Fuel cell system heat recovery

Abstract

The invention provides a fuel cell incorporating a thermal management scheme and associated methods of operation. In one aspect, a fuel cell system includes a frame enclosing a fuel cell, a coolant flow circuit and a heat exchanger. The frame has at least one external panel mounted thereon to enclose the fuel cell, a coolant circuit and heat exchanger. The coolant flow circuit is adapted to circulate a coolant through the heat exchanger and across a surface of the fuel cell to provide heat transfer between the fuel cell and the heat exchanger. An inlet orifice and an outlet orifice are coupled to the frame and to the heat exchanger, and are adapted to provide an export flow circuit from the inlet orifice through the heat exchanger to the outlet orifice. An insulating material is fixed to a surface of the external panel.

1 . A fuel cell system, comprising: 
 a fuel cell system enclosed in a housing, wherein an insulating material is fixed to at least one surface of the housing;    wherein the fuel cell system includes a heat exchanger adapted to transfer heat from the fuel cell system to a first coolant; and    wherein the housing includes an inlet orifice adapted to receive a flow of a second coolant from a source outside the housing, wherein the inlet orifice is coupled to the heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger is coupled to an outlet orifice located on the housing, and wherein the outlet orifice is adapted to expel the second coolant from the housing.    
   
   
       2 . The fuel cell system of  claim 1 , wherein the insulating material has an R-Value of greater than 1.  
   
   
       3 . The fuel cell system of  claim 1 , wherein the insulating material has an R-Value of greater than 5.  
   
   
       4 . The fuel cell system of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet and outlet orifices are each adapted to removably mate with a conduit.  
   
   
       5 . The fuel cell system of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet and outlet orifices are each at least one of a threaded male pipe fitting, a threaded female pipe fitting or a spring secured pipe fitting.  
   
   
       6 . The fuel cell system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is a plate heat exchanger having a first flow circuit adapted to receive the first coolant, and having a second flow circuit adapted to receive the second coolant.  
   
   
       7 . The fuel cell system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a fuel processing reactor enclosed in the housing and adapted to provide hydrogen to the fuel cell, wherein heat exchanger is adapted to transfer heat from the fuel processing reactor to the first coolant.