Back to results
US 6,887,605 B2Granted
System and method for optimizing fuel cell purge cycles
AssigneeIdaTech, LLC
InventorThomas G. Herron
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for optimizing the purge cycle of a fuel cell stack responsive to the performance of the fuel cell. The system includes a controller that measures a process parameter indicative of the rate at which water is being produced in the fuel cell. If the measured value exceeds a threshold value, then the purge assembly is automatically actuated.
Claims47
A fuel cell system, comprising:
- a source of hydrogen gas;
- a fuel cell stack including at least one fuel cell including an anode chamber and a cathode chamber, wherein the fuel cell stack is adapted to receive a flow containing hydrogen gas from the source and to produce an electric current therefrom and, wherein the anode chamber is adapted to receive at least a portion of the flow containing hydrogen gas from the source;
- a purge assembly including at least one purge valve adapted to selectively purge the anode chamber of the at least one fuel cell to reduce the concentration of a selected composition therein with a stream containing at least a portion of the flow containing hydrogen gas from the source;
- a sensor assembly including at least one sensor adapted to measure a value of a process parameter representative of the performance of the fuel cell stack;
- and
- a controller adapted to actuate the purge assembly if the value of the process parameter exceeds a determined value.
3 more elements
A fuel cell system, comprising:
- a source of hydrogen gas;
- a fuel cell stack adapted to receive a stream containing hydrogen gas from the source, wherein the fuel cell stack includes at least one fuel cell comprising an anode chamber and a cathode chamber separated by an electrolytic membrane, wherein the anode chamber is adapted to receive at least a portion of the stream containing hydrogen gas and the cathode chamber is adapted to receive a stream containing oxygen gas;
- a purge assembly adapted to selectively purge a selected composition from the anode chamber with a flow containing at least a portion of the stream containing hydrogen gas from the source;
- and
- means for measuring a value of a process parameter representative of the performance of the fuel cell stack and actuating the purge assembly if the value exceeds a determined value.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.