Electrochemical cell engine

摘要

An electrochemical engine for a vehicle comprises a storage tank (22) containing hydrogen-retention material which reversibly takes-up and stores hydrogen at a hydrogen-storage temperature and releases it upon heating to a release temperature. A fuel cell stack (12) using the released hydrogen produces electricity and heat by-product. A primary coolant flow circuit (32) extends from a radiator (26), through the fuel cell stack and the storage tank, and back to the radiator, and has a coolant-distribution valve (34) intermediate the fuel cell stack and the storage tank. A bypass coolant flow line (36) extends from the coolant-distribution valve to the radiator. During operation, the heat by-product of the fuel cell stack is transferred via the primary coolant flow circuit to the storage tank for heating the hydrogen-retention material to release hydrogen for fueling the fuel cell stack. The electrochemical engine further comprises a heat generator (42) within a superheater coolant flow loop (44) having a bypass valve (46) intermediate the storage tank and the radiator operable to keep coolant within the superheater coolant flow loop and a secondary pump (48) to circulate the coolant. Coolant in the superheater coolant flow loop is heated by the heat generator and circulated through the storage tank to further release hydrogen gas from the hydrogen-retention material.