# US 8,751,082 B2 · System and method of in-situ diagnosis of fuel cell health during vehicle operation

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- Number: US 8,751,082 B2
- Document ID: US8751082B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/331,091
- Filed: 2011-12-20
- Published: 2013-06-20
- Granted: 2014-06-10
- Earliest claimed: 2011-12-20
- Assignees: Nissan North America, Inc.
- Applicants: Taehee Han; Ellazar V. Niangar; Nilesh Dale; Kevork Adjemian
- Inventors: Taehee Han; Ellazar V. Niangar; Nilesh Dale; Kevork Adjemian
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8751082B2

## CPC

- H01M 8/04462: {of anode exhausts}
- B60K 35/22: Display screens
- B60K 35/28: characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
- B60K 35/80: Arrangements for controlling instruments
- H01M 8/04305: {Modeling, demonstration models of fuel cells, e.g. for training purposes}
- H01M 8/04537: Electric variables
- H01M 8/04664: Failure or abnormal function
- B60W 10/28: including control of fuel cells
- B60W 20/50: Control strategies for responding to system failures, e.g. for fault diagnosis, failsafe operation or limp mode
- H01M 2250/20: Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
- Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells
- Y02T 90/40: Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

Disclosed herein are systems and methods of diagnosing in situ the health of a fuel cell stack while it is in operation in a vehicle. One such system of diagnosing in situ the health of a fuel cell stack while it is in operation in a vehicle comprises at least one gas sensor configured to detect a gas in exhaust from the fuel cell stack and a control unit configured to receive data from the gas sensor. The control unit has baseline data particular to a catalyst of the fuel cell stack and is programmed to determine information from the baseline data and the data from the gas sensor, the information providing a condition of the fuel cell stack. A display unit is configured to display an indication of the condition.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for diagnosing in situ a health of a fuel cell stack of a vehicle comprising:
at least one gas sensor configured to detect a gas in exhaust gas from the fuel cell stack;
a control unit configured to receive data from the at least one gas sensor, the control unit having baseline data particular to a catalyst of the fuel cell stack and programmed to determine a condition of the catalyst from the baseline data and the data from the at least one gas sensor, the condition of the catalyst indicating the health of the fuel cell stack; and
a display configured to display an indication of the condition.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising:
at least one receiver; and
a transmitter configured to transmit one or both of the data and the condition to the at least one receiver, the at least one receiver configured to display an indication of the condition in locations remote from the transmitter.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one receiver is configured to provide one or both of the data and the condition to a maintenance/repair facility.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one gas sensor is a carbon dioxide sensor and the condition is degree of catalyst degradation.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one gas sensor is a plurality of gas sensors with one of the plurality being a carbon dioxide sensor and others of the plurality being one or more of a carbon monoxide sensor, a sulfur dioxide sensor and a methane sensor.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the display is configured to be positioned in the vehicle.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the baseline data is a threshold level of gas detected and the control unit is further configured to determine if the data exceeds the threshold level.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein the control unit is further configured to send an alarm when the data exceeds the threshold level.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the baseline data is current-voltage data and the control unit saves the data from the at least one gas sensor from a beginning of life of the fuel cell stack, the condition provided by the control unit being an amount of life of the fuel cell stack.

### Claim 10

A method of diagnosing in situ a health of a fuel cell stack of a vehicle comprising:
detecting at least one gas in an exhaust gas from the fuel cell stack with a gas sensor;
collecting data with a computer of the at least one gas detected;
determining with the computer a condition of catalyst of the fuel cell stack with the data and preprogrammed baseline data particular to the catalyst of the fuel cell stack; and
providing an indication of the condition to a user.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein providing the indication of the condition comprises:
displaying one or both of the data and the condition to a vehicle user in a vehicle with a display unit.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein providing the indication of the condition comprises:
transmitting one or both of the data and the condition to one or more remote receivers.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one gas is carbon dioxide.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 further comprising:
signaling the condition has occurred with an alarm.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the baseline data is a threshold level of gas detected and wherein determining a condition comprises comparing the data to the threshold level, the condition existing when the data exceeds the threshold level.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15 further comprising:
providing an alarm when the condition occurs.

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the baseline data is current-voltage and both detecting the at least one gas and collecting data is initiated at a beginning of life of the fuel cell stack, and wherein determining the condition comprises determining an amount of life of the fuel cell stack.

### Claim 18

A vehicle having a fuel cell stack comprising:
at least one gas sensor positioned within the vehicle to detect a gas in exhaust gas from the fuel cell stack; and
a control unit on board the vehicle configured to receive data from the at least one gas sensor, the control unit having baseline data particular to a catalyst of the fuel cell stack and programmed to determine a condition of the catalyst from the baseline data and the data from the at least one gas sensor, the condition indicating a health of the fuel cell stack.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The vehicle of claim 18, further comprising:
a display unit located in the vehicle, wherein the control unit provides an indication of the condition to the display unit.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The vehicle of claim 18 further comprising:
at least one receiver positioned remote from the vehicle; and
a transmitter on board the vehicle configured to transmit one or both of the data and the condition to the at least one receiver, the at least one receiver configured to display an indication of the condition.