US 11,752,899 B2
High efficiency hydrogen fueled high altitude thermodynamic fuel cell system and aircraft using same
Gregor Veble Mikic, Santa Cruz, CA (US); JoeBen Bevirt, Santa Cruz, CA (US); Robert Gulliver Lynn, Auckland (NZ); and Alex Stoll, Santa Cruz, CA (US)
Assigned to Joby Aero, Inc., Santa Cruz, CA (US)
Filed by Joby Aero, Inc., Santa Cruz, CA (US)
Filed on Oct. 26, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/973,539.
Application 17/973,539 is a continuation of application No. 17/348,193, filed on Jun. 15, 2021, granted, now 11,565,607.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/187,915, filed on May 12, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/039,407, filed on Jun. 15, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0058816 A1, Feb. 23, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H01M 8/04 (2016.01); B60L 58/33 (2019.01); B64D 27/24 (2006.01); B64C 29/00 (2006.01); H01M 8/04701 (2016.01); H01M 8/04029 (2016.01); H01M 8/04119 (2016.01); H01M 8/04014 (2016.01); B64D 33/02 (2006.01)
CPC B60L 58/33 (2019.02) [B64C 29/0016 (2013.01); B64D 27/24 (2013.01); H01M 8/04014 (2013.01); H01M 8/04029 (2013.01); H01M 8/04164 (2013.01); H01M 8/04738 (2013.01); B60L 2200/10 (2013.01); B64D 2033/024 (2013.01); B64D 2033/026 (2013.01); B64D 2033/0266 (2013.01); H01M 2250/20 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A high efficiency hydrogen fueled thermodynamic fuel cell system for a high altitude aircraft, said system comprising:
an air inlet;
a first air compressor fluidically coupled to said air inlet, said first compressor adapted to compress inletted air into a fuel cell air pathway;
a second air compressor fluidically coupled to said first air compressor downstream from said first air compressor;
a third air compressor fluidically coupled to said second air compressor downstream from said second air compressor;
a liquid hydrogen reservoir;
a liquid hydrogen pump coupled to said liquid hydrogen reservoir, said pump adapted to pressurize liquid hydrogen through a hydrogen pathway;
a first heat exchanger adapted to cool air downstream of said first air compressor with inletted air;
a second heat exchanger adapted to cool air downstream of said first compressor with hydrogen from said pump;
a third heat exchanger adapted to cool air downstream of said second air compressor with inletted air;
a fourth heat exchanger adapted to cool air downstream of said second compressor with hydrogen from said pump downstream along said hydrogen pathway from said second heat exchanger;
a hydrogen expander along said hydrogen pathway downstream from said fourth heat exchanger, and
a fuel cell, said fuel cell fluidically coupled to said hydrogen pathway downstream of said hydrogen expander, said fuel cell fluidically coupled to said fuel cell air pathway downstream of said third compressor;
a closed loop cooling system adapted to cool said fuel cell, said closed loop cooling system comprising a cooling fluid and a pump; and
an eighth heat exchanger thermally coupled to said cooling fluid and with inletted air downstream from said air inlet.