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Ballard Power Systems Corporation

Ballard Power Systems Ag

Rob Baumert

Craig Greenhill

Henry H Voss

Brian W Wells

Robert S Hastings

Jim Smith

A vehicle includes a traction unit for delivering mechanical power from a combustion engine to a vehicle drive shaft and driving wheels, electric loads and a vehicle cooling loop for cooling vehicle components and/or said combustion engine. A fuel cell system, which supplies the electric loads with electric power, includes a fuel cell stack, an anode fuel input, a anode exhaust, a cathode fuel input, a cathode exhaust, and a fuel cell cooling loop for cooling the fuel cell stack via an input line which delivers a cooling medium into the fuel cell stack and an output line which removes the heated cooling medium from the fuel cell stack. A compression/expansion unit is provided between the output line of the fuel cell stack and the vehicle cooling loop. The expansion side of the compression/expansion unit in thermal contact with the heated cooling medium, which is at a first temperature level, so that heat is transferred from the heated cooling medium to the expansion side of the compression/expansion unit. The vehicle cooling loop is in thermal contact with the compression side of the compression/expansion unit for transferring the heat thus delivered into the vehicle cooling loop at a second temperature level.

Vehicle with a fuel cell system and method for operating the same

A vehicle includes a traction unit capable of delivering mechanical power for driving the vehicle; electric loads; and a fuel cell system for supplying the electric loads with electric power. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack with an anode input line, an anode exhaust line, a cathode input line, and an cathode exhaust line. A compression/expansion loop is employed in the cathode exhaust line. The expansion side of the compression/expansion loop is in thermal contact with the cathode exhaust to cool the cathode exhaust and to transfer the heat of the exhaust to the compression side of the compression/expansion loop at a higher temperature level. A water separator is arranged in the cathode exhaust line for collecting water vapor of product water that is carried in the cathode exhaust and is recycled to the fuel cell system.

A vehicle comprising a combustion engine capable of delivering mechanical power for driving at least one wheel drive shaft with driving wheels, auxiliary vehicular electric loads, an alternator powered by the combustion engine for generating electricity, an electric storage device for storing alternator generated electricity, and at least one auxiliary electric power supply for supplying electrical energy to said electric loads. The auxiliary electric power supply includes a fuel cell system with an anode fuel input and a cathode fuel input, and an electrolyzer which is capable of generating hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen production side of said electrolyzer is in fluid connection with the at least one anode fuel supply.

Growing community of inventors

San Diego, CA, United States of America

Rob Baumert