Portable refrigerator with fuel cell system and operating method thereof

Abstract

Disclosed are a portable refrigerator with a fuel cell system and an operating method thereof. The portable refrigerator with a fuel cell system comprises a case having a storage space, a fuel cell stack disposed in the case, a gas tank configured to store gas necessary to operate the fuel cell stack, a fan configured to cool the fuel cell stack and supply air to the fuel stack, a thermoelectric cooling means disposed in the case, and configured to cool the storage space, a battery charged by the fuel cell stack, and configured to supply power to the thermoelectric cooling means, and a controller configured to control the fuel cell stack and the thermoelectric cooling means.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A portable refrigerator with a fuel cell system, comprising:
 a case having a storage space;   a fuel cell stack disposed in the case;   a gas tank configured to store gas necessary to operate the fuel cell stack;   a fan configured to cool the fuel cell stack and supply air to the fuel stack;   a thermoelectric cooling means disposed in the case, and configured to cool the storage space;   a battery charged by the fuel cell stack, and configured to supply power to the thermoelectric cooling means; and   a controller configured to control the fuel cell stack and the thermoelectric cooling means.   
     
     
         2 . The portable refrigerator with a fuel cell system of  claim 1 , wherein air having passed through the fuel cell stack is blown to the gas tank. 
     
     
         3 . The portable refrigerator with a fuel cell system of  claim 2 , wherein the fuel cell stack is arranged below the gas tank, and a plurality of through holes are formed at a gas tank fixing plate disposed between the gas tank and the fuel cell stack. 
     
     
         4 . The portable refrigerator with a fuel cell system of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric cooling means is controlled by the controller so as to selectively receive power from the fuel cell stack and the battery. 
     
     
         5 . The portable refrigerator with a fuel cell system of  claim 4 , wherein when the battery has a voltage less than a predetermined level, the controller controls power to be directly supplied to the thermoelectric cooling means from the fuel cell stack. 
     
     
         6 . The portable refrigerator with a fuel cell system of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric cooling means comprises:
 a thermoelectric device disposed such that a low temperature side is towards the storage space;   to a radiating means connected to a high temperature side of the thermoelectric device; and   a fan provided at the radiating means.   
     
     
         7 . The portable refrigerator with a fuel cell system of  claim 6 , wherein air having passed through the radiating means is blown to the gas tank by the fan. 
     
     
         8 . The portable refrigerator with a fuel cell system of  claim 1 , wherein a flow path for collecting condensed water is formed on a bottom surface of the storage space, and a condensed water reservoir for storing the condensed water collected in the flow path is provided. 
     
     
         9 . The portable refrigerator with a fuel cell system of  claim 8 , further comprising a moisture supplying means configured to supply the condensed water stored in the condensed water reservoir to the fuel cell stack. 
     
     
         10 . The portable refrigerator with a fuel cell system of  claim 9 , wherein the moisture supplying means comprises:
 a non-woven fabric covering one side surface of the fuel cell stack, and having one end extending to inside of the condensed water reservoir,   wherein air introduced by the cooling fan is blown to the fuel cell stack via the non-woven fabric.   
     
     
         11 . The portable refrigerator with a fuel cell system of  claim 8 , wherein the condensed water reservoir is disposed at a position lower than the bottom surface of the storage space. 
     
     
         12 . The portable refrigerator with a fuel cell system of  claim 8 , further comprising a pump configured to transfer condensed water collected in the storage space to the condensed water reservoir. 
     
     
         13 . An operating method of a portable refrigerator comprising a fuel cell stack, a battery configured to store power generated from the fuel cell stack, and a thermoelectric cooling means operated by receiving power from the battery or the fuel cell stack, the method comprising:
 checking an output voltage of the battery;   when the output voltage is less than a predetermined value, charging the battery by operating the fuel cell stack; and   when the thermoelectric cooling means needs to be operated in the process of charging the battery, directly supplying power to the thermoelectric cooling means from the fuel cell stack.