Autonomous aircraft fuel cell system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10710739-B2
Application number	US-201715825749-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 29, 2017
Priority date	Dec 9, 2014
Publication date	Jul 14, 2020
Grant date	Jul 14, 2020

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 fuel cell;
related ancillary equipment for fuel-cell functioning;
a battery;
a battery charger;
a preload resistor; and
a series of contactors configured to control the flow of electricity generated by the fuel cell, wherein the series of contactors comprise a resistor contactor, a fuel-cell contactor, a battery contactor, and a bus contactor.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein upon power request from aircraft loads, the battery contactor is closed and the bus contactor is closed and fuel cell startup procedure is launched.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein closing of the resistor contactor brings fuel cell voltage to a predefined voltage level that is at or near the battery voltage.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein closing of the fuel cell contactor powers the ancillary equipment and recharges the battery via the battery charger.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system operates autonomously and without being linked to an aircraft power supply.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system delivers power to aircraft loads without using a power converter.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to provide immediate power to aircraft loads via delivery of initial power from the battery and supplemental power from the fuel cell system once the fuel cell system has completed start up.

8. A method for powering aircraft loads, comprising:
providing an aircraft fuel cell fuel cell system of claim 1 ;
receiving a request for power from one or more of the aircraft loads;
delivering an initial power supply to the loads from the battery; and
delivering further power supply to the loads from the fuel cell.

Assignees

• Zodiac Aerotechnics

Inventors

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

Classifications

• H02J2105/32

  for aircrafts · CPC title

• H02J2101/30

  Fuel cells · CPC title

• B64D27/355

  using fuel cells · CPC title

• H02J3/381

  Dispersed generators · CPC title

• B60L50/72 Primary

  Constructional details of fuel cells specially adapted for electric vehicles · CPC title