On-board aircraft electrochemical system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017331131-A1
Application number	US-201615151132-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 10, 2016
Priority date	May 10, 2016
Publication date	Nov 16, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

An onboard electrochemical system of an electrochemical cell including a cathode and an anode separated by an electrolyte separator is selectively operated in either of two modes. In a first mode of operation, water or air is directed to the anode, electric power is provided to the anode and cathode to provide a voltage difference between the anode and the cathode, and nitrogen-enriched air is directed from the cathode to an aircraft fuel tank or aircraft fire suppression system. In a second mode of operation, fuel is directed to the anode, electric power is directed from the anode and cathode to one or more aircraft electric power-consuming systems or components, and nitrogen-enriched air is directed from the cathode to a fuel tank or fire suppression system.

First claim

1 . An on-board aircraft electrochemical system, comprising:
an electrochemical cell comprising a cathode and an anode separated by an electrolyte separator; a cathode fluid flow path in fluid communication with the cathode that discharges nitrogen-enriched air; a nitrogen-enriched air flow path that receives nitrogen-enriched air from the cathode fluid flow path and delivers it to a fuel tank, a fire suppression system, or both a fuel tank and a fire suppression system; a first anode fluid flow path configured to controllably direct water or air to the anode; a second anode fluid flow path configured to controllably direct fuel to the anode; an electrical connection in controllable communication between an electric power source and the cathode and anode; an electrical connection in controllable communication between an electric power sink and the cathode and anode; and a controller configured to alternatively operate the electrochemical cell in either:
a first mode in which water or air is directed to the anode from the first anode fluid flow path, electric power is directed from the power source to the anode and cathode to provide a voltage difference between the anode and the cathode, and nitrogen-enriched air is directed from the cathode to the fuel tank, the fire suppression system, or both the fuel tank and the fire suppression system, or
a second mode in which fuel is directed to the anode from the second anode fluid flow path, electric power is directed from the anode and cathode to the power sink, and nitrogen-enriched air is directed from the cathode to the fuel tank, the fire suppression system, or both the fuel tank and the fire suppression system.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to operate the electrochemical cell continuously in either the first mode or the second mode during aircraft operation.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the nitrogen-enriched air flow path is configured to deliver nitrogen-enriched air to the fuel tank.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the nitrogen-enriched air flow path is configured to controllably deliver nitrogen-enriched air to either or both of the fuel tank and the fire suppression system.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to operate the electrochemical cell in the first mode under aircraft operating conditions that do not require the production of electrical power by the electrochemical cell, and in the second mode during a designated aircraft operating condition requiring the production of electrical power by the electrochemical cell.

6 . The system of claim 1 , comprising a plurality of said electrochemical cells in electrical series in a stack.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte is selected from a polymer electrolyte proton-transfer medium, a solid oxide, or phosphoric acid.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte comprises a polymer electrolyte proton-transfer medium or phosphoric acid, and the first anode flow path is configured to controllably direct water to the anode.

9 . The system of claim 8 , further comprising a gas dryer disposed along the ullage flow path to dry the nitrogen-enriched air.

10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the electrolyte comprises a polymer electrolyte proton-transfer medium.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte comprises a solid oxide, and the first anode flow path is configured to controllably direct air to the anode.

12 . The system of claim 11 , further comprising a turbocompressor, wherein the cathode fluid flow path receives air from a compressor outlet of the turbocompressor and discharges air to a turbine inlet of the turbocompressor.

13 . The system of claim 11 , comprising a cooling gas flow path isolated from the cathode flow path.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the cooling gas flow path includes an air flow path on the anode side of the electrochemical cell during the first mode of operation.

15 . The system of claim 13 , comprising a plurality of said electrochemical cells in a stack separated by electrically-conductive gas flow separators, wherein the cooling gas flow path includes an air flow path through a passage in one or more of the separators.

16 . The system of claim 13 , comprising a plurality of said electrochemical cells in a stack separated by electrically-conductive gas flow separators, wherein the cooling gas flow path includes a fuel and steam flow path through a passage in one or more of the separators comprising a reforming catalyst.

17 . The system of claim 12 , comprising a plurality of said electrochemical cells in a stack separated by electrically-conductive gas flow separators, wherein the cooling gas flow path comprises an air flow path across an anode of one or more electrochemical cells in the stack configured or controlled to operate in the first mode of operation when the stack as a whole is operated in the second mode of operation.

18 . A method of operating an on-board aircraft electrochemical system, comprising selectively operating an electrochemical cell comprising a cathode and an anode separated by an electrolyte separator in either:
a first mode in which water or air is directed to the anode, electric power is provided to the anode and cathode to provide a voltage difference between the anode and the cathode, and nitrogen-enriched air is directed from the cathode to an aircraft fuel tank or an aircraft fire suppression system, or a second mode in which fuel is directed to the anode, electric power is directed from the anode and cathode to one or more aircraft electric power-consuming systems or components, and nitrogen-enriched air is directed from the cathode to the aircraft fuel tank or aircraft fire suppression system.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the electrochemical cell is operated continuously in either the first mode or the second mode during aircraft operation.

20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the electrochemical cell is operated in the first mode under normal aircraft operating conditions, and in the second mode during a designated aircraft operating condition requiring the production of electrical power by the electrochemical cell.

Assignees

• Hamilton Sundstrand Corp

Inventors

• Rheaume Jonathan

Classifications

• B64D2041/005

  Fuel cells · CPC title

• A62C99/0018

  using gases or vapours that do not support combustion, e.g. steam, carbon dioxide · CPC title

• H01M8/04201

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

• B64D2045/009

  Fire detection or protection; Erosion protection, e.g. from airborne particles · CPC title

• A62C3/08 Primary

  in aircraft {(A62C3/0207 takes precedence)} · CPC title