A fuel cell system, a method of controlling a fuel cell system, and a vehicle comprising a fuel cell system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024222661-A1
Application number	US-202118560755-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 20, 2021
Priority date	May 20, 2021
Publication date	Jul 4, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

A fuel cell system is for a vehicle at least partially propelled by an electric traction motor. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell comprising an anode side and a cathode side, an expander connected to a fuel cell motor, an inlet conduit connected to an inlet end of the cathode side for supply of air to the cathode side, an outlet conduit connected between an outlet end of the cathode side and an inlet side of the expander for supply of an exhaust flow from the cathode side to the expander, and an exhaust conduit connected to an exhaust side of the expander, and a heat exchanger connected at the inlet conduit and at the exhaust conduit for transfer of heat between the inlet conduit and the exhaust conduit.

First claim

1 . A fuel cell system for a vehicle at least partially propelled by an electric traction motor, the fuel cell system comprising:
a fuel cell comprising an anode side and a cathode side, an expander connected to a fuel cell motor,
an inlet conduit connected to an inlet end of the cathode side for supply of air to the cathode side, an outlet conduit connected between an outlet end of the cathode side and an inlet side of the expander for supply of an exhaust flow from the cathode side to the expander, and an exhaust conduit connected to an exhaust side of the expander, and
a heat exchanger connected at the inlet conduit and at the exhaust conduit for transfer of heat between the inlet conduit and the exhaust conduit.

2 . The fuel cell system according to claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is a gas-to-gas heat exchanger.

3 . The fuel cell system according to claim 1 , wherein the outlet conduit comprises a first outlet conduit portion and a second outlet conduit portion, the first outlet conduit portion connecting the outlet end of the fuel cell to the heat exchanger, and the second outlet conduit bypassing the heat exchanger and connects the outlet end of the fuel cell to the inlet side of the expander.

4 . The fuel cell system according to claim 3 , wherein the fuel cell system further comprises a first valve arrangement arranged in the outlet conduit, the first valve arrangement being configured to controllably direct the exhaust flow from the cathode side to the first outlet conduit portion and/or to the second outlet conduit portion.

5 . The fuel cell system according to claim 4 , wherein the first valve arrangement comprises a first valve in the first outlet conduit portion, and a second valve arranged in the second outlet conduit portion.

6 . The fuel cell system according to claim 1 , wherein the exhaust conduit comprises a first exhaust conduit portion connecting the exhaust side of the expander to the heat exchanger, and a second exhaust conduit connecting the exhaust side of the expander to the ambient environment.

7 . The fuel cell system according to claim 6 , wherein the fuel cell system further comprises a second valve arrangement arranged in the exhaust conduit, the second valve arrangement being configured to controllably direct the exhaust flow from the exhaust side of the expander to the first exhaust conduit portion and/or to the second exhaust conduit portion.

8 . The fuel cell system according to claim 4 , wherein the fuel cell system further comprises a control unit connected to the first valve arrangement and to the second valve arrangement, the control unit comprising control circuitry configured to:
determine a current operating mode for the vehicle, and control the first and second valve arrangements based on the current operating mode.

9 . The fuel cell system according to claim 1 , wherein the fuel cell system further comprises an air compressor arranged at the inlet conduit.

10 . The fuel cell system according to claim 9 , wherein the inlet conduit comprises a first inlet conduit portion and a second inlet conduit portion, the first inlet conduit portion connecting the air compressor to the heat exchanger, and the second inlet conduit portion bypassing the heat exchanger and connects the air compressor to the inlet end of the cathode side.

11 . The fuel cell system according to claim 10 , wherein the fuel cell system further comprises a third valve arrangement arranged in the inlet conduit, the third valve arrangement being configured to controllably direct a flow of compressed air from the air compressor to the first inlet conduit portion and/or to the second inlet conduit portion.

12 . The fuel cell system according to claim 9 , wherein the air compressor is connected to the expander and the fuel cell motor.

13 . The fuel cell system according to claim 1 , wherein the fuel cell system further comprises an exhaust valve arrangement connected to the outlet conduit for controllably bypassing the exhaust flow from reaching the expander.

14 . The fuel cell system according to claim 1 , wherein the fuel cell system further comprises at least one temperature sensor, the temperature sensor being arranged at the inlet conduit.

15 . The fuel cell system according to claim 14 , wherein the at least one temperature sensor is arranged between the heat exchanger and the inlet end of the cathode side.

16 . The fuel cell system according to claim 14 , wherein the at least one temperature sensor is arranged between upstream the heat exchanger.

17 . The fuel cell system according to claim 1 , wherein the fuel cell system further comprises a charge air cooler, the charge air cooler being arranged in the inlet conduit in fluid communication between the heat exchanger and the inlet end of the cathode side.

18 . A method of controlling a fuel cell system of a vehicle, the fuel cell system comprising
a fuel cell comprising an anode side and a cathode side, an expander connected to a fuel cell motor, a heat exchanger, an inlet conduit connected between an inlet end of the cathode side and the heat exchanger, and an outlet conduit arranged to supply an exhaust flow from an outlet end of the cathode side, the outlet conduit comprising a first outlet conduit portion and a second outlet conduit portion, wherein the first outlet conduit portion connecting the outlet end of the cathode side to the heat exchanger, and the second outlet conduit bypassing the heat exchanger and connects the outlet end of the cathode side to an inlet side of the expander,
wherein the method comprises:
determining a current operating mode for the vehicle,
controlling the exhaust flow from the outlet end of the cathode side to be directed to the first outlet conduit portion or to the second outlet conduit portion based on the current operating mode.

19 . A vehicle at least partially propelled by an electric traction motor, the electric traction motor being electrically connected to a fuel cell system according to claim 1 .

Assignees

• Volvo Truck Corp

Inventors

• Audhav Tove
• Rahm Fredrik

Classifications

• H01M2250/20

  Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane · CPC title

• H01M8/04761

  of fuel cell exhausts · CPC title

• H01M8/04335

  of cathode reactants at the inlet or inside the fuel cell · CPC title

• H01M8/04111

  using a compressor turbine assembly · CPC title

• Y02T90/40

  Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells · CPC title