Patent · US Active

Anode bleed control strategy for improved water management and hydrogen utilization

US8855942B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
1References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 15, 2007
Grant dateOct 7, 2014
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 7, 2031

Classification

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

Abstract

A control strategy for bleeding an anode side of fuel cell stack in a fuel cell system that improves water management and addresses durability and performance concerns. The method includes determining when to begin the anode bleed, typically by estimating or measuring the amount of nitrogen in the anode side of the stack. The method also includes determining when to end the anode bleed based on the volume of gas that has been bled. The method determines the mole flow rate of the anode gas flowing through a bleed valve, integrates the mole flow rate to get the number of moles of the gas that have passed through the bleed valve, determines a desired amount of moles to be bled, and ends the bleed when the actual number of moles of the gas equals the desired number of moles of the gas.

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