Patent ID: 6628006
Filing Date: 2003-09-30
Classification: B60L,F01D,F02C,H01M,Y02E,Y02T

Abstract:
A system for recovering potential energy from a pressurized gas fuel supply which is used to power a fuel cell within a vehicle, said system comprising:a fuel tank for storing pressurized gas fuel; a first conduit system for selectively and fluidly coupling said fuel tank to the fuel cell, and for allowing the pressurized gas fuel to be selectively communicated to the fuel cell; an expander disposed within said first conduit system and which is selectively driven by the pressurized gas fuel, for generating torque and lowering the pressure of the pressurized gas fuel which is communicated to the fuel cell; a second conduit system for selectively and fluidly coupling the fuel cell to a source of air, and for allowing the air to be selectively communicated to the fuel cell; a compressor disposed within said second conduit system and which is selectively coupled to and driven by said expander, for pressurizing the air which is communicated to fuel cell; and an electric machine operatively coupled to said expander and to said compressor, for selectively converting torque generated by said expander into electrical power, and for selectively converting electrical power to drive said compressor.