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US 6,383,670 B1Granted
System and method for controlling the operation of a fuel processing system
AssigneeIdaTech, LLC
InventorsDavid J. Edlund, Thomas G. Herron, William A. Pledger
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A control system and method for a fuel processing system. The control system automates the operation of a fuel processing system by monitoring operating parameters and automatically controlling the operation of the system responsive to the monitored parameters, predefined subroutines and/or user inputs.
Claims98
An automated fuel processing system, comprising:
- a fuel processor adapted to receive a feed stream and produce hydrogen gas therefrom;
- a feed assembly adapted to deliver the feed stream to the fuel processor;
- and
- a control system including a sensor assembly adapted to monitor the value of at least one operating parameter of the fuel processing system and a controller in communication with the sensor assembly and adapted to receive inputs therefrom, wherein the controller includes a memory device that includes a plurality of stored subroutines, and further wherein the controller is further adapted to automatically execute one or more of the stored subroutines responsive at least in part to inputs from the sensor assembly to control the operation of the fuel processing system at least in part based on the inputs from the sensor assembly.
1 more element
An automated fuel processing system, comprising:
- a fuel processor adapted to receive a feed stream and to produce a product hydrogen stream therefrom, wherein the fuel processor is adapted to be selectively operated in a plurality of predefined operating states;
- a feed assembly adapted to deliver the feed stream to the fuel processor;
- an automated control system including a computerized controller and a sensor assembly adapted to monitor at least one operating parameter of at least one of the fuel processor and the feed assembly and to communicate inputs to the controller corresponding to the at least one operating parameter, wherein the controller is programmed to automatically control the operation of the fuel processing system to switch the fuel processor between the plurality of predefined operating states based at least in part on the inputs, and further wherein the controller utilizes a plurality of programmed subroutines to switch the fuel processor between the plurality of predefined operating states.
An automated fuel processing system, comprising:
- a fuel processor adapted to receive a feed stream and to produce a product hydrogen stream therefrom, wherein the fuel processor is adapted to be selectively operated in a plurality of predefined operating states, and further wherein the fuel processing system is adapted to deliver at least a portion of the product stream to at least one of a fuel cell stack and a hydrogen storage device;
- a feed assembly adapted to deliver the feed stream to the fuel processor;
- an automated control system including a computerized controller and a sensor assembly adapted to monitor at least one operating parameter of at least one of the fuel processor and the feed assembly and to communicate inputs to the controller corresponding to the at least one operating parameter, wherein the controller is programmed to automatically control the operation of the fuel processing system to switch the fuel processor between the plurality of predefined operating states based at least in part on the inputs, and further wherein the plurality of predefined operating states includes a standby operating state in which the controller is adapted to achieve and maintain predefined operating temperatures and pressures within the fuel processor without delivering the product stream to the fuel cell stack or the hydrogen storage device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.