Patent · US Active

In-situ fuel cell stack reconditioning

US9368817B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by

3References

17Claims

0Family size

Assignee

GL GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventors

Daniel T. Folmsbee · Victor, US
Balasubramanian Lakshmanan · Rochester Hills, US
John P. Salvador · Penfield, US
Joe C. Machuca · Rochester, US
Bernd Krause · Liederbach, DE
David R. Savage · Webster, US
David A. Arthur · Honeoye Falls, US
Derek R. Lebzelter · Fairport, US

Key dates

Filing date	Oct 16, 2009
Grant date	Jun 14, 2016
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Aug 14, 2034

Classification

Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
CPC primaryY02T90/40
WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method for reconditioning a fuel cell stack. The method includes periodically increasing the relative humidity level of the cathode input airflow to the stack to saturate the cell membrane electrode assemblies to be greater than the relative humidity levels during normal stack operating conditions. The method also includes providing hydrogen to the anode side of the fuel cell stack at system shut down while the membrane electrode assemblies are saturated without stack loads being applied so that the hydrogen crosses the cell membranes to the cathode side and reacts with oxygen to reduce stack contaminants.

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