Readying cooling circuits for use in fuel cells

Abstract

A flush and fill process is used to ready a fuel cell cooling circuit for initial use. An external flushing system relasably connected to the cooling circuit circulates flushing coolant through the cooling circuit to remove contaminants from the wetted surfaces of the cooling circuit before the fuel cell is put into use. The flushing system includes a pump for circulating the flushing coolant through the cooling circuit, filters for removing contaminants from the coolant and a heater for elevating the temperature of the coolant. Following the flushing process to remove contaminants, the flushing system is disconnected from the cooling circuit and the cooling circuit is filled with fresh coolant.

1 . A method of readying a fuel cell cooling circuit for use, comprising: 
 (A) flushing the cooling circuit to remove contaminants from the cooling circuit; and,    (B) filling the cooling circuit with a volume of fresh coolant after step (A) has been completed.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (A) is performed by circulating a volume of coolant between the cooling circuit and a supply of the coolant external to said cooling circuit.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein step (A) includes filtering the circulating coolant at a location external to the cooling circuit.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the filtering includes passing the coolant through a particulate filter and a de-ionization filter.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , including the step of heating the coolant circulated to the cooling circuit.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , including the step of controlling the pressure of the coolant circulated to the cooling circuit to maintain the pressure within a desired pressure range.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , including the step of blocking the flow of coolant to a filter in the cooling system until step (A) is complete.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein step (A) includes removing the coolant from the cooling circuit after step (A) has been completed.  
     
     
         9 . A method of readying a fuel cell cooling circuit for use, comprising: 
 (A) connecting the cooling circuit to an external coolant flushing system for flushing the cooling circuit;    (B) circulating a volume of coolant between the flushing system and the cooling circuit, the flow of coolant through the cooling circuit resulting in the removal of contaminants from component parts of the cooling circuit;    (C) removing contaminants from the coolant as the coolant circulates through the flushing system; and,    (D) disconnecting the cooling circuit from the flushing system after the cooling circuit has been flushed.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , including the step of removing the coolant from the cooling circuit before the cooling circuit is disconnected from the flushing system.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the volume of coolant is a fixed volume, and the coolant is circulated between the cooling circuit and the flushing system for a preselected time period.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , including the step of blocking the flow of coolant to a coolant filter in the cooling circuit while step (B) is being performed, whereby contaminants are prevented from accumulating in the coolant filter until the cooling circuit has been readied for use.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein step (C) is performed by passing the coolant through at least one contaminant filter in the flushing system.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , including the step of heating the coolant in the flushing system to a temperature sufficient to promote the removal of the contaminants from the component parts of the cooling circuit.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , including regulating the pressure of the coolant circulating from the flushing system to the cooling circuit.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , including the step of filling the cooling circuit with fresh coolant after step (D) has been completed.  
     
     
         17 . Apparatus for cleansing a fuel cell cooling circuit, comprising: 
 a flushing system connected to the cooling circuit for flushing the cooling circuit of contaminants,    the flushing system including a supply of coolant, a filtering system for removing contaminants from the coolant flowing through the flushing system, and a pump for circulating a volume of the coolant between the cooling circuit and the flushing system.    
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the filtering system includes a particulate filter and a de-ionization filter.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the flushing system includes a pressure regulator for regulating the pressure of the coolant circulated from the flushing system to the cooling circuit.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the pressure regulator includes a flow control valve connected between the pump and the cooling circuit for controlling the flow of coolant flowing from the flushing system to the cooling circuit.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , including a valve system for controlling the flow of the coolant between the coolant supply, the cooling circuit and the flushing system.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the flushing system includes a heater for heating the coolant circulated from the flushing system to the cooling circuit to a temperature sufficient to promote the removal of contaminants from component parts of the cooling circuit.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the cooling circuit is of the type including a filter for removing contaminants from coolant flowing to the fuel cell, and wherein the apparatus further includes: 
 a bypass system for causing the flow of coolant to bypass cooling circuit filter when the flushing system is flushing the cooling circuit of contaminants.    
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , including a controller for controlling the operation of the pump and the valve system.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the flushing circuit is releasably connected to the cooling circuit.