US 12,407,010 B2
Hydrogen recirculation venturi array for optimized H2 utilization
Stephen Lawes, Cirencester (GB); and Gareth Coates, Cirencester (GB)
Assigned to ZEROAVIA LTD, Cirencester (GB)
Appl. No. 18/873,440
Filed by ZEROAVIA LTD, Cirencester (GB)
PCT Filed Jun. 12, 2023, PCT No. PCT/US2023/025071
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Dec. 10, 2024,
PCT Pub. No. WO2024/054277, PCT Pub. Date Mar. 14, 2024.
Application 18/873,440 is a continuation in part of application No. 18/162,559, filed on Jan. 31, 2023, granted, now 11,876,263, issued on Jan. 16, 2024.
Claims priority of application No. 2208554 (GB), filed on Jun. 10, 2022; application No. 2210512 (GB), filed on Jul. 18, 2022; and application No. 2210694 (GB), filed on Jul. 21, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2025/0174688 A1, May 29, 2025
Int. Cl. H01M 8/04 (2016.01); B60L 1/00 (2006.01); B60L 50/70 (2019.01); B64D 27/34 (2024.01); B64D 27/355 (2024.01); H01M 8/0265 (2016.01); H01M 8/04089 (2016.01); H01M 8/04746 (2016.01); H01M 8/0656 (2016.01)
CPC H01M 8/04753 (2013.01) [B60L 1/003 (2013.01); B60L 50/70 (2019.02); B64D 27/34 (2024.01); B64D 27/355 (2024.01); H01M 8/0265 (2013.01); H01M 8/04097 (2013.01); H01M 8/0656 (2013.01); B60L 2200/10 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A hydrogen fuel cell powered aircraft comprising:
at least one electric motor, and
a hydrogen fuel cell stack configured to power said at least one electric motor, wherein said hydrogen fuel stack includes:
a hydrogen gas inlet, a
hydrogen gas recycling outlet, and
a hydrogen gas recirculation system for the hydrogen fuel cell stack comprising:
a) first, second and third venturis, and
b) one or more valves configured to control flow of hydrogen gas to the plurality of venturis, wherein the one or more valves are configured to selectively open and close to optimize flow of the hydrogen gas through the first, second and third venturis through the stages of takeoff and climb, cruise, and descent and landing, wherein the one or more valves are configured to maximize hydrogen gas flow through the first, second and third venturis during take-off and climb, reduce hydrogen gas flow to two of said first, second and third venturis during cruise, and further reduce hydrogen gas flow to one of said first, second and third venturis during descent and landing,
c) a water separator upstream of the hydrogen gas inlet.