Patent · US Active

Relative humidity estimators for fuel cell stack ports

US9997795B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
1References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateSep 25, 2015
Grant dateJun 12, 2018
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 2, 2036

Classification

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

Abstract

A water management method for a fuel cell stack (FCS) is provided. The method may include outputting via a controller an FCS anode port estimated relative humidity value based on consumption of reactants and generation of products in the FCS and adjusting a humidification control strategy based on the value. The outputting may be in response to occurrence of a predicted FCS anode port relative humidity value from a model of a hydrogen recirculation system (HRS) of the FCS being within a predefined range. A fuel cell vehicle including a HRS and a controller is also provided. The HRS may include an ejector and a fuel cell stack having an anode port. The controller may be configured to activate a HRS model to calculate a real-time estimate of a relative humidity of the anode port based on an estimated flow rate of a secondary nozzle of the ejector.

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