Anode bleed control in a fuel cell stack
US10903512B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 14, 2019 |
| Grant date | Jan 26, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 31, 2039 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An electrochemical fuel cell assembly comprises a fuel cell stack having a fuel delivery inlet and a fuel delivery outlet. The fuel cell stack further includes a number of fuel cells each having a membrane-electrode assembly and a fluid flow path coupled between the fuel delivery inlet and the fuel delivery outlet for delivery of fuel to the membrane electrode assembly. A fuel delivery conduit is coupled to the fuel delivery inlet for 10 delivery of fluid fuel to the stack. A bleed conduit is coupled to the fuel delivery outlet for venting fluid out of the stack. A variable orifice flow control device coupled to the bleed conduit configured to dynamically vary an amount of fluid from the fuel delivery outlet passing into the bleed conduit as a function of one or more of the control parameters: (i) measured fuel concentration; (ii) measured humidity; (iii) cell voltages of fuel cells in the 15 stack; (iv) impedance of fuel cells in the stack; (v) resistance of fuel cells in the stack. The variable orifice flow control device may be coupled to a recirculation conduit and may be configured to dynamically vary a proportion of fluid from the fuel delivery outlet passing into the bleed c…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.