| CPC F02C 7/18 (2013.01) [F02C 7/22 (2013.01); F02C 7/224 (2013.01); F05D 2260/232 (2013.01)] | 17 Claims |
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1. A method of operating a system, the system comprising a hydrogen fuel delivery system for an engine, the hydrogen fuel delivery system comprising a pump, configured to pump hydrogen from a tank storing the hydrogen in a liquid state through the hydrogen fuel delivery system, and an evaporator configured to convert at least some of the hydrogen in the liquid state to a gaseous state, the system further comprising a heat source thermally coupled with the hydrogen fuel delivery system and fluidly uncoupled from the hydrogen fuel delivery system, and a coolant loop configured to circulate a coolant between the heat source and the evaporator to cool the heat source, wherein heat from the heat source is transferred from the coolant to the hydrogen in the evaporator, wherein the hydrogen fuel delivery system is configured to supply the hydrogen to the engine for combustion and cool the heat source using the hydrogen, wherein the coolant loop comprises a first fluid line along which the evaporator and the heat source are arranged and a second fluid line along which a heater is arranged, the second fluid line including a first end fluidically connected at a location on the first fluid line upstream of the heat source and a second end fluidically connected at a location on the first fluid line downstream of the heat source, wherein a first portion of the coolant that has been heated by the heater flows from the heater, through the second fluid line, and is discharged into the first fluid line to mix with the coolant exiting the heat source, and wherein the coolant loop is configured such that the first portion of the coolant that has been heated by the heater bypasses the heat source and flows directly to the evaporator and the coolant exiting the heat source bypasses the heater and flows directly to the evaporator, the method comprising:
delivering, with the hydrogen fuel delivery system, hydrogen from the tank storing the hydrogen in the liquid state to the engine;
converting at least some of the hydrogen in the liquid state to a gaseous state with the evaporator during the delivery of the hydrogen to the engine, wherein the engine uses the hydrogen in the gaseous state as fuel;
cooling the heat source using the hydrogen during the delivery of the hydrogen to the engine, the heat source electrically powered by the engine when the engine is burning the hydrogen to operate; and
circulating the coolant via the coolant loop between the heat source and the evaporator to cool the heat source, wherein the coolant flows directly from the heat source to the evaporator, wherein heat from the heat source is transferred from the coolant to the hydrogen in the evaporator.
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2. A system comprising:
a hydrogen fuel delivery system for an engine, the hydrogen fuel delivery system comprising a pump configured to pump hydrogen from a tank storing the hydrogen in a liquid state through the hydrogen fuel delivery system, and an evaporator configured to convert at least some of the hydrogen in the liquid state to a gaseous state;
a heat source thermally coupled with the hydrogen fuel delivery system and fluidly uncoupled from the hydrogen fuel delivery system; and
a coolant loop configured to circulate a coolant between the heat source and the evaporator to cool the heat source, wherein heat from the heat source is transferred from the coolant to the hydrogen in the evaporator,
wherein the hydrogen fuel delivery system is configured to supply the hydrogen to the engine for combustion and cool the heat source using the hydrogen,
wherein the coolant loop comprises:
a first fluid line along which the evaporator and the heat source are arranged; and
a second fluid line along which a heater is arranged, the second fluid line including a first end fluidically connected at a location on the first fluid line upstream of the heat source and a second end fluidically connected at a location on the first fluid line downstream of the heat source,
wherein a first portion of the coolant that has been heated by the heater flows from the heater, through the second fluid line, and is discharged into the first fluid line to mix with the coolant exiting the heat source, and
wherein the coolant loop is configured such that the first portion of the coolant that has been heated by the heater bypasses the heat source and flows directly to the evaporator and the coolant exiting the heat source bypasses the heater and flows directly to the evaporator.
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