Heater and method of operating

摘要

A heater includes a heater housing extending along a heater axis; a fuel cell stack assembly disposed within the heater housing and having a plurality of fuel cells which convert chemical energy from a fuel into heat and electricity through a chemical reaction with an oxidizing agent; an electric resistive heating element disposed within the heater housing and electrically connected to the fuel cell stack assembly; and a first thermal switch located between the fuel cell stack assembly and the electric resistive heating element. The first thermal switch is closed to place the fuel cell stack assembly in electrical communication with the electric resistive heating element when the fuel cell stack assembly is electrochemically active and is open to prevent electrical communication between the fuel cell stack assembly and the electric resistive heating element when the fuel cell stack assembly is not electrochemically active.

主权项

1. A heater comprising:
a heater housing extending along a heater axis; a fuel cell stack assembly disposed within said heater housing and having a plurality of fuel cells which convert chemical energy from a fuel into heat and electricity through a chemical reaction with an oxidizing agent; an electric resistive heating element disposed within said heater housing and electrically connected to said fuel cell stack assembly; a first thermal switch located between said fuel cell stack assembly and said electric resistive heating element, wherein said first thermal switch is closed to place said fuel cell stack assembly in electrical communication with said electric resistive heating element when said fuel cell stack assembly is electrochemically active at or above an active temperature and said first thermal switch is opened to prevent electrical communication between said fuel cell stack assembly and said electric resistive heating element when said fuel cell stack assembly is not electrochemically active at an inactive temperature which is below said active temperature; and a second thermal switch which divides said electric resistive heating element into a first heater zone and a second heater zone, wherein only said first heater zone produces heat when said first thermal switch and said second thermal switch are both closed, and wherein said first heater zone and said second heater zone produce heat when said first thermal switch is closed and second thermal switch is open.