Commissariat a L'energie Atomique Et Aux Energies Alternatives

Delphine Drouhault

Pierre Nivelon

Philippe Manicardi

Daniel Levrard

A fuel cell including at least two stacks of electrochemical cells, a heat management system including a circuit for flowing a coolant into each of the stacks fed in parallel, and an outside circuit for flowing the coolant outside the stacks. The outside circuit includes a first subcircuit including a heat exchanger and a second subcircuit directly connected to an inlet of the inside circuit, and controlling valves for controlling flow of the coolant toward either or both subcircuits as a function of temperature of the coolant at an output of each of the stacks. The second outside subcircuit includes a mechanism increasing its head loss such that it is close or equal to that of the first outside subcircuit.

Fuel cell with improved thermal management

A fuel cell including a stack of electrochemical cells and end plates applying a tightening strain onto the electrochemical cells, a thermal management system formed by a heat transfer fluid flow circuit in the stack, and a heat transfer fluid flow circuit external to the stack. The heat transfer flow circuit and the external circuit are connected in one of the end plates. The external circuit includes a first subcircuit including a heat exchanger and a second subcircuit directly connected to the inlet of the internal circuit. A thermostatic valve Is integrated in the end plate to control the heat transfer fluid flow in one and/or the other of the subcircuits as a function of temperature of the fluid at the outlet of the internal circuit.

Growing community of inventors

Barberaz, France

Delphine Drouhault