SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING TEMPERATURE IN A FUEL CELL

摘要

Methods, articles, and systems for controlling the internal operating temperature of fuel cell systems, such as planar fuel cell arrays. The heat management system conducts heat away from the fuel cell without disturbing the flow of gases around the fuel cell layer and without the need for the equipment to disturb the flow of gases around the fuel cell layer. The present invention also provides a heat transfer system that has a low thermal mass relative to the fuel cell layer or is thermally isolated from the fuel cell layer such that the heat transfer system will not remove substantial amounts of heat from a fuel cell layer during star-up and can be activated to dissipate heat from the fuel cell only as needed.

主权项

1. A fuel cell system comprising:
a planar fuel cell array having an anode layer and a cathode layer; a heat transport structure in direct thermal communication with a lateral side of the cathode layer and a lateral side of the anode layer; a heat dissipation device in direct thermal communication with the heat transport structure and indirect thermal communication with the planar fuel cell array; and a heat removal device in indirect thermal communication with the planar fuel cell array and the heat transport structure and configured to remove heat from the heat dissipation device.