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US 9,960,438 B2Granted
Fuel cell system and method to prevent water-induced damage
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorDaniel William Forthoffer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In one or more embodiments, a fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack including an anode and a cathode, a first conduit positioned to supply oxygen to the cathode, a second conduit positioned to supply hydrogen to the anode, and a third conduit positioned separate from the first and second conduits and to supply oxygen to the second conduit. The third conduit may be positioned to supply oxygen from the first conduit to the second conduit.
Claims20
A fuel cell system comprising:
- a controller programmed to direct an oxygen-containing airflow to a cathode through a first conduit and a hydrogen flow to an anode through a second conduit and, responsive to a shutdown request, concurrently:
- provide a reduced hydrogen flow to the anode;
- maintain a first portion of the oxygen-containing airflow to the cathode;
- and
- redirect a second portion of the oxygen-containing airflow through a third conduit to the second conduit.
2 more elements
A fuel cell system comprising:
- a controller programmed to, responsive to a fuel cell stack shutdown request, redirect a first portion of an oxygen-containing airflow from a first conduit supplying the oxygen-containing airflow to a cathode during the fuel cell stack operating conditions to a second conduit arranged to supply hydrogen flow to an anode through a third conduit, positioned separate from and connecting the first and second conduits, and concurrently maintain a second portion of the oxygen-containing airflow to the cathode, and concurrently provide a reduced hydrogen flow to the anode;
- a first proportional valve, connected to a second conduit, configured to control the hydrogen flow into the anode through the second conduit;
- a second proportional valve, connected to the third conduit, configured to control the oxygen-containing airflow into the second conduit through the third conduit;
- and
- a pressure monitor configured to measure pressure differential between the anode and cathode and to communicate with the first and second proportional valves;
- wherein the controller is further programmed to adjust the first and second proportional valves based on inputs from the pressure monitor.
3 more elements
A method of managing water-induced damage to a fuel cell system, the method comprising:
- providing a fuel cell system including an anode and a cathode, a first conduit positioned to supply oxygen to the cathode, a second conduit positioned to supply hydrogen to the anode, and a third conduit positioned in fluid communication with the first and second conduits;
- measuring at least one fuel cell operating parameter;
- determining the value of at least one predetermined fuel cell operating variable from the measured operating parameters;
- controlling hydrogen flow into the anode through the second conduit as a function of the determined value of at least one fuel cell operating variable;
- controlling oxygen flow into the second conduit via the third conduit as a function of the determined value of at least one fuel cell operating variable to control water creation at predetermined stages of a fuel cell cycle to minimize water accumulation and any associated water-induced damage;
- and
- responsive to a shutdown request, concurrently:
- provide a reduced hydrogen flow to the anode;
- maintain a first portion of the oxygen flow to the cathode;
- and
- redirect a second portion of the oxygen flow through the third conduit to the second conduit.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.