Patent ID: 8158296
Filing Date: 2012-04-17
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A circulation check system comprising: a fuel cell stack having a coolant inlet in a lower portion of the fuel cell stack and a coolant outlet in an upper portion of the fuel cell stack in fluid communication with a coolant outlet line; a pump for pumping the coolant from the fuel cell stack through the coolant outlet and into the coolant outlet line; and a valve comprising a flow control or automatic type provided in fluid communication with the coolant outlet, the valve comprising a valve housing having a valve seat in a bottom portion of the valve housing, a valve stem adjacent to the valve seat, a valve weight slidably mounted on the valve stem, and a coolant opening extending through the valve seat, wherein the valve weight rests against the valve seat and blocks the coolant opening to close the valve during shutdown of the pump, but, during operation of the pump, the valve weight is pushed upwardly on the valve stem, which opens the valve and establishes fluid communication between the coolant outlet, the coolant opening in the valve seat, and the coolant outlet line.