US6675573B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicles containing and methods for using a pre-heater to reduce emissions, and for warming fuel cells at low ambient temperatures
Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Inc
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Filing: 2001-01-17
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Granted: 2004-01-13
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Expires: 2021-01-17
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle includes a fuel cell that generates electricity, a pre-heater electrically coupled to the fuel cell, wherein the pre-heater provides an output, and a component configured to receive a portion of the output, wherein a temperature of the component is changed through receipt of the portion of the output. In addition, a method is described for operating a fuel cell in a vehicle that includes: generating electricity from the fuel cell, and providing a portion of the electricity to a pre-heater, which provides an output to a vehicular component, thereby pre-heating the component.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen Thomas Kempfer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 16:45
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M8/00; H01M8/04; H01M8/04223; H01M8/04268; H01M8/04007; H01M2250/00; H01M2250/20; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50; Y02T; Y02T90/00; Y02T90/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
A vehicle comprising: a fuel cell that generates electricity, which is activated for a period of time sufficient to maintain the fuel cell at a set temperature or within a set range of temperatures; a pre-heater electrically coupled to the fuel cell, which is configured to receive a portion of the electricity prior to initiating an electrical arc that starts the vehicle, wherein the pre-heater provides an output; and a component configured to receive a portion of the output, wherein a temperature of the component is changed through receipt of the portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
92 words
A vehicle comprising: a fuel cell that generates electricity, which is activated for a period of time sufficient to maintain the fuel cell at a set temperature or within a set range of temperatures; a pre-heater electrically coupled to the fuel cell, which is configured to receive a portion of the electricity prior to initiating an electrical arc that starts the vehicle, wherein the pre-heater provides an output; and a component configured to receive a portion of the output, wherein a temperature of the component is changed through receipt of the portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the temperature of the component is increased through receipt of the portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the fuel cell comprises a fuel cell selected from the group consisting of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell, a direct methanol fuel cell, an alkaline fuel cell, a phosphoric acid fuel cell, a molten carbonate fuel cell, a solid oxide fuel cell, and combinations thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising an internal combustion engine electrically coupled to the fuel cell.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The vehicle of claim 4 wherein the component comprises a catalytic converter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a control member electrically coupled to the fuel cell, such that the control member activates the fuel cell for a period of time when a minimum set point is reached, and deactivates the fuel cell when a maximum set point is reached.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The vehicle of claim 6 wherein the component comprises a catalytic converter, and wherein the period of time is long enough for the catalytic converter to reach an operating temperature corresponding to at least 50% efficiency.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the component comprises a reformer selected from the group consisting of a gasoline reformer and a methanol reformer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The vehicle of claim 8 wherein the component further comprises a catalytic converter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The vehicle of claim 9 further comprising an internal combustion engine electrically coupled to the fuel cell.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
85 words
A method for operating a fuel cell in a vehicle comprising: activating the fuel cell for a period of time sufficient to maintain the fuel cell at a set temperature or within a set range of temperatures, thereby generating electricity; and providing a portion of the electricity to a pre-heater, which pre-heater provides an output to a vehicular component to pre-heat the component and which preheater is configured to receive a portion of the electricity prior to initiating an electrical arc that starts the vehicle.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
85 words
A method for operating a fuel cell in a vehicle comprising: activating the fuel cell for a period of time sufficient to maintain the fuel cell at a set temperature or within a set range of temperatures, thereby generating electricity; and providing a portion of the electricity to a pre-heater, which pre-heater provides an output to a vehicular component to pre-heat the component and which preheater is configured to receive a portion of the electricity prior to initiating an electrical arc that starts the vehicle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 11 , further comprising: measuring a temperature; decreasing the portion of electricity provided to the pre-heater when the measured temperature is below a minimum set point; and increasing the portion of electricity provided to the pre-heater when the measured temperature is above a maximum set point.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising operating the fuel cell at a calibrated load point.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the vehicular component is a catalytic converter.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising: measuring a temperature; and activating the fuel cell when the measured temperature is below a minimum set point.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 15 further comprising operating the fuel cell at a calibrated load point.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 15 further comprising deactivating the fuel cell when a maximum set point is reached.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the minimum set point exceeds the freezing point of water.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the maximum set point is a maximum operating temperature of the fuel cell.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the maximum set point exceeds the minimum set point by less than 50 degrees Centigrade.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the component comprises a catalytic converter.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the component comprises a reformer selected from the group consisting of a gasoline reformer and a methanol reformer.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the component comprises a catalytic converter and a reformer.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for reducing vehicular emissions comprising: activating the fuel cell for a period of time sufficient to maintain the fuel cell at a set temperature or within a set range of temperatures, thereby generating electricity; and providing a portion of the electricity to a pre-heater, which pre-heater provides an output to a catalytic converter, thereby pre-heating the catalytic converter, and which preheater is configured to receive a portion of the electricity prior to initiating an electrical arc that starts a vehicle.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for reducing vehicular emissions comprising: activating the fuel cell for a period of time sufficient to maintain the fuel cell at a set temperature or within a set range of temperatures, thereby generating electricity; and providing a portion of the electricity to a pre-heater, which pre-heater provides an output to a catalytic converter, thereby pre-heating the catalytic converter, and which preheater is configured to receive a portion of the electricity prior to initiating an electrical arc that starts a vehicle.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 24 further comprising: measuring a temperature; and activating a fuel cell when the measured temperature is below a minimum set point.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 25 , further comprising: starting an internal combustion engine; generating an exhaust containing pollutants; and converting about 50% of the pollutants to non-pollutants in less than about 30 seconds from the starting of the engine.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 24 further comprising: operating the fuel cell at a calibrated load point.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 27 , further comprising: starting an internal combustion engine; generating an exhaust containing pollutants; and converting about 50% of the pollutants to non-pollutants in less than about 30 seconds from the starting of the engine.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 28 further comprising: measuring a temperature; and activating a fuel cell when the measured temperature is below a minimum set point.
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