Nikola Corporation
Fuel cell vehicle thermal management system and method for managing fuel cell thermal loads

Abstract:

The present disclosure provides a method of managing thermal loads in a fuel cell vehicle. The method may comprise heating a fuel cell coolant of a fuel cell coolant loop utilizing waste heat from a fuel cell to form a heated fuel cell coolant, heating a battery coolant of a battery coolant loop utilizing waste heat from a battery to form a heated battery coolant, heating a refrigerant of a battery refrigeration loop by exchanging heat with the heated battery coolant, and superheating the refrigerant of the battery refrigeration loop by exchanging heat with the heated fuel cell coolant.