Fuel cell resuscitation method and apparatus
US6861167B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 25, 2001 |
| Grant date | Mar 1, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 3, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A fuel cell system includes fuel cells forming a fuel cell stack, having a fuel passage and an oxidant passage. A purge valve is coupled to the fuel passage to exhaust contaminants, and a controller is coupled to temporarily increase the oxidant stream flow rate through the oxidant passage, and to temporarily open the fuel purge valve, if a voltage across a pair of fuel cells is less than a defined threshold voltage. In this resuscitation step, the oxidant flow rate can be temporarily increased by increasing a duty cycle of an air compressor by approximately 50% for a duration of between approximately 5 to 10 seconds. The controller can further shut down fuel cell operation if a voltage across a pair of fuel cells is less than a defined threshold voltage in an inter-resuscitation period immediately following the resuscitation step.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.