System architecture for managing hydrogen leaks into fluid circuits of fuel cell systems
AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation
InventorOliver Maier
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pressure management system that balances pressure between first and second fluid circuits of a fuel cell system includes a first fluid reservoir associated with the first fluid circuit and a second fluid reservoir associated with the second fluid circuit. The second fluid reservoir is in fluid communication with the first fluid reservoir. A fluid is transferred from the first fluid reservoir to the second fluid reservoir during an over-pressure condition within the first fluid circuit.
Claims26
A pressure management system that balances pressure between first and second fluid circuits of a fuel cell system, comprising:
- a first fluid reservoir associated with said first fluid circuit;
- and
- a second fluid reservoir associated with said second fluid circuit and in fluid communication with said first fluid reservoir, wherein a fluid is transferred from said first fluid reservoir to said second fluid reservoir during an over-pressure condition within said first fluid circuit.
A method of managing pressure between first and second fluid circuits of a fuel cell system, comprising:
- detecting a first pressure within a first fluid reservoir associated with said first fluid circuit;
- transferring a fluid from said first fluid reservoir to a second fluid reservoir associated with said second fluid circuit when said first pressure achieves a first threshold level.
A fuel cell system, comprising:
- a fuel cell having a hydrogen-containing feed gas flowing therethrough;
- a first fluid circuit that includes a first fluid reservoir, that is in fluid communication with said fuel cell and that has a first fluid flowing therethrough;
- and
- a second fluid circuit that includes a second fluid reservoir and that has a second fluid flowing therethrough, wherein a fluid is transferred from said first fluid reservoir to said second fluid reservoir during an over-pressure condition within said first fluid circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.