US 8,034,494 B2Granted

Fuel cell systems with maintenance hydration by displacement of primary power

AssigneeIdaTech, LLC

InventorsMason P. Kelley, Arne LaVen, Tod L. Snider

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Abstract

Fuel cell systems and methods that perform maintenance hydration by supplying power to satisfy at least part of an applied load from an energy-consuming assembly while a primary power source is in electrical communication with and available to supply power to the energy-consuming assembly to satisfy the portion of the applied load. In some embodiments, the systems or methods may determine a start time, or start condition, for hydration of the fuel cell system. Power may be supplied from the activated fuel cell system at an output voltage that is higher than a voltage at which power from the primary power source is being supplied, such that the applied load is satisfied, at least in part, by power from the fuel cell system instead of from the primary power source. Upon operation for a period sufficient to rehydrate the fuel cell stack, operation of the fuel cell system may be discontinued.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A method of performing maintenance hydration of a fuel cell system serving as an auxiliary power source for an energy-consuming assembly that is disposed in electrical communication with a primary power source, the method comprising:

activating the fuel cell system from an inactive condition by initiating delivery of at least a fuel to a fuel cell stack of the fuel cell system, wherein the activating is performed responsive to a start condition, and further wherein the start condition is selected to avoid a decrease in the efficiency of the fuel cell system due to inactivity of the fuel cell system;
and
supplying power from the activated fuel cell system to satisfy at least a portion of an electrical load applied by the energy consuming assembly while the primary power source is available to at least partially supply the portion of the electrical load being satisfied by the fuel cell system, thereby operating the fuel cell system for power generation and associated hydration while the primary power source is available to satisfy at least a portion of the electrical load applied by the energy consuming assembly.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/828,107Filed 30 Jun 2010 · continuation
Priority: 30 May 2007
Published: US 2010/0266917 A121 Oct 2010
Granted: 11 Oct 2011
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification17 codes

H01M 8/0485
Humidity; Water content: of the electrolyte
H01M 8/04126
With simultaneous supply or evacuation of electrolyte; Humidifying or dehumidifying: humidifying
H01M 8/04223
Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids: during start-up or shut-down; Depolarisation or activation,…
H01M 8/04225
During start-up or shut-down; Depolarisation or activation, e.g. purging; Means for short-circuiting defective fuel cells: during start-up

Family

Application11/755,227Parent of this continuation · filed 30 May 2007
US 7,754,361 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 13 Jul 2010
US 2010/0266917 A1Pre-grant publication · published 21 Oct 2010
US 2008/0299420 A1Published application
US 8,034,494 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.