Patent ID: 8597845

Claim:
A fuel cell system comprising: a fuel tank configured to contain therein a fuel in at least a partially liquefied state, wherein the fuel tank comprises a top and a bottom opposing each other and a side interposed between the top and the bottom; a heat-generating component configured to generate heat as a byproduct of an operation thereof, wherein at least part of the heat-generating component is located directly below the side of the fuel tank; a substantially thermally insulated housing enclosing said heat-generating component; a heat transferor interconnecting between the heat-generating component and the fuel tank, wherein the heat transferor is configured to transfer the generated heat from the heat-generating component to the fuel tank so as to increase the temperature of the fuel; and a temperature controller configured to control the temperature of the fuel, wherein the heat transferor comprises: a heat pipe having a working fluid circulating therein, wherein the heat pipe comprises: a heat-absorbing section located at or near one end of the heat pipe and a heat-releasing section located at or near the other end of the heat pipe, wherein the heat-absorbing section is located within the housing and wherein the heat-releasing section is not located within the housing, wherein the heat pipe comprises a non-linear portion, and wherein the heat-absorbing section of the pipe is configured to directly contact the heat-generating component; and a heat-releasing plate that is disposed between the heat-releasing section and the fuel tank, wherein the heat-releasing plate has first and second surfaces opposing each other, wherein the first surface of the heat-releasing plate contacts the fuel tank, and wherein the second surface of the heat-releasing plate contacts the heat-releasing section.