Patents
US 8034500 B2: Systems and methods for starting and operating fuel cell systems in subfreezing temperatures
- Granted
- 2011-10-11
- Filed
- 2007-05-30 application 11755608
- Type
- Utility · 31 claims
- Elsewhere
- Google Patents ↗ · USPTO patent document ↗ · USPTO Patent Center record ↗
Abstract
Systems and methods for initiating use of, or starting up, fuel cell stacks in subfreezing temperatures. The fuel cell stacks include a thermal management system that is adapted to deliver a liquid heat exchange fluid into thermal communication with a fuel cell stack, such as to heat the stack during startup of the stack when the stack is at a subfreezing temperature or operated in a subfreezing environment. In some embodiments, the thermal management system includes a heat exchange circuit that is configured to provide delivery of the liquid heat exchange fluid to the fuel cell stack even when the conduits are at a subfreezing temperature. In some embodiments, the fuel cell system is configured to deliver liquid heat exchange fluid from the fuel cell stack and heat exchange circuit when the thermal management system is not being utilized.
Source: PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 (ipg111011.xml).
Assignees
| Assignee | Type | Place | Also on furp.org | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idatech, LLC 38 patents | US company or organization | Bend, OR | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
Inventors
| Inventor | Place | Patents | Person page | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin C. Desrosiers | Bend, OR | 4 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 | |
| Arne LaVen | Bend, OR | 10 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 | |
| David Skinkle | Bend, OR | 12 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
CPC categories
| Subclass | Category | First group | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| H01M | Processes or means, e.g. batteries, for the direct conversion of chemical energy into electrical energy | H01M8/04059 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
| B60L | Propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles ; supplying electric power for auxiliary equipment of electrically-propelled vehicles ; electrodynamic brake systems for vehicles in general ; magnetic suspension or levitation for vehicles; monitoring operating variables of electrically-propelled vehicles; electric safety devices for electrically-propelled vehicles | B60L1/003 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
| Y02E | Reduction of greenhouse gas [ghg] emissions, related to energy generation, transmission or distribution | Y02E60/50 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
| Y02T | Climate change mitigation technologies related to transportation | Y02T10/70 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
Cooperative Patent Classification, as currently assigned (one row per subclass).
Assignments and security interests
| Recorded | What | From | To | Reel/frame | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-03-27 | Security interest Security interest Option | IDATECH, LLC signed 2013-03-13 | DCNS SA 44 620 LA MONTAGNE | 30100/642 | PASDL, file of 2026-10-15 |
| 2007-08-13 | Assignment Assignment of assignor's interest | DESROSIERS, KEVIN C. signed 2007-05-30 LAVEN, ARNE signed 2007-05-30 SKINKLE, DAVID W. signed 2007-05-30 | IDATECH, LLC BEND, OR | 19686/795 | ECORSEXC, file of 2026-09-25 |
Documents recorded with the USPTO Assignment Recordation Branch that list this patent. A security interest is a lender’s claim on the patent as collateral; a release ends it.
USPTO bulk data: PatentsView granted patents, disambiguated (PVGPATDIS) for patents, assignees, inventors, places and CPC categories; the USPTO Patent Assignment Dataset (ECORSEXC) for assignments and security interests. Patents filed in the last 20 years. No claims or full text. Links to other records are by name (and state): EXACT means the identical full name and state; FUZZY means a looser name match, with the confidence shown.