| Sol No.: |
Navy SBIR FY2005.1 |
| Topic No.: |
N05-041 |
| Topic Title: |
Passive Gas Regulated Heat Pipe System for Fuel Cell System Thermal Management |
| Proposal No.: |
N051-041-1152 |
| Firm: |
Energent Corporation
2321 S. Pullman St.
Santa Ana, California 92705-5512 |
| Contact: |
Lance Hays |
| Phone: |
(949) 261-7533 |
| Web Site: |
energent .net |
| Abstract: |
A gas reservoir regulated heat pipe system is proposed to provide passive temperature regulation of a reformer and fuel cell system. This system has been successfully applied to passively regulate temperatures of an air cooled two-stroke engine to within 10 deg C over the operating range from idle to full power and for a vehicle velocity ranging from 0-50 mph. The heat pipe system will involve multiple reservoirs at differing pressures to control different sections of the reformer and fuel cell system at optimal temperatures. Further the system will incorporate a circuit for the transfer of waste heat from the fuel cell products to the reformer feedstock and/or a waste heat power generation system. |
| Benefits: |
Successful deployment of the gas regulated heat pipe system proposed will result in commercial opportunities for reformers for commercial fuel cell applications and for coal gasification. The results will re-inforce results previously demonstrated for engine thermal management fuel economy improvement to open applications to stationary and mobile internal combustion engines - a 27% fuel economy improvement was previously demonstrated for a two-stroke engine resulting from greater uniformity and control of cylinder temperatures. |