Patent · US Expired

Utilization based power plant control system

US6884533B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
11References
49Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMay 31, 2002
Grant dateApr 26, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 16, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E60/50
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Systems and methods of controlling fuel cell electric power generation systems. In one embodiment, the control system comprises a current detector for measuring an output current of the fuel cell stack and generating a corresponding current signal, a flow detector for measuring a flow rate of a process gas stream and generating a corresponding flow rate signal, a sensor for measuring a concentration of a component of the reformate stream and generating a corresponding concentration signal, and a processor. The processor is configured to maintain hydrogen utilization in the fuel cell stack at about a user selectable value or within a user selectable range by generating an output signal as a function of the current signal, the flow rate signal and the first concentration signal. The output signal is employed in controlling a process variable impacting hydrogen utilization.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.