US 7,687,164 B2 · On-line system identification and control of fuel cell humidification via HFR measurements

Abstract

A fuel cell system is provided, including an HFR measurement device in electrical communication with a fuel cell stack. The HFR measurement is used online to measure an HFR of the fuel cell stack suitable for calculation of a d(HFR)/d(RH) ratio. A humidity regulator is provided in fluid communication with the fuel cell stack. A controller periodically changes stack operating conditions to perturb an RH of the fuel cell stack, process the HFR response, and compute the d(HFR)/d(RH) ratio. A method for online identification and control of the fuel cell stack humidification is also provided. The d(HFR)/d(RH) ratio is an auxiliary measurement of membrane hydration which is used as a feedback for hydration control.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A method for online identification of a humidification level of a fuel cell stack, the method comprising the steps of:

providing the fuel cell stack including a plurality of fuel cells;
providing an HFR measurement device in electrical communication with the fuel cell stack;
supplying a reactant stream to the fuel cell stack;
introducing a perturbation in the reactant stream supplied to the fuel cell stack, the perturbation adapted to provide a transient deviation in an RH of the fuel cell stack;
measuring the HFR of the fuel cell stack;
calculating a d(HFR)/d(RH) ratio from the measured HFR and the transient deviation in the RH of the fuel cell stack;
and
correlating the d(HFR)/d(RH) ratio in a mathematical model to identify an RH of the fuel cell stack.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

On-line system identification and control of fuel cell humidification via HFR measurements

Life of this patent

On-line system identification and control of fuel cell humidification via HFR measurements

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14