# US 7,608,353 B2 · Method for detecting compressor surge in a fuel cell system using a mass flow meter

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 7,608,353 B2
- Document ID: US7608353B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/027,023
- Filed: 2008-02-06
- Published: 2008-06-19
- Granted: 2009-10-27
- Earliest claimed: 2003-10-29
- Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
- Inventors: Joseph D. Rainville
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7608353B2

## CPC

- F04D 27/001: {Testing thereof; Determination or simulation of flow characteristics; Stall or surge detection, e.g. condition monitoring}
- F04D 27/0207: {by bleeding, bypassing or recycling fluids (influencing the boundary layer by an uncontrolled bleeding of the working fluid F04D29/681)}
- F04D 27/0261: {by varying driving speed}
- H01M 8/04089: of gaseous reactants
- Y02B 30/70: Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating
- Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells
- F04D: NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS (engine fuel-injection pumps F02M; ion pumps H01J41/12; electrodynamic pumps H02K44/02)
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A method for detecting compressor surge in a fuel cell system. The system includes a turbomachine compressor that delivers charge air to the cathode side of a fuel cell module. A bi-directional mass flow meter measures the airflow through the compressor, and provides an indication of a reverse airflow through the compressor for surge protection. A controller receives a signal from the mass flow meter indicative of the reverse flow. The controller controls a motor driving the compressor and a back pressure valve at the cathode exhaust of the fuel cell module to control the pressure in the fuel cell module to remove the surge condition.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for detecting and eliminating a surge condition of a compressor in a fuel cell module, said method comprising:
detecting a reverse airflow through the compressor using a bi-directional mass flow meter; and
preventing compressor surge in response to the detected reverse airflow.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1 wherein preventing compressor surge includes increasing the speed of the compressor in response to the detected reverse airflow.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1 wherein preventing compressor surge includes opening a back pressure valve in a cathode exhaust line of the fuel cell module in response to the detected reverse airflow.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1 wherein preventing compressor surge includes opening a by-pass valve in a cathode exhaust line of the fuel cell module in response to the detected reverse airflow.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1 wherein the bi-directional mass flow meter detects the flow of air in both a forward and a reverse direction.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1 wherein the mass flow meter is positioned upstream of the compressor and receives the airflow below the compressor.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1 wherein the compressor is a turbomachine compressor.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1 wherein the compressor is selected from the consisting of centrifugal, radial, axial and mixed flow compressors.

### Claim 9

A method for detecting and eliminating a surge condition of a compressor in a fuel cell system, said method comprising:
providing an airflow from the compressor to a cathode input of the fuel cell system;
measuring the airflow sent to the compressor using a bi-directional mass flow meter in both a forward direction and a reverse direction; and
preventing compressor surge in response to an airflow in the reverse direction through the compressor from the cathode input.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method according to claim 9 wherein preventing compressor surge includes increasing the speed of the compressor in response to the detected reverse airflow.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method according to claim 9 wherein preventing compressor surge includes opening a back pressure valve in a cathode exhaust line of the fuel cell module in response to the detected reverse airflow.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The method according to claim 9 wherein preventing compressor surge includes opening a by-pass valve in a cathode exhaust line of the fuel cell module in response to the detected reverse airflow.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The method according to claim 9 wherein the mass flow meter is positioned upstream of the compressor and receives the airflow below the compressor.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The method according to claim 9 wherein the compressor is a turbomachine compressor.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The method according to claim 9 wherein the compressor is selected from the consisting of centrifugal, radial, axial and mixed flow compressors.