Abstract:
A method and apparatus are disclosed for a vehicle, the apparatus having a pulling ventilator, wherein the ventilator minimizes a temperature in a housing while minimizing a noise level in a passenger compartment of the vehicle.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for operation of an energy source and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for ventilating the energy source. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    In various fields and industries, energy sources are widely used. Fuel cell systems are being proposed as a replacement for many traditional energy sources. In particular, automotive manufacturers have designed and developed vehicles that use fuel cell systems as an economical and environmentally friendly alternative to an internal combustion engine. In a typical fuel cell vehicle, fuel cells generate electricity through an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen to charge batteries or to provide power for an electric motor. 
         [0003]    Fuel cell vehicles that utilize a battery require a cooling system to control a temperature of the battery and prevent damage thereto. The cooling system is necessary because the battery generates heat during a charging and discharging thereof. Specifically, when fuel cell vehicles travel at slower speeds or are idle, a sufficient flow of external air is not provided to flow over and around the battery and maintain a desired temperature level. Thus, it is necessary to induce a flow of air to cool the battery. Typically, a battery ventilator is used to induce the flow of air. The battery ventilator typically draws air from a passenger compartment of the vehicle. Often, an opening under the driver&#39;s seat is used. The ventilator then “pushes” the air downstream through a conduit to the battery or a battery compartment. The battery ventilator normally includes a ventilator fan and a housing. 
         [0004]    The battery ventilator is typically between the opening from the passenger compartment and the battery. The close proximity of the battery ventilator to the opening from the passenger compartment exposes passengers in the passenger compartment of the vehicle to noise emitted by the fan, and to noise caused by the air being drawn into the opening. The noise exposure is contrary to an objective of automobile manufacturers to minimize the noise entering the passenger compartment of the vehicle. 
         [0005]    It would be desirable to develop a method and apparatus for ventilating an energy source that is compliant with a desired noise level, and militates against damage to or a shortening of a life of the energy source, and which is simple to manufacture and install. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In concordance and agreement with the present invention, a method and apparatus for ventilating an energy source that is compliant with a desired noise level and militates against damage to or a shortening of a life of the energy source, and which is simple to manufacture and install, has surprisingly been discovered. 
         [0007]    In one embodiment, the method for ventilating an energy source comprises the steps of providing a source of fluid; providing a ventilator; providing a housing for an energy source, the housing having an inlet and an outlet formed therein, the inlet in fluid communication with the source of fluid and the outlet in fluid communication with the ventilator; and causing a fluid to flow from the source of fluid, through the housing, and through the ventilator to ventilate the housing. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment, a method for ventilating an energy source in a fuel cell system comprises the steps of providing a ventilator; providing a housing for an energy source, the housing having an inlet and an outlet formed therein, the inlet in fluid communication with a passenger compartment of a vehicle and the outlet in fluid communication with the ventilator; and causing air to flow from the passenger compartment of the vehicle, through the housing, and through the ventilator to ventilate the housing. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment, an apparatus for ventilating an energy source in a fuel cell system comprises a source of fluid; a housing for the energy source, the housing having an inlet and an outlet formed therein, the inlet in fluid communication with the source of fluid; a ventilator in fluid communication with the outlet of the housing, wherein the ventilator causes a fluid, from the source of fluid, to flow through the housing to ventilate the housing. 
         [0010]    A method and apparatus for ventilating an energy source for a fuel cell system is particularly useful for cooling a high voltage battery in a fuel cell vehicle. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The above, as well as other advantages of the present invention, will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, particularly when considered in the light of the accompanying drawings described in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a bottom plan view of a fuel cell vehicle including an apparatus for ventilating an energy source according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged top plan view of the apparatus for ventilating the energy source in the fuel cell system illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of a passenger compartment of the fuel cell vehicle illustrated in  FIG. 1  having an aperture formed in a driver&#39;s side thereof; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a schematic flow diagram illustrating a flow of air for the apparatus for ventilating the energy source in the fuel cell system illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    The following detailed description and appended drawings describe and illustrate various exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The description and drawings serve to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any manner. It is understood that materials other than those described can be used without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. In respect of the methods disclosed, the steps presented are exemplary in nature, and thus, are not necessary or critical. Although use with a fuel cell system is disclosed herein for exemplary purposes, it is understood that the invention can be used otherwise as desired such as for any energy source, for example. 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  depicts a fuel cell vehicle  8  having an apparatus for ventilating and cooling an energy source  10  for a fuel cell system (not shown), although the apparatus  10  can be used for ventilating and cooling other elements and systems, as desired, such as the fuel cell system and other components thereof, for example. In the embodiment shown, the apparatus  10  is adapted for use in a fuel cell vehicle  8  having a high voltage battery (not shown) for energy storage. It is understood that the apparatus  10  may be used with other fuel cell systems and other energy sources, as desired, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The apparatus  10  may be centrally disposed on an underbody  32  of the fuel cell vehicle  8 . However, the apparatus  10  can be disposed on an anterior end  34  or a posterior end  36  of the vehicle  8  if desired. 
         [0018]      FIG. 2  shows the apparatus for ventilating an energy source  10  for the fuel cell system. The apparatus  10  includes a housing  12  and a ventilator  14 . A hollow compartment (not shown) is formed in the housing  12  and is adapted to enclose an energy source (not shown) such as a battery, for example. The housing  12  may be made of any conventional material such as polypropylene, for example. In the embodiment shown, the housing  12  has a substantially rectangular shape. However, it is understood that the housing  12  can have other shapes as desired. 
         [0019]    The housing  12  includes an inlet section  16  and an outlet section  18  formed therein. In the embodiment shown, the inlet section  16  and the outlet section  18  are formed on opposing ends of the housing  12 . The inlet section  16  is formed on an upstream side of the housing  12  and the outlet section  18  is formed on a downstream side of the housing  12 . It is understood that the inlet section  16  and the outlet section  18  may be formed elsewhere on the housing  12 , if desired. 
         [0020]    The inlet section  16  is in fluid communication with a source of fluid such as a passenger compartment  26  illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , through an inlet conduit  22 . The outlet section  18  is in fluid communication with the ventilator  14  through an outlet conduit  24 . In the embodiment shown, the inlet conduit  22  is disposed adjacent to a driver&#39;s side of the housing  12 . However, other locations can be used as desired. The inlet conduit  22  may be produced from any conventional material such as polypropylene, for example. Although a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape is shown, other cross-sectional shapes can be used for the inlet conduit  22 . Further, the inlet conduit  22  may have one or more contours  44  as needed. The outlet conduit  24  may be produced from any conventional materials such as polypropylene, for example. In the embodiment shown, the outlet conduit  24  has a substantially rectangular cross-section. It is understood that the outlet conduit  24  can have other cross-sectional shapes. To facilitate fluid flow, the outlet conduit  24  may have one or more contours  44 . 
         [0021]    The ventilator  14  includes a fluid transfer device (not shown). It is understood that the fluid transfer device can be any conventional fluid transfer device known in the art such as a fan, a pump, or a turbine, for example. The ventilator  14  may be produced from any conventional material such as polypropylene, for example. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the ventilator  14  has a substantially cylindrical shape. It is understood that the ventilator  14  can have other shapes as desired. 
         [0022]    An inlet  28  and an outlet  30  are formed in the ventilator  14 . The inlet  28  is formed on an upstream side of the ventilator  14  and the outlet  30  is formed on a downstream side of the ventilator  14 . It is understood that the inlet  28  and the outlet  30  may be formed elsewhere on the ventilator  14 , if desired. The inlet  28  is in fluid communication with the housing  12  through the outlet conduit  24 . The ventilator  14  can be in direct fluid communication with the housing  12 , if desired. The outlet  30  is in fluid communication with the atmosphere. However, the outlet  30  may be connected to a contaminant treatment system or other system or element. 
         [0023]    As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the source of fluid is a passenger compartment  26  of the fuel cell vehicle  8 . It is understood that other sources of fluid may be used as desired. In the embodiment shown, the passenger compartment  26  includes a driver&#39;s side  40  and a passenger&#39;s side  42 . The driver&#39;s side  40  includes an aperture  38  formed therein. It is understood that the aperture  38  may have any desired shape or dimension, which allows sufficient fluid flow and may be disposed elsewhere in the passenger compartment  26 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 4  depicts a schematic flow diagram of a flow of air for the apparatus  10 . The flow diagram shows the housing  12  in fluid communication with the passenger compartment  26  and the ventilator  14  through the conduits  22 ,  24 . 
         [0025]    It is desirable for the apparatus  10  to be installed to maximize a distance between the aperture  38  and the ventilator  14 . The apparatus  10  can be assembled using commonly known joining methods such as fasteners, clips, epoxy, and the like, for example. 
         [0026]    In operation, the ventilator  14  causes the fluid, typically air, to flow from the passenger compartment  26 , through the aperture  38 , into the inlet conduit  22 , and through the housing  12 . Once the fluid has flowed through the housing  12 , the fluid flows to the ventilator  14  through the outlet conduit  24 . The fluid is then exhausted from the ventilator  14  to the atmosphere or other system or element as desired. Due to the flow of air though the housing  12 , a temperature in the housing  12  is maintained at or about a temperature of the passenger compartment  26  or other source of fluid. Additionally, since the distance between the aperture  38  and the ventilator  14  is maximized, noise entering the passenger compartment  26  or other source of fluid from the ventilator is minimized. 
         [0027]    While certain representative embodiments and details have been shown for purposes of illustrating the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure, which is further described in the following appended claims.