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US 12,500,253 B2Granted
Systems and methods to measure or control fuel cell stack excess hydrogen flow using ejector mixing state
AssigneesCummins Inc., Hydrogenics Corporation
InventorsRichard J. Ancimer, Paolo Forte, Sumit Tripathi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for determining, managing, and/or controlling excess hydrogen flow in a system comprising a fuel cell or fuel cell stack and ejector based on the internal state of the ejector.
Claims20
A fuel cell system comprising:
- a first flow stream and a second flow stream mixing to form a third flow stream, the third flow stream flowing through an ejector and an anode inlet of a fuel cell stack, wherein the ejector comprises components including a primary nozzle, a mixer region and a diffuser, and
- a controller configured to compare an excess fuel ratio of the fuel cell system to a target excess fuel ratio of the fuel cell system by determining a pressure change or a temperature change between two locations selected from the primary nozzle, the mixer region and the diffuser, the controller configured to alter a volumetric flow rate of the first flow stream based on the comparison of the excess fuel ratio to the target fuel ratio.
The system of 7, wherein the at least one physical or virtual sensor is located in a region of highest flow accuracy when the fuel system is functioning under operating conditions that challenge ejector performance.
A method of efficiently operating a fuel cell system comprising:
- mixing a first flow stream and a second flow stream to form a third flow stream, flowing the third flow stream through an ejector and through an anode inlet in a fuel cell stack, wherein the ejector comprises components including a primary nozzle, a mixer region and a diffuser,
- determining an excess fuel ratio of the fuel cell system,
- operating a controller configured to compare the excess fuel ratio of the fuel cell system to a target excess fuel ratio of the fuel cell system by determining a pressure change or a temperature change between two locations selected from the primary nozzle, the mixer region, and the diffuser, and
- altering a volumetric flow rate of the first flow stream based on the comparison of the excess fuel ratio to the target fuel ratio.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.