic
• Elleboode Christophe
• Masset Franck
• Gager Guillaume
• Marty Claire
• Zraiaa Hanane

Classifications

• H01M8/04201

  Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes · CPC title

• B64D2221/00

  Electric power distribution systems onboard aircraft · CPC title

• B64D2041/005

  Fuel cells · CPC title

• B60L2200/10

  Air crafts · CPC title

• H01M8/2475 Primary

  Enclosures, casings or containers of fuel cell stacks · CPC title