Below freezing start-up method for fuel cell system
US10714771B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 25, 2017 |
| Grant date | Jul 14, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 25, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02T90/40
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Methods are disclosed for starting up a fuel cell system from starting temperatures below 0° C. The methods apply to systems comprising a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack whose cathodes comprise an oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalyst and whose anodes comprise both a hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) catalyst and an oxidation evolution reaction (OER) catalyst. In the methods, from the beginning of starting up until the fuel cell temperature reaches 0° C., the fuel cell stack current is kept sufficiently low such that the current density drawn does not exceed the stack's capability for the oxidation evolution and the oxygen reduction reactions to occur at the anode and cathode respectively (i.e. current density drawn is less than the stack's maximum OER/ORR current density).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.