Fuel cell information monitor and data transfer
AssigneePlug Power Inc.
InventorsJon Owejan, Edward Snyder, Glenn White
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly, a first plate separator and a second plate separator on opposite sides of the membrane electrode assembly and a voltage sensor for detecting a cell voltage relative to opposite sides of the membrane electrode assembly. A transmitter is coupled to the sensor and configured to wirelessly transmit an indication of the cell voltage.
Claims25
A fuel cell system comprising:
- a membrane electrode assembly;
- a first plate separator and a second plate separator on opposite sides of said membrane electrode assembly;
- a voltage sensor for detecting a cell voltage relative to opposite sides of said membrane electrode assembly;
- a transmitter coupled to said sensor and configured to wirelessly transmit an indication of the cell voltage, wherein the indication comprises an emission of light by said transmitter.
A method for use in monitoring a fuel cell comprising:
- a voltage sensor detecting a cell voltage relative to opposite sides of a membrane electrode assembly of a fuel cell;
- a transmitter coupled to said sensor and receiving an indication of the cell voltage from the voltage sensor;
- and
- the transmitter wirelessly transmitting an indication of the cell voltage wherein the transmitting the indication comprises the transmitter emitting light to transmit the indication.
A fuel cell system comprising:
- a membrane electrode assembly;
- a first plate separator and a second plate separator on opposite sides of said membrane electrode assembly;
- a voltage sensor for detecting a cell voltage relative top opposite ideas of said membrane electrode assembly,
- a transmitter coupled to said sensor and configured to wirelessly transmit an indication of the cell voltage, and
- wherein said voltage sensor is electrically connected to said first plate separator and said second plate separator, said first separator and said second plate separator comprising bipolar fuel cell plates.
A fuel cell system comprising,
- a membrane electrode assembly;
- a first plate separator and a second plate separator on opposites ides of said membrane electrode assembly;
- a voltage sensor for detecting a cell voltage relative to opposite sides of said membrane electrode assembly;
- a transmitter coupled to said sensor and configured to wirelessly transmit an indication of the cell voltage via digital communications.
A method for use in monitoring a fuel cell comprising:
- a voltage sensor detecting a cell voltage relative to opposite sides of a membrane electrode assembly of a fuel cell;
- a transmitter coupled to d sensor and receiving an indication of the cell voltage from the voltage sensor;
- and
- the transmitter wirelessly transmitting an indication of the cell voltage, wherein the transmitting the indication comprises the transmitter emitting light when the cell voltage is greater than predefined voltage minimum.
A method for use in monitoring a fuel cell comprising:
- a voltage sensor detecting a cell voltage relative to opposite sides of a membrane electrode assembly of a fuel cell;
- a transmitter coupled to said sensor and receiving an medication of the cell voltage from the voltage sensor;
- and
- the transmitter wirelessly transmitting a of the cell voltage via digital communication.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.