Back to results
US 8,133,624 B2Granted
Fuel cell module design for robust pressure measurements in freezing conditions
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsDaniel J. Darga, Mark T. Schluentz, Steven L. Piedmont
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fuel cell system is disclosed including a fuel cell stack and pressure sensors, wherein bypass conduits having flow restriction devices disposed therein are provided for bypassing fluids around the fuel cell stack to militate against the accumulation of moisture in conduits in fluid communication with the pressure sensors.
Claims17
A fuel cell system comprising:
- a first fuel cell stack including at least a cathode inlet, a cathode outlet, an anode inlet, and an anode outlet, wherein an oxidant is caused to flow from a source of oxidant through the cathode inlet to the cathode outlet of said first fuel cell stack and a fuel is caused to flow from a source of fuel through the anode inlet to the anode outlet of said first fuel cell stack;
- a first bypass in fluid communication with the source of the fuel and the anode outlet;
- a second bypass in fluid communication with the source of the oxidant and the cathode outlet;
- a first pressure sensor adapted to measure a pressure of the fuel caused to flow through the first bypass;
- and
- a second pressure sensor adapted to measure a pressure of the oxidant caused to flow through the second bypass.
3 more elements
A fuel cell system comprising:
- a first fuel cell stack including at least a cathode inlet, a cathode outlet, an anode inlet, and an anode outlet, wherein an oxidant is caused to flow from a source of oxidant through the cathode inlet to the cathode outlet of said first fuel cell stack and a fuel is caused to flow from a source of fuel through the anode inlet to the anode outlet of said first fuel cell stack;
- a second fuel cell stack including at least a cathode inlet, a cathode outlet, an anode inlet, and an anode outlet, wherein the fuel is caused to flow from the anode outlet of said first fuel cell stack to the anode inlet of said second fuel cell stack and the oxidant is caused to flow from the source of oxidant to the cathode inlet of said second fuel cell stack;
- a first bypass in fluid communication with the source of fuel, the anode outlet of said first fuel cell stack, and the anode inlet of said second fuel cell stack;
- a second bypass in fluid communication with the source of oxidant and the cathode outlets of said first fuel cell stack and said second fuel cell stack;
- a first pressure sensor adapted to measure a pressure of the fuel caused to flow through the first bypass, wherein a portion of the fuel is caused to flow through said first bypass past said first pressure sensor, and wherein the fuel flowing through said first bypass militates against the accumulation of moisture in said first bypass;
- and
- a second pressure sensor adapted to measure a pressure of the oxidant caused to flow through the second bypass, wherein a portion of the oxidant is caused to flow through said second bypass past said second pressure sensor, and wherein the oxidant flowing through said second bypass militates against the accumulation of moisture in said second bypass.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.