Fuel cell manager
US6541941B2 · kind B2 · utility
33Cited by
18References
4Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 5, 2001 |
| Grant date | Apr 1, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 5, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02T10/70
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A controller controls a switch bank which can shunt a voltage source in parallel with one or more fuel cells in a stack. By controlling the voltage of the voltage source, the current through the fuel cells is directly controlled. By increasing the anode potential of the fuel cell through control of the voltage source, poisons deposited on the electrocatalyst are removed, thereby rejuvenating the fuel cells. Fuel cells in a stack can be treated in turn, causing a reduction of the effects of electrocatalyst poison on stack performance.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.