Patent · US Active

Method and regulation apparatus for operating a fuel cell or a fuel cell stack

US9543602B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
1References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 18, 2014
Grant dateJan 10, 2017
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 24, 2034

Classification

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

Abstract

Disclosed is method of operating a fuel cell which can output an electrical maximum power dependent on the operating temperature for a given fuel gas flow, and which exhibits aging in dependence on the operating duration which brings about an increase of the electrical internal resistance with progressive operating duration. In the disclosed method, the starting value (T0) of the operating temperature for a new fuel cell or for a new fuel cell stack is typically smaller than or equal to the operating temperature, at which the electrical maximum power is achieved and the fuel cell or the fuel cell stack is regulated such that the decrease of the output electrical power as a consequence of aging is partly or completely compensated in that the operating temperature (T) of the fuel cell or of the fuel cell stack is increased with progressive aging.

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