Patent ID: 6746790
Filing Date: 2004-06-08
Classification: H01M,Y02B,Y02E

Abstract:
A fuel cell system for providing backup power to one or more loads comprising:one or more fuel cells, each comprising a power source and a fuel storage unit; a cooling unit that is powered by the one or more fuel cells upon the occurrence of a power outage condition; and a controller for sensing outage of primary power to the one or more loads, and, responsive thereto, operatively engaging the one or more fuel cells to provide power to the one or more loads and the cooling unit, wherein at least one of the power sources comprises fuel that is present in cell cavities of the power source prior to the controller sensing the outage of primary power to the one or more loads, and wherein the at least one of the power sources further comprises one or more second reactants that are present in the power source at a pressure in the range from about 0.01 psi gauge pressure to about 200 psi gauge pressure prior to operative engagement of the one or more fuel cells by the controller to provide power to the one or more loads, and wherein the one or more second reactants are present in the power source at the pressure at a time prior to an outage sense time, which outage sense time is in the range from about 10 microseconds to about 10 seconds after the controller has sensed outage of primary power to the one or more loads, and wherein the cooling unit comprises an open loop system configured to cool a first cooling fluid by circulating a second cooling fluid through a heat exchanger, and to then circulate the cooled first cooling fluid past the one or more fuel cells and/or the one or more loads.