Patent ID: 8119301
Filing Date: 2012-02-21
Classification: H01M,Y02E,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A cooling system for the shutdown process in a fuel cell powered vehicle comprising a secondary coolant reservoir which contains a volume of secondary fluid coolant at ambient temperature, a pump, a fluid circuit interconnecting the pump and the secondary coolant reservoir with a section of a main cooling system that circulates primary coolant through the vehicle fuel cell stack during power plant operation, at least one controllable valve for regulating secondary coolant flow into the section of the main cooling system, and a control system interrelated with the at least one valve and pump, wherein during the vehicle condition of power plant operation, the at least one valve is maintained in a closed position, the pump in the fluid circuit is in an off condition, and the temperature of the fluid in the reservoir is maintained at ambient temperature, such that upon receiving a fuel cell shutdown signal from, the control system actuates the pump and the at least one valve whereby the secondary fluid coolant flows through the section of the primary cooling system such that the secondary coolant fluid circulates through the vehicle fuel cell stack and, in turn, cools the stack.