Patent · US Expired

Fuel cell system method and apparatus employing oxygen sensor

US6887606B2 · kind B2 · utility

14Cited by
20References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 25, 2001
Grant dateMay 3, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 15, 2021

Classification

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

Abstract

A controller in a fuel cell system performs various operating parameter checks at a predefined schedule, including one or more of a stack current check; a stack voltage check; a cell voltage check; a purge cell check; an oxygen concentration check; a hydrogen concentration check; a stack temperature check; an ambient air temperature check; a fuel pressure check; and an airflow rate check; a hydrogen sensor heater check; a battery voltage check; a microcontroller self-check; and/or toggling a watchdog. The frequency of the checks are set relative to achieve an efficient control of the fuel cell system by selectively distributing the load on the microcontroller.

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