Integrated heat management of electronics and fuel cell power system

Abstract

A method and apparatus for managing heat generated by a device that is powered at least in part by a direct oxidation fuel cell. Additional heat tends to improve the reaction in the direct oxidation fuel cell, and so unwanted heat produced by a powered device can be harnessed to increase the temperature of the reaction in the direct oxidation fuel cell. By doing so, the performance of the fuel cell can be enhanced and the temperature of the heat-generating portion of the device maintained.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for managing heat generated by a device that is powered at least in part by a direct oxidation fuel cell comprising the steps of: 
 providing a device that is powered at least in part by said direct oxidation fuel cell system, said fuel cell system includes an anode, a cathode, a housing, and at least one source of reactants; and    transferring at least a portion of the heat generated by said device to said fuel cell, whereby an operating temperature of said device is regulated and an operating temperature of said fuel cell is raised.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of: 
 arranging said fuel cell and said device so that said heat transfer is substantially conductive.  
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of: 
 arranging said fuel cell and said device so that said heat transfer substantially takes place through an air gap or a thermally conductive material.  
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of: 
 transferring at least some of said heat to reactants before reacting said reactants in said fuel cell.  
 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus for managing heat generated by a device that is powered at least in part by a direct oxidation fuel cell comprises: 
 a direct oxidation fuel cell coupled to provide power to said device; and    means for managing heat generated by said device such that at least some of said heat is transferred from said device to said fuel cell, whereby an operating temperature of said device is regulated and an operating temperature of said fuel cell is raised.    
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said means for managing heat further comprises: 
 a thermally conductive material placed between a heat-generating portion of said device and said fuel cell such that said material is in contact with some or all of the components of said heat-generating portion.  
 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein heat from said device is transferred to said fuel prior to entering said direct oxidation fuel cell.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein heat from said device is transferred to the oxygen source prior to oxygen from said source entering said direct oxidation fuel cell.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said means for managing heat further comprises: 
 a fuel source;  
 a pump; and  
 a conduit coupling said fuel source to said pump, said conduit arranged so as to transfer heat from a heat-generating portion of said device to fuel flowing in said conduit prior to introduction of said fuel into said fuel cell.  
 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said means for managing heat further comprises: 
 a pump; and  
 a conduit coupled to said pump and arranged to circulate a dedicated coolant so as to transfer heat from a heat-generating portion of said device to said fuel cell.  
 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said means for managing heat further comprises: 
 an air source; and  
 a conduit coupling said air source to said fuel cell, said conduit arranged so as to transfer heat from a heat-generating portion of said device to air flowing in said conduit prior to introduction of said air into said fuel cell.  
 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said means for managing heat further comprises: 
 a fuel source;  
 a conduit coupling said fuel source to said fuel cell; and  
 a heat pump, connected along said conduit, for transferring heat produced by a heat-generating portion of said device to fuel carried by said conduit, whereby said fuel is vaporized prior to introduction into said fuel cell.  
 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said means for managing heat further comprises: 
 means for transferring heat substantially by conduction.    
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said means for managing heat further comprises: 
 means for transferring heat substantially across an air gap or through a thermally conductive material.    
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , said means for managing heat further comprises: 
 means for transferring heat substantially by using one or more said fuel cell's reactants.    
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said means for managing heat further comprises: 
 means for transferring heat substantially by using one or more said fuel cell's products.    
     
     
         17 . An apparatus for managing heat generated by a device that is powered at least in part by a direct oxidation fuel cell comprises: 
 a direct oxidation fuel cell coupled to provide power to said device; and    a thermally conductive material arranged so as to transfer at least some of heat produced by a heat-generating portion of said device to said fuel cell, whereby an operating temperature of said device is regulated and an operating temperature of said fuel cell is raised.    
     
     
         18 . An apparatus for managing heat generated by a device that is powered at least in part by a direct oxidation fuel cell comprises: 
 a direct oxidation fuel cell coupled to provide power to said device;    a pump; and    a conduit coupled to said pump and arranged to circulate a dedicated coolant so as to transfer at least some of heat produced by a heat-generating portion of said device to said fuel cell, whereby an operating temperature of said device is regulated and an operating temperature of said fuel cell is raised.    
     
     
         19 . An apparatus for managing heat generated by a device that is powered at least in part by a direct oxidation fuel cell comprises: 
 a direct oxidation fuel cell coupled to provide power to said device;    an air source; and    a conduit coupling said air source to said fuel cell and arranged so as to transfer at least some of heat produced by a heat generating portion of said device to the air flowing in the conduit prior to introduction into said fuel cell, whereby an operating temperature of said device is regulated and an operating temperature of said fuel cell is raised.    
     
     
         20 . An apparatus for managing heat generated by a device that is powered at least in part by a direct oxidation fuel cell comprises: 
 a direct oxidation fuel cell coupled to provide power to said device;    a conduit coupling said fuel source to said fuel cell; and    a heat pump, connected along said conduit, for transferring at least some of heat produced by a heat-generating portion of said device to fuel carried by said conduit, whereby said fuel is vaporized prior to introduction into said fuel cell, an operating temperature of said device is regulated, and an operating temperature of said fuel cell is raised.    
     
     
         21 . A method for managing heat generated by a device that is powered at least in part by a direct oxidation fuel cell comprising the steps of: 
 providing a device that is powered at least in part by said direct oxidation fuel cell system, said fuel cell system includes an anode, a cathode, a housing, and one or more sources of reactants; and    transferring at least a portion of the heat generated by said device to said fuel cell, whereby an operating temperature of said device is lowered and the temperature of at least one of said reactants is raised prior to introduction into the fuel cell system.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising the step of: 
 arranging said fuel cell and said device so that said heat transfer is substantially conductive.  
 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising the step of: 
 arranging said fuel cell and said device so that said heat transfer is substantially convective.  
 
     
     
         24 . An apparatus for operating a direct oxidation fuel cell that powers, at least in part, a device, comprising: 
 a direct oxidation fuel cell coupled to provide power to said device, said direct oxidation fuel cell having improved operation performance in response to an increase in its operating temperature; and    means for transferring heat from said device to said direct oxidation fuel cell for raising said operating temperature.    
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 22  in which said transfer means comprises: 
 means for transferring heat generated by said device to reactants of said direct oxidation fuel cell before said reactants are introduced to said direct oxidation fuel cell.  
 
     
     
         26 . A portable device powered at least in part by a direct oxidation fuel cell, said device having an operating temperature which is at least partially regulated by transferring heat generated by said device to at least one of a plurality of reactants used by said fuel cell.