US 12,009,563 B2
Fuel cell system
Thomas Westrich, Ann Arbor, MI (US); and Christopher Ridgard, Ann Arbor, MI (US)
Assigned to Adaptive Energy, LLC, Ann Arbor, MI (US)
Filed by Adaptive Energy, LLC, Ann Arbor, MI (US)
Filed on Feb. 16, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/170,144.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/311,021, filed on Feb. 16, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0261237 A1, Aug. 17, 2023
Int. Cl. H01M 8/2475 (2016.01); B64U 50/19 (2023.01); B64U 50/32 (2023.01); H01M 8/12 (2016.01)
CPC H01M 8/2475 (2013.01) [B64U 50/19 (2023.01); B64U 50/32 (2023.01); H01M 2008/1293 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
 
1. A fuel cell system comprising:
a fuel cell having a housing and a fuel cell stack positioned in the housing, the fuel cell stack being configured to produce an electrochemical reaction from a fuel and air to output electricity;
a fuel system having a fuel source, a fuel vaporizer, and fuel lines through which the fuel flows from the fuel source to the fuel vaporizer and from the fuel vaporizer to the fuel cell stack; and
a second fuel tank and a regulator arranged between the secondary fuel tank and the fuel cell stack, wherein the fuel source is a first fuel tank, and the regulator is selectively operated to control flow of the fuel from the secondary fuel tank to the fuel cell stack;
wherein the fuel vaporizer includes a conductive tube through which the fuel flows, the conductive tube being in contact with the housing to conduct heat from the housing to the fuel to vaporize the fuel; and
wherein the flow of the fuel from the first fuel tank through the fuel vaporizer to the second fuel tank is controlled by operating the regulator.