Method to maximize fuel cell voltage during start-up
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorEric L. Thompson
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Abstract
A method of operating a fuel cell system is disclosed, the method including the steps of providing a fuel cell stack including a plurality of fuel cell assemblies, each fuel cell assembly having a proton exchange membrane disposed between a plurality of fuel cell plates, wherein water is purged from the fuel cell system during a shutdown operation, and a current is produced in the fuel cell system following the shutdown purge to produce product water to hydrate the proton exchange membrane.
Claims20
A method of operating a fuel cell system, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a fuel cell stack including a plurality of fuel cell assemblies, each fuel cell assembly having a proton exchange membrane disposed between a plurality of fuel cell plates;
- purging water from the fuel cell system during a shutdown operation;
- and
- operating the fuel cell system following the shutdown purge to produce product water, wherein the product water hydrates the proton exchange membrane to militate against an Ohmic loss across the fuel cell assemblies during a start-up operation of the fuel cell system.
A method of operating a fuel cell system comprising the steps of:
- providing a fuel cell stack including a plurality of fuel cell assemblies, each fuel cell assembly having a proton exchange membrane disposed between a plurality of fuel cell plates;
- purging water from the fuel cell system during a shutdown operation;
- producing a current in the fuel cell system with a current operation following the shutdown purge to produce product water therein, wherein the water produced hydrates the proton exchange membrane to militate against an Ohmic loss across the fuel cell assemblies during a start-up operation of the fuel cell system;
- and
- providing a means for regulating the current flow, wherein the current is regulated in response to a High Frequency Response (HFR) signal.
A method of operating a fuel cell system comprising the steps of:
- providing a fuel cell stack including a plurality of fuel cell assemblies, each fuel cell assembly having a proton exchange membrane disposed between a plurality of fuel cell plates;
- purging water from the fuel cell system during a shutdown operation;
- producing a current in the fuel cell system with a current operation following the shutdown purge to produce product water therein, wherein the water produced hydrates the proton exchange membrane to militate against an Ohmic loss across the fuel cell assemblies during a start-up operation of the fuel cell system;
- and
- providing a means for regulating the current, wherein the current is produced for a desired duration to produce a desired amount of product water to achieve a desired hydration index (A) of the proton exchange membrane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.