Antifreeze cooling subsystem

Abstract

Liquid cooled systems having coolant circulation loops must often operate in below freezing conditions. For instance, in various applications certain fuel cell systems must be able to tolerate repeated shutdown and storage in below freezing conditions. Conventional glycol-based coolants typically used for internal combustion engines are generally unsuitable for use in the associated fuel cell cooling subsystems due to the presence of additives and/or inhibitors which are normally included to deal with problems relating to decomposition of the glycol. With additives or inhibitors present, the coolant conductivity can be sufficiently high as to result in electrical shorting or corrosion problems. However, provided the purity of the coolant is maintained, a pure glycol and water coolant mixture may be used as a fuel cell system coolant to obtain suitable antifreeze protection. Adequate purity can be maintained by including an ion exchange resin unit in the cooling subsystem.

1 . A liquid-cooled fuel cell system including a fuel cell stack and a cooling subsystem for cooling the fuel cell stack, the cooling subsystem including a liquid coolant and a circulation loop for circulating the liquid coolant in thermal contact with fuel cells in the stack, and the liquid coolant including a glycol solvent, wherein: 
 the liquid coolant is characterized by a conductivity less than about 50 μS/cm; and    the cooling subsystem additionally comprises means for maintaining the purity of the liquid coolant such that the conductivity of the liquid coolant is less than about 50 μS/cm.    
   
   
       2 . The liquid cooled fuel cell system of  claim 1  wherein the fuel cell stack is a solid polymer fuel cell stack.  
   
   
       3 . The liquid-cooled fuel cell system of  claim 2  wherein the solid polymer fuel cell stack comprises membrane electrode assemblies in contact with the liquid coolant in the circulation loop.  
   
   
       4 . The liquid-cooled fuel cell system of  claim 2  wherein the solid polymer fuel cell stack operates at temperatures less than 100° C.  
   
   
       5 . The liquid-cooled fuel cell system of  claim 1  wherein the means for maintaining the purity of the liquid coolant comprises an ion exchange resin unit in the circulation loop of the cooling subsystem.  
   
   
       6 . The liquid-cooled fuel cell system of  claim 5  wherein the ion exchange resin unit employs an hydroxyl type 2 strong base anion resin.  
   
   
       7 . The liquid-cooled fuel cell system of  claim 1  wherein the liquid coolant is characterized by a conductivity less than about 5 μS/cm and the cooling subsystem additionally comprises means for maintaining the purity of the liquid coolant such that the conductivity of the liquid coolant is less than about 5 μS/cm.  
   
   
       8 . The liquid cooled fuel cell system of  claim 1  wherein the glycol solvent is selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, and polypropylene glycol.  
   
   
       9 . The liquid-cooled fuel cell system of  claim 8  wherein the glycol solvent is ethylene glycol.  
   
   
       10 . The liquid-cooled fuel cell system of  claim 1  wherein the liquid coolant additionally comprises water.  
   
   
       11 . The liquid-cooled fuel cell system of  claim 10  wherein the glycol solvent to water ratio in the liquid coolant is about 1:1.  
   
   
       12 . The liquid-cooled fuel cell system of  claim 1  wherein the liquid coolant is in electrical contact with fuel cells in the fuel cell stack.  
   
   
       13 . The liquid-cooled fuel cell system of  claim 12  wherein the fuel cell stack is capable of operation at voltages greater than about 50 volts.  
   
   
       14 . The liquid-cooled fuel cell system of  claim 1  wherein the liquid coolant in the circulation loop is essentially isolated from air.  
   
   
       15 . The liquid-cooled fuel cell system of  claim 1  wherein the circulation loop comprises aluminum hardware exposed to the liquid coolant.  
   
   
       16 . A method of providing antifreeze and corrosion protection for a fuel cell system, the fuel cell system including a fuel cell stack and a cooling subsystem for cooling the fuel cell stack, and the cooling subsystem including a liquid coolant and a circulation loop for circulating the liquid coolant in thermal contact with fuel cells in the stack, wherein the method comprises: 
 lowering the freezing temperature of the liquid coolant by incorporating a glycol solvent in the liquid coolant, wherein the liquid coolant is characterized by a conductivity less than about 50 μS/cm; and    maintaining the purity of the liquid coolant in the cooling subsystem such that the conductivity of the liquid coolant remains less than about 50 μS/cm.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the fuel cell stack is a solid polymer fuel cell stack.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the liquid coolant is circulated through an ion exchange resin unit in the circulation loop of the cooling subsystem.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the ion exchange resin unit employs an hydroxyl type 2 strong base anion resin.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the liquid coolant is characterized by a conductivity less than about 5 μS/cm and the purity of the liquid coolant in the cooling subsystem is maintained such that the conductivity of the liquid coolant remains less than about 5 μS/cm.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the glycol solvent used in the liquid coolant is selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, and polypropylene glycol.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the glycol solvent used in the liquid coolant is ethylene glycol.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 16  additionally comprising essentially isolating the liquid coolant in the circulation loop from air.