Fuel cell purging method and apparatus
US6960401B2 · kind B2 · utility
18Cited by
19References
13Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 25, 2001 |
| Grant date | Nov 1, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 15, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A purge system for fuel cell stack includes a purge valve to regulate exhaust from the fuel cell stack in response control signals from a controller in response to a voltage across a purge cell portion of a fuel cell stack. The purge valve is opened when the voltage across the purge cell portion falls below a defined percentage of a threshold voltage. The threshold voltage can be equal to an average cell voltage of some or all of the fuel cells of the fuel cell stack. The purge may include one or more successive openings of the purge valve of controlled purge durations.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.