System and method for cooling a fuel cell-powered vehicle

摘要

A fuel cell system, including a plurality of bipolar plate assemblies, each assembly including a first plate and a second plate with an internal coolant flow path disposed therebetween, a flow path for a first reactant gas on a side of the first plate opposite the internal coolant flow path, and a flow path for a second reactant gas on a side of the second plate opposite the internal coolant flow path, and a cooling system configured to place coolant in thermal communication with the plurality of bipolar plate assemblies, wherein cycling pressure differentials between the internal coolant flow path and the external reactant gas flow paths cause expansion and contraction of a volume of coolant disposed within the bipolar plate assembly, thereby pumping coolant through the cooling system. A method of cooling a fuel cell-powered vehicle is also provided.

主权项

1. A fuel cell system comprising:
a fuel cell stack comprising a plurality of fuel cells arranged in a stacked configuration, each fuel cell comprising a bipolar plate assembly comprising:
a first plate and a second plate having an internal coolant flow path disposed therebetween;a flow path for a first reactant gas on a side of the first plate opposite said internal coolant flow path; anda flow path for a second reactant gas on a side of the second plate opposite said internal coolant flow path; a pressure regulator configured to regulate pressure of said first and second reactant gas flow paths, wherein said pressure regulator is configured to schedule pressure cycling of said first and second reactant gas flow paths; and a cooling system configured to place coolant in thermal communication with at least one said bipolar plate assembly, wherein said cooling system comprises:
a primary system comprising a coolant pump that circulates coolant through said cooling system; anda backup system configured to be actuated in the event of coolant pump failure, wherein cycling pressure differentials between said internal coolant flow path and said first and second reactant gas flow paths cause expansion and contraction of a volume of coolant disposed within said bipolar plate assembly, thereby pumping coolant through said cooling system in the event of coolant pump failure.