Fuel cell system and method to prevent water-induced damage
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorDaniel William Forthoffer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In one or more embodiments, a fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack including an anode and a cathode, a first conduit positioned to supply oxygen to the cathode, a second conduit positioned to supply hydrogen to the anode, and a third conduit positioned separate from the first and second conduits and to supply oxygen to the second conduit. The third conduit may be positioned to supply oxygen from the first conduit to the second conduit.
Claims20
A fuel cell system to prevent water-related degradation comprising:
- a fuel cell stack including an anode and a cathode;
- a first conduit positioned to supply oxygen to the cathode;
- a second conduit positioned to supply hydrogen to the anode;
- and
- a third conduit connected to the first and second conduits to supply oxygen to the second conduit under a predefined set of conditions to prevent water-related degradation.
A fuel cell system comprising:
- a fuel cell stack including an anode and a cathode;
- a first conduit positioned to supply oxygen to the cathode;
- a second conduit positioned to supply hydrogen to the anode;
- a proportional valve connected to the second conduit to control hydrogen flow into the anode through the second conduit;
- a third conduit positioned separate from the first and second conduits and to supply oxygen to the second conduit;
- and
- a proportional valve connected to the third conduit to control oxygen flow into the second conduit through the third conduit.
A method of managing water-induced damage to a fuel cell system, the method comprising:
- Providing a fuel cell system including an anode and a cathode, a first conduit positioned to supply oxygen to the cathode, a second conduit positioned to supply hydrogen to the anode, and a third conduit positioned in fluid communication with the first and second conduits;
- Measuring at least one fuel cell operating parameter;
- Determining the value of at least one predetermined fuel cell operating variable from the measured operating parameters;
- Controlling hydrogen flow into the anode through the second conduit as a function of the determined value of at least one fuel cell operating variable;
- and
- Controlling oxygen flow into the second conduit via the third conduit as a function of the determined value of at least one fuel cell operating variable to control water creation at predetermined stages of a fuel cell cycle to minimize water accumulation and any associated water-induced damage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.