Fuel cell system for computing fuel level
US8088521B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 2, 2007 |
| Grant date | Jan 3, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 2, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P70/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A fuel cell system capable of computing fuel level stored in a fuel tank, and more particularly to a fuel cell system capable of computing fuel level without using a flux sensor or flow rate sensor includes: a fuel tank storing fuel; a stack for generating electricity by the electro-chemical reaction of the fuel; a fuel pump for transferring fuel from the fuel tank to the stack; a fuel pump for transferring the fuel from the fuel tank to the stack; a pumping controller for generating a pump control signal controlling the pumping operation of the fuel pump; and a fuel level computing unit for computing the amount of fuel used and fuel level from the waveform of the pump control signal. In some embodiments, the fuel cell system informs a user when the fuel level is low, with reduced manufacturing costs.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.