Multi-stage pressure regulator
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorRainer Pechtold
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pressure regulator that has particular application for an anode input side of a fuel cell system to provide the desired large turn-down ratio. The pressure regulator includes at least two valves positioned in parallel where the first valve is smaller than the second valve. The first valve is opened and closed and the second valve is maintained closed at low flow rates. Once the flow rate is high enough, the first valve is maintained completely open, and the second valve is opened and closed to control the flow at high flow rates.
Claims20
A flow control pressure regulator for controlling a gas flow, said pressure regulator comprising:
- a body defining a first valve seat, a second valve seat, a first closable orifice and a second closable orifice;
- a membrane assembly positioned within a membrane chamber in the body, said membrane assembly including at least one membrane defining a first side of the membrane chamber and a second side of the membrane chamber;
- an inlet port formed in the body in fluid communication with the first side of the membrane chamber through the first and second orifices;
- an outlet port formed in the body in fluid communication with the first side of the membrane chamber;
- a first valve rigidly coupled to the membrane assembly, said first valve being positionable relative to the first valve seat upon movement of the membrane assembly so as to provide flow control between the inlet port and the outlet port through the first orifice;
- and
- a second valve slidably coupled to the membrane assembly, said second valve being positionable relative to the second valve seat upon movement of the membrane assembly so as to further provide flow control between the inlet port and the outlet port through the second orifice.
A flow control pressure regulator comprising:
- a body;
- an inlet port formed in the body;
- an outlet port formed in the body in fluid communication with the inlet port;
- a first orifice formed in the body between the inlet port and the outlet port, said first orifice including a first valve seat;
- a second orifice formed in the body between the inlet port and the outlet port, said second orifice including a second valve seat;
- a first valve positioned within a valve chamber and being positionable relative to the first valve seat to open and close the first orifice;
- and
- a second valve positioned within the valve chamber and being positionable relative to the second valve seat, wherein the first valve and the first orifice are smaller than the second valve and the second orifice, and wherein the first valve provides flow rate control at low flow rates and the first valve and the second valve combine to provide flow control for high flow rates.
A flow control pressure regulator for providing hydrogen flow control to a fuel cell stack, said pressure regulator comprising:
- a body;
- an inlet port formed in the body;
- an outlet port formed in the body in fluid communication with the inlet port;
- a first orifice formed in the body between the inlet port and the outlet port, said first orifice including a first valve seat;
- a second orifice formed in the body between the inlet port and the outlet port, said second orifice including a second valve seat;
- a membrane assembly positioned within a membrane chamber in the body, said membrane assembly including at least one membrane defining a first side of the membrane chamber and a second side of the membrane chamber, said first side of the chamber being in fluid communication with the inlet port and the outlet port through the first orifice and the second orifice;
- a first valve rigidly coupled to the membrane assembly, said first valve being positioned relative to the first valve seat upon movement from the membrane assembly so as to provide flow control between the inlet port and the outlet port through the first orifice;
- and
- a second valve slidably coupled to the membrane assembly, said second valve being positioned relative to the second valve seat upon movement of the membrane assembly so as to further provide flow control between the inlet port and the outlet port through the second orifice, wherein the first valve and the first orifice are larger than the second valve and the second orifice, and wherein the first valve provides flow control at low flow rates and the combination of the first valve and the second valve provide flow control at high flow rates.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.