In-vehicle algorithm for fuel cell stack health quantification
US8450020B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 26, 2011 |
| Grant date | May 28, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 20, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02T90/40
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method for determining the health of fuel cells in a fuel cell stack. The method includes maintaining a constant flow of hydrogen to the anode side of the fuel cell stack, shutting off a flow of air to a cathode side of the fuel cell stack when a predetermined concentration of hydrogen in the anode side has been achieved, and identifying a catalyst surface area and a catalyst support surface area for catalyst layers in the fuel cell stack. The method also includes determining the total parasitic current of the fuel cell stack to determine a cross-over parasitic current and a shorting resistance of the fuel cell stack. The method further includes calculating the catalyst surface area and the catalyst support surface area of the catalyst layers and comparing the difference between the identified catalyst surface area and the calculated catalyst surface area to estimate the change in the catalyst surface area.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.