Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20100136446 | STOP METHOD FOR FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A stop method for a fuel cell system that includes a fuel cell unit in which hydrogen is supplied to an anode, and air is supplied to a cathode so as to generate electrical power via an electrochemical reaction. The stop method includes the steps of stopping supply of hydrogen to the anode, and supplying air to the anode so as to discharge water remaining at the anode. | 06-03-2010 |
20100143813 | FREEZE START OPERATION IN A FUEL CELL WITH A BLOCKED ANODE CELL - Methods for starting a fuel cell system are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes providing hydrogen to an inlet of an anode of the fuel cell pressurizing the anode to a pressure; determining whether a blocked cell condition exists; if a blocked cell condition exists, if no blocked cell condition exists, initiating a normal start sequence, alternately reducing the pressure of the anode and increasing the pressure of the anode until an exit condition exists, the exit condition selected from a voltage of the fuel cell being stable, or a temperature of the fuel cell being greater than about 0° C., or both, and when the exit condition exists, initiating the normal start sequence. | 06-10-2010 |
20100167141 | Apparatus and method for acceleratively activating fuel cell - Apparatuses and methods for accelerated activation of fuel cells are disclosed. The apparatuses include a fuel cell stack; an air supplying means coupled to a cathode catalyst side of the fuel cell stack through a mass flow controller and a humidifier; a hydrogen supplying means coupled to an anode catalyst side of the fuel cell stack through a mass flow controller and a humidifier; and a cable coupled to both ends of the fuel cell stack for short-circuiting the cathode and the anode. | 07-01-2010 |
20100167142 | MOBILE BODY - The present invention has a theme of a mobile body capable of securing reliability of the mobile body at a time of start. The mobile body includes a driving force generation device which generates a driving force of the mobile body; a power accumulation device and a fuel cell capable of supplying a power to the driving force generation device; and a control device which controls driving of the driving force generation device. The control device prohibits to start driving the driving force generation device by the power supply of the power accumulation device, in a case where there is a possibility of failure in startup of the fuel cell when starting the mobile body. | 07-01-2010 |
20100167143 | Fuel Cell System, and Control Method for Fuel Cell - At the time of start-up of a fuel cell, the anode and the cathode are supplied with a fuel gas containing hydrogen and an oxidant gas (e.g., air) containing oxygen and an impurity gas, respectively, and the output of the fuel cell is restricted (e.g., prohibited). After a difference between the partial pressure of the impurity gas in the anode and the partial pressure of the impurity gas in the cathode becomes less than a predetermined value, the restriction of the output of the fuel cell is lifted, and the output of the fuel cell is controlled according to the requested output. | 07-01-2010 |
20100167144 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND OPERATION METHOD THEREOF - A fuel cell system and a method for controlling the same. The system and method employ a fuel cell stack that generates electrical power by electrochemical reaction of a fuel gas and an oxidant gas, a total generated electrical energy computation device that computes a value pertaining to the total generated electrical energy as the sum of the electrical energy generated by said fuel cell stack from start-up of the fuel cell system, and a residual water volume estimation device that estimates the residual water volume left in the fuel cell stack based on said value pertaining to said total generated electrical energy computed by said total generated electrical energy computation device. | 07-01-2010 |
20100167145 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND FUEL CELL SYSTEM CONTROL METHOD - The hydrogen concentration in an anode gas passage of a fuel cell is obtained. When the fuel cell system is started up, one of a first start-up control and a second start-up control is selected based on the obtained hydrogen concentration in the anode gas passage. In the first start-up control, the power generation of the fuel cell is started after purging the anode gas passage. In the second start-up control, the power generation of the fuel cell is started without purging the anode gas passage. | 07-01-2010 |
20100183933 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME - A fuel cell system in which a low open circuit voltage (OCV) is maintained in a start-up mode and in a shut-down mode, and a method of operating the same, the method including: supplying an anode off-gas and air to the cathode in an open circuit voltage state in a start-up mode and cutting off supply of the fuel gas to the cathode in a normal operating mode; and supplying the fuel gas and air to the cathode in a shut-down mode, and if a load is cut off, purging the cathode and the anode in the OCV state. | 07-22-2010 |
20100190071 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND OPERATING METHOD THEREFOR - A fuel cell system and method that enables warm-up power generation corresponding to the residual water volume in the fuel cell stack without using auxiliary devices for measuring the residual water volume in the fuel cell stack. A controller computes total generated electrical energy Q by integrating of the generated current detected by current sensor during the period from start-up to shutting down of the fuel cell system, and stores the result in total generated electrical energy storage part. Also, controller measures fuel cell temperature Ts at the last shutting down cycle with temperature sensor, and stores it in power generation shutting down temperature storage part. When the fuel cell system is started, controller estimates residual water volume WR that remains in fuel cell stack | 07-29-2010 |
20100190072 | OPERATION METHOD FOR FUEL CELL - The operation method for a fuel cell which is advantageous in lifespan of the fuel cell is provided in which a sudden rise of an electrode potential at a cathode of the fuel cell can be suppressed and deterioration of the cathode is restrained. A concentration level reduction controlling is conducted in which at the start-up operation, the concentration level of oxygen introduced into the cathode of the fuel cell is lowered than the concentration level of oxygen introduced into the cathode under the normal operation so that the rise of electrode potential at the cathode can be suppressed. | 07-29-2010 |
20100196772 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - The present invention discloses a fuel cell system that blocks the oxidant gas flow passage. This fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, the oxidant gas supply passage, the oxidant gas exhaust passage, the first valve and second valve of normally open type, the first motor that operates open and close operations of the first valve, the second motor that operates open and close operations of the second valve, and the ECU that controls the first motor and the second motor. This ECU controls the first valve and the second valve to be in the open state during the power generation in the fuel cell stack, thereby to open the cathode flow passage, and controls the first valve and the second valve to be in the close state after the power generation in the fuel cell stack is stopped, thereby to block the cathode flow passage. The fuel cell system of the present invention further includes the first solenoid device and the second solenoid device that lock the respective valve bodies of the first valve and the second valve so as to maintain the close state of the first valve and the second valve. | 08-05-2010 |
20100203407 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM WITH REGENERATION OF ELECTRODE ACTIVITY DURING START OR STOP - A performance recovery operation for a fuel cell system effectively restores a fuel electrode such that, upon starting or stopping of operation of the fuel cell, both fuel and oxidizing electrodes are disposed in a hydrogen atmosphere and then the fuel electrode is maintained at a higher potential level than in a normal operation. | 08-12-2010 |
20100209791 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - Provided is a fuel cell system which can perform sufficient scavenging during a current system operation even if required sufficient scavenging during the previous system stop is not performed. When a control device detects that a system start command is input and a low temperature mode flag is turned “ON”, the control device compares a measured impedance during the previous system stop stored in a measured impedance memory to a low temperature start target impedance It stored in a reference impedance memory, to judge whether or not a scavenging process performed during the previous system stop has been insufficient. When the control device judges that the scavenging process is insufficient, an immediate warm-up operation is executed during the current system operation to immediately raise the temperature. | 08-19-2010 |
20100209792 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - Provided is a fuel cell system that can change the number of active phases in a DC/DC converter in order to prevent overcurrent from flowing through one point (e.g., a reactor of the DC/DC converter) in the system. In step S | 08-19-2010 |
20100209793 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - A fuel cell system includes a replacing unit for replacing a gas remaining in the anode of the fuel cell with the anode gas supplied anew by the anode gas supply unit when starting up the fuel cell. The amount of the anode gas is set to be lower, if the operation condition determining unit determines that the last operation was performed in a low-temperature and short-time operation mode. The operation condition determining unit sets the amount of the anode gas so that the gas remaining in the anode can be replaced with the anode gas with an entire anode capacity if the anode was been scavenged while no electro-chemical reaction was progressing in the fuel cell. The present invention can set the amount of anode gas appropriately when starting up the fuel cell. | 08-19-2010 |
20100209794 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes a power supply controller. In response to input of a first command prior to a start of fuel cells in a state of power supply from a power source to fuel cell-related auxiliary machinery, the power supply controller reduces an amount of electric power supplied to the fuel cell-related auxiliary machinery until input of a start instruction to start the fuel cells. In response to input of a second command, the power supply controller instructs to continue the power supply from the power source to the fuel cell-related auxiliary machinery without reducing the electric power level of the power supply, irrespective of the input or non-input of the first command. The fuel cell system of this arrangement effectively reduces the amount of electric power consumed by an electricity storage device before a start of the fuel cells. | 08-19-2010 |
20100221624 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes a controller that estimates or detects an air replacement state of a fuel electrode and a hydrogen circulation path while the operation of the fuel cell system is stopped. Upon starting the fuel cell system, the controller changes the order in which the operation of a hydrogen circulation pump is started and a hydrogen pressure regulator is opened to start the supply of hydrogen gas on the basis of the estimated or detected air replacement state, thereby preventing deterioration caused by uneven distribution of air and hydrogen in the fuel electrode. | 09-02-2010 |
20100227238 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND WATER DISCHARGE CONTROL METHOD FOR THE SYSTEM - There is disclosed a fuel cell system including a fuel cell, a water discharge channel through which a water content discharged from this fuel cell flows, and a water discharge valve which discharges, from the system, the water content in this water discharge channel, and the fuel cell system further includes a water discharge control section for controlling the water discharge valve so as to inhibit the water discharge from the water discharge valve from a time when the starting of the system is requested to a time when the temperature of the system reaches a predetermined temperature, in a case where the starting of the system is requested in an environment where an outside air temperature is less than a predetermined threshold value. | 09-09-2010 |
20100233557 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND FUEL CELL ACTIVATION METHOD - Whether a gas leakage occurs or not is accurately determined in a simple configuration. When receiving a request for activation of a fuel cell, a control unit opens a main shutoff valve to start hydrogen gas supply from a hydrogen tank to the fuel cell. The control unit thereafter performs gas leakage determination processing for a hydrogen piping system. If it is determined in the gas leakage determination processing that a gas leakage occurs, a gas leakage alert is output to stop the activation of the fuel cell. If it is determined in the gas leakage determination processing that a gas leakage does not occur, a compressor is activated to start oxidant gas supply to the fuel cell, and the fuel cell continues being operated. | 09-16-2010 |
20100239926 | PREHEATING ARRANGEMENT IN A FUEL CELL APPARATUS - The present invention relates to a preheating arrangement in a fuel cell apparatus, the fuel cell apparatus comprising at least a fuel cell unit having an anode side and a cathode side with an electrolyte therebetween, the fuel cell apparatus having at least a fuel inlet to the anode side and an oxygen-containing air inlet to the cathode side as well as a sulphur removal unit and a fuel modifying unit and an afterburner for combustion the exhaust gases from the anode and/or cathode side. According to the invention, the afterburner is provided with a separate fuel inlet channel for introducing fuel to the afterburner during the start-up phase of the fuel cell apparatus and that at least a part of the exhaust gases formed in the combustion of the separately fed fuel is arranged to be directed from the afterburner for heating at least the sulphur removal unit and/or the fuel modifying unit during the start-up phase. The outlet channels are provided with heat exchangers and adjustment means for adjusting the exhaust gas flow rate. | 09-23-2010 |
20100239927 | AVOIDING COOLANT SLUMP INTO REACTANT FIELDS DURING PEM FUEL CELL SHUTDOWN - A fuel cell power plant ( | 09-23-2010 |
20100255394 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND A METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - This invention provides a fuel cell system preventing from a first valve such as a purge valve exhausting gas outside. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, an anode off-gas channel, a purge valve and a scavenging gas exhaust valve connected to the anode off-gas channel and exhausting gas inside the anode off-gas channel outside, a drain valve connected to the anode off-gas channel arranged in an upstream side of a connecting point of the purge valve and the scavenging gas exhaust valve and exhausting the moisture exhausted from the anode channel | 10-07-2010 |
20100261078 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes: an oxidizing gas supply shut valve; an oxidizing gas exhaust shut valve; a cathode pressure measuring unit as a pressure detection unit for detecting a cathode pressure value which is a pressure of a channel between the oxidizing gas supply shut valve and the oxidizing gas exhaust shut valve; a stop processing unit which closes the oxidizing gas supply shut valve and the oxidizing gas exhaust shut valve when operation of the fuel cell stack is stopped; and a judgment unit which judges whether the operations of the oxidizing gas supply shut valve and the oxidizing gas exhaust shut valve have failed according to the cathode pressure value upon stop when the operation of the fuel cell stack is stopped and the cathode pressure value upon start when the operation of the fuel cell stack is started after the stop. | 10-14-2010 |
20100261079 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A method of starting operation of a fuel cell system which includes at least a fuel cell stack. the method includes opening an anode inlet valve to allow fuel to enter an anode volume of the fuel cell stack; then operating an air compressor in fluid communication with a cathode air inlet of the fuel cell stack to allow air to enter a cathode volume of the fuel cell stack; monitoring the temperature of the cathode inlet and/or outlet and operating a water injection system to inject water into the cathode volume once the temperature of fluid passing through the cathode inlet and/or outlet exceeds a preset level, wherein a current drawn from the fuel cell stack is limited to prevent a voltage measured across one or more cells in the fuel cell stack from falling below a first voltage threshold. | 10-14-2010 |
20100261080 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING STARTUP OF FUEL CELL SYSTEM - At startup of the fuel cell system, following successful completion of feeding of reactant gases (a fuel gas and an oxidant gas) to the fuel cell, the open circuit voltage OCV of the fuel cell is measured, and based on whether the open circuit voltage of the fuel cell is equal to or greater than a prescribed voltage OCVth, it is decided whether the fuel cell is experiencing a generation malfunction. The decision as to whether feeding of the reactant gases to the fuel cell has successfully completed will be made, for example, on the basis of whether feed pressure of the reactant gases to the fuel cell is at or above prescribed pressure. Thus, generation malfunction in the fuel cell can be correctly diagnosed at startup of the fuel cell system. | 10-14-2010 |
20100266912 | Implementation of an Engine Controller Unit's Non-Volatile Memory for Measuring the Time of a Fuel Cell System in a Shut-Off or Standby State - A method for providing an accurate time that a fuel cell system has been shut-down so that the gas constituents in the anode and cathode side of the fuel cell stack can be known for an efficient next system start-up sequence. The method uses two timers, a stand-by timer that provides a time count for how long the fuel cell system has been off, but the vehicle ignition is still on, and a shut-off timer that provides a time count of how long the vehicle ignition has been off. The two time counts are added to give a complete time count of how long the fuel cell stack has been shut-down. | 10-21-2010 |
20100266913 | Fuel Cell System with Improved Cold Start Properties and Method of Operating Same - A fuel cell system includes at least one fuel cell stack designed to react reactants for current generation, a cold start detection apparatus for detecting a cold start state of a fuel cell stack and a load which may be connected to the fuel cell stack 2. A control device is designed to connect the load when the fuel cell stack 2 is in the cold start state. The supply of the reactants for the fuel cell stack is conformed to connection of the load, and the control device is designed with software and/or circuitry so as to vary the connected load in one or more step load changes in response to detection of the cold start state of the fuel cell stack. | 10-21-2010 |
20100266914 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system is turned off without using up the electric power of a secondary battery in the case where a fuel cell fails to start up, while reducing the startup time of the fuel cell system. When an ignition key is turned on, a controller calculates allowable waiting time for a fuel cell to start up on the basis of the electric power stored in a secondary battery. If the fuel cell fails to start up during the period of time from the instant the ignition key was turned on until the allowable waiting time elapses, then the controller turns on an alarm lamp which indicates the startup failure of the fuel cell. Meanwhile, in the case where the fuel cell starts up, the controller begins a normal operation in which a traction motor and the like are actuated by using the electric power generated by the fuel cell and the electric power stored in the secondary battery. | 10-21-2010 |
20100266915 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, anode gas pressure adjusting means that adjusts the pressure of an anode gas supplied to the fuel cell, and cathode gas pressure adjusting means that adjusts the pressure of a cathode gas supplied to the fuel cell. The system further includes pressure control means that sets the pressure of the anode gas that is supplied when starting the fuel cell higher than the pressure of the anode gas that is supplied during power generation in the fuel cell, and controls the anode gas pressure adjusting means and the cathode gas pressure adjusting means so that a cathode gas pressure increase is started in accordance with the start of an anode gas pressure increase when the pressure of the anode gas is increased to the set pressure. | 10-21-2010 |
20100266916 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - Provided is a fuel cell system capable of making a shift of an operation state while optically controlling an output voltage and an output voltage of a fuel cell. When an ECU judges that the time when an operation should be shifted from a low-efficiency operation to a normal operation has come, the ECU performs, as preprocessing prior to a shift to a ΔV control, processing of increasing an oxidant gas supplied to a fuel cell stack by a predetermined amount. After this processing, the ECU detects output power, calculates an output power deviation, and then compares the output power deviation with a set deviation threshold. When the output power deviation exceeds the deviation threshold, the ECU carries out the ΔV control, and then carries out an I-V control. Meanwhile, when the output power deviation does not exceed the deviation threshold, the ECU judges that the time when the ΔV control is carried out has not come yet, and automatically starts the I-V control without carrying out the ΔV control. | 10-21-2010 |
20100266917 | FUEL CELL SYSTEMS WITH MAINTENANCE HYDRATION BY DISPLACEMENT OF PRIMARY POWER - 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. | 10-21-2010 |
20100273070 | APPARATUS FOR HYDROGEN-AIR MIXING IN A FUEL CELL ASSEMBLY AND METHOD - A fuel cell assembly and method is disclosed for the mixing and heating of hydrogen and air in the fuel cell assembly and introducing the heated hydrogen and air to the fuel cell assembly during a starting operation to heat the fuel cell assembly to militate against vapor condensation and ice formation in the fuel cell assembly. | 10-28-2010 |
20100279186 | FUEL BATTERY SYSTEM - A fuel battery system comprises a fuel battery stack, a hydrogen supply system for supplying hydrogen from a hydrogen tank, an oxidant gas supply system for supplying air serving as an oxidant by an air compressor, an electrical system including an impedance measuring unit for measuring the impedance of a fuel battery, a DC/DC converter for converting generated electric power, a secondary battery for storing electric power, and so on, and a drive system for driving a vehicle. When the power generation is stopped by turning off an ignition switch in the state in which the power generation is suspended in an intermittent operation, the impedance measuring unit measures the impedance after the supply of air is stabilized to avoid the transient state of the fuel battery cell caused by a delay in air supply. | 11-04-2010 |
20100279187 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND FUEL CELL VEHICLE - There is disclosed a fuel cell system having a motor which can be driven and generate a regenerative power by receiving the supply of a power, wherein an influence on power supply control is decreased. The fuel cell system fuel cell system comprises a fuel cell which generates a power by an electrochemical reaction of a fuel gas and an oxidant gas; a motor which can be driven and generate the regenerative power by receiving the supply of a power; an inverter which converts a direct-current power output from the fuel cell into an alternate-current power to supply the power to the motor, thereby controlling the driving of the motor; a battery which is connected to the motor in parallel with the fuel cell, and which can be charged with the power generated by the fuel cell and the regenerative power generated by the motor and which can discharge the charged powers to the motor; a rotation number detector which detects the rotation number of the motor; and a control unit which determines whether or not to allow the stop of the control by the inverter with respect to the motor based on the present rotation number of the motor. The control unit compares the present rotation number of the motor with a threshold value which varies in accordance with operation modes of the fuel cell, to perform the determination. | 11-04-2010 |
20100279188 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system of the present invention includes: a fuel cell ( | 11-04-2010 |
20100291446 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - An object of the present invention is to reduce the period of time required to stop a fuel cell system and to suppress freezing of a fuel cell. The fuel cell system includes a controller that controls operations of a fuel cell, and the controller operates the fuel cell in a dry condition according to a state quantity (e.g., impedance) of the fuel cell in operation. The controller can operate the fuel cell in a dry condition before a system stop command is issued. In addition, the controller can switch an operation of the fuel cell from a dry condition to a wet condition when a required output of the fuel cell or a vehicle speed of a vehicle equals or exceeds a predetermined value. | 11-18-2010 |
20100291447 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - Provided is a fuel cell system capable of supplying electric power to external loads without excess or deficiency even when switching between operation states is carried out. A warm-up timing judgment part judges whether or not it is time to carry out warm-up based on the temperature of a fuel cell stack. A target shift voltage determination part determines a target output voltage of the fuel cell stack used during a warm-up operation, and a voltage change speed determination part determines a voltage change speed based on electric power required from the fuel cell stack, the target output voltage of the fuel cell stack used during the warm-up operation which is output from the target shift voltage determination part and a current output voltage detected by a voltage sensor. A voltage decrease execution part carries out voltage decrease processing in accordance with the voltage change speed indicated by the voltage change speed determination part. | 11-18-2010 |
20100291448 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - There is provided a fuel cell system capable of minimizing the formation of a local cell even if the start and the stop are repeated, thereby substantially reducing a degradation in performance of the fuel cell. | 11-18-2010 |
20100291449 | Storage of fuel cell energy during startup and shutdown or other power transitions - During fuel cell startup and shutdown or other power reduction transitions of a fuel cell power plant, the excess electric energy generated by consumption of reactants is extracted by a storage control ( | 11-18-2010 |
20100291450 | CONTROL APPARATUS FOR STARTING FUEL CELL VEHICLE - A control device for starting a fuel cell is provided which is capable of preventing an excessive reduction of the terminal voltage of the fuel cell. A primary precharge portion, provided with a high voltage switch and a current limiter, is disposed at the output portion of a power storage unit, and a secondary precharge portion, provided with a DC-DC chopper and a control portion, is disposed at the output side of a fuel cell. The primary precharge portion controls the output current to flow in a path via a resistor having a predetermined resistance. The secondary precharge portion controls an output current of the fuel cell based on a current command value IFCCMD for the fuel cell. | 11-18-2010 |
20100291451 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system of the present invention comprises a fuel cell ( | 11-18-2010 |
20100304249 | SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL DEVICE - To provide a solid oxide fuel cell device capable of smooth transition from a startup state to an electrical generating state. The present invention is a solid oxide fuel cell device ( | 12-02-2010 |
20100310953 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND FUEL CELL SYSTEM START METHOD - A fuel cell system includes an IG switch disposed between a 14V battery and a controller. The fuel cell system also includes a start switch disposed independently of the IG switch. Upon detection of the ON state of the start switch, the controller outputs an FC start instruction to an FC auxiliary device. Moreover, an FC inverter switch is disposed between the 14V battery and the FC auxiliary device. Through the function of the controller, power supply from the 14V battery to the FC auxiliary device is suspended for a period from when a wait time, which is predeterminedly set from the moment when the IG switch is turned ON, has elapsed to the moment when the start switch is turned ON, during a wait period between the moment when the IG switch is turned ON and the moment when the start switch is turned ON. | 12-09-2010 |
20100310954 | Method for frost protection in a direct methanol fuel cell - Systems and methods for protecting fuel cell systems from frost by introduction of a freezing point depressant into the fuel cell system and/or flushing the fuel cell system with an insert gas are provided. | 12-09-2010 |
20100310955 | COMBUSTION OF HYDROGEN IN FUEL CELL CATHODE UPON STARTUP - A fuel cell power plant ( | 12-09-2010 |
20100323259 | INTEGRATED VALVE SYSTEM FOR FUEL CELL STACK - The present invention provides a novel integrated valve system for a fuel cell stack, in which an air shut-off valve for preventing the inflow of air when a fuel cell shuts down and a dry gas purge valve for improving cold startability are coaxially coupled to each other so that the air shut-off valve and the dry gas purge valve simultaneously open or close. | 12-23-2010 |
20100330447 | Fuel cell system and method - A fuel cell system capable of appropriately regenerating a catalyst on a cathode side or an anode side is provided. A fuel cell system ( | 12-30-2010 |
20110003220 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE DISCONNECTION OF A FUEL CELL - The invention relates to a method for the disconnection of a fuel cell ( | 01-06-2011 |
20110003221 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - Provided is a fuel cell system which can properly control a refresh operation. A controller controls the refresh operation so that an output voltage does not exceed an avoidance voltage even after the refresh operation. Specifically, the controller estimates the output voltage after the refresh operation from the output voltage before the refresh operation and controls execution of the refresh operation so that the estimated output voltage after the refresh operation does not exceed the avoidance voltage. For example, if before the refresh operation, when judging that the estimated output voltage after the refresh operation does not exceed the avoidance voltage, the controller executes the refresh operation. | 01-06-2011 |
20110003222 | HYDROGEN PASSIVATION SHUT DOWN SYSTEM FOR A FUEL CELL POWER PLANT - The invention is a hydrogen passivation shut down system for a fuel cell power plant ( | 01-06-2011 |
20110008695 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING A FUEL CELL SYSTEM - If subsequent to discontinuing generation by the fuel cell stack it is predicted that evolved water formed by electrochemical reaction of a fuel gas and an oxidant gas during generation may freeze in the membrane-electrode assembly provided to the fuel cell stack, low-level generation (temperature gradient formation control) is carried out until the temperature of the membrane-electrode assembly is relatively higher than the temperature of the separators. This temperature gradient formation control is carried out only for the time period necessary to produce a temperature gradient between the membrane-electrode assembly and the separators, and is quickly discontinued once a temperature gradient is created between the membrane-electrode assembly and the separators. Thus, in a fuel cell system equipped with a fuel cell, reduced energy efficiency of the fuel cell system may be avoided, and low temperature startup may be improved. | 01-13-2011 |
20110014534 | METHOD FOR COLD STARTING FUEL CELL VEHICLE - The present invention provides a method for cold starting a fuel cell vehicle, the method preferably including supplying reactant gases for generating electricity to a fuel cell stack, and simultaneously performing a motoring process for operating the fuel cell vehicle by applying a portion of stack current generated in the fuel cell stack to a drive motor and a heating process for warming up the fuel cell stack by applying the remaining available stack current to a heater for heating coolant. Accordingly, the present invention preferably provides a more rapid and efficient cold start to the fuel cell vehicle. | 01-20-2011 |
20110020719 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - A fuel cell system is equipped with a drive motor, a fuel cell, normal electric power generation means for performing normal electric power generation under a condition that the fuel cell is not warmed up, warm-up electric power generation means for performing warm-up electric power generation with lower electric power generation efficiency than normal electric power generation, and warm-up control means for controlling performance of warm-up electric power generation by the warm-up electric power generation means on a basis of a predetermined index on a necessity to warm up the fuel cell. The warm-up control means controls an operation state of the fuel cell during warm-up electric power generation on a basis of a correlation between the system loss required for warm-up of the fuel cell and a warm-up output required for driving of a load including the drive motor during warm-up of the fuel cell. | 01-27-2011 |
20110033763 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A method of shutting down operation of a fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell stack, the method comprising the sequential steps of: i) ceasing a supply of fuel to the fuel cell stack; ii) closing a shut-off valve on an exhaust line in fluid communication with a cathode system of the fuel cell system, the cathode system comprising a cathode fluid flow path passing through the fuel cell stack; iii) pressurising the cathode system with an air compressor in fluid communication with a cathode air inlet port in the fuel cell stack; and iv) ejecting water from the cathode flow path. | 02-10-2011 |
20110053023 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A FUEL CELL AND A FUEL CELL ARRANGEMENT - A method for operating, especially for starting, a fuel cell such as a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is disclosed which method includes a starting operation with a first or initial start phase and an optional second or intermediate start phase which is initiated when the fuel cell has reached a predetermined medium temperature below a steady state operational temperature range, before a steady state operation is activated. During the first or initial start phase fuel is subjected to an exothermic reaction with oxygen in a burner unit and output gases from the burner unit are used to warm up and passively heat the fuel cell. Furthermore, a fuel cell arrangement comprising a fuel cell, especially a SOFC hybrid system, for conducting this method is disclosed. | 03-03-2011 |
20110065012 | METHOD FOR SHUTTING DOWN FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A method for shutting down a fuel cell system includes: determining whether an outside air temperature is below a first predetermined reference temperature when a shutdown of a fuel cell system is detected; warming up the fuel cell stack by operating balance of plant components of the fuel cell system and a stack load using the power of the fuel cell stack, while the supply of hydrogen to the fuel cell stack is normally maintained, when the outside air temperature is below the first reference temperature; removing water in the fuel cell stack by passing air supplied by an air supply system through the stack load to supply heated air to a cathode of the fuel cell stack; and shutting down the fuel cell system by cutting off the supply of air after the removal of water. The method can eliminate or reduce cold start failure. | 03-17-2011 |
20110065013 | FUEL CELL STRACK START METHOD - A fuel cell stack start method is to provide in which without relying on oxidation and reduction condition of an anode, an output reduction of the fuel cell stack can be avoided. | 03-17-2011 |
20110070511 | COOLING SUBSYSTEM FOR AN ELECTROCHEMICAL FUEL CELL SYSTEM - Improvements in startup time for an electrochemical fuel cell system from freezing and sub-freezing temperatures may be observed by minimizing the coolant volume in the coolant subsystem. In particular, this may be accomplished by having a two pump—dual loop cooling subsystem. During startup, one pump directs coolant through a startup coolant loop and after either the fuel cell stack or the coolant temperature reaches a predetermined threshold value, coolant from a main or standard coolant loop is then directed to the fuel cell stack. In an embodiment, coolant from the standard loop mixes with coolant in the startup loop after the predetermined threshold temperature is reached. | 03-24-2011 |
20110076580 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM, AND METHOD OF STOPPING FUEL CELL SYSTEM - For implementing a stop control which extracts a current from a fuel cell and consumes a cathode side oxygen at a system stop, the current extraction from the fuel cell is ended in a state that a certain quantity of oxygen smaller than when the current extraction is started remains on a cathode side of the fuel cell. With this, the hydrogen movement to the cathode side after the system stop can be effectively suppressed and thereby a cathode internal hydrogen concentration at the system start can be kept low, thus making it possible to properly process the cathode side hydrogen at the system start. | 03-31-2011 |
20110081588 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PEM FUEL CELL FREEZING PROTECTION - A low temperature PEM fuel cell system is prevented against freezing after a shutdown in sub-freezing conditions. The fuel cell can be heated by filling an anode chamber with a fuel (the hydrogen or a hydrogen-rich reactant gas) and generating the hydrogen on a cathode. A defined amount of air is supplied to the cathode chamber. The fuel cell is locally heated to a defined temperature by the exothermic chemical reaction between the hydrogen and the oxygen on a cathode catalyst. Once the fuel cell is warmed to the defined temperature, the hydrogen generation on the cathode and the air supply can be discontinued. Water formed at the cathode can be evaporated by means of pre-heating of an air flow. This procedure provides plain saturation of the cathode with the hydrogen and, as result, mild, safe heating the fuel cell without use of an additional external power supply. | 04-07-2011 |
20110086282 | REMEDIAL START METHOD IN A FUEL CELL - A remedial method for starting a fuel cell system is described. The method includes determining if the remedial method is required; providing air to an exhaust of a fuel cell stack; setting a hydrogen flow rate to an anode side of the fuel cell stack; providing a predetermined volume of hydrogen to the anode side of the fuel cell at the hydrogen flow rate; providing a predetermined volume of air to a cathode side of the fuel cell stack after the predetermined volume of hydrogen has been provided to the anode side while continuing to provide air to the exhaust of the fuel cell stack and hydrogen to the anode side of the fuel cell stack; determining if a stack voltage is stable after the predetermined volume of air has been provided to the cathode side; and closing the anode outlet valve after the stack voltage is stable. | 04-14-2011 |
20110086283 | CONTROL DETECTION METHOD TO ENABLE GAS COMPOSITION OBSERVING DURING FUEL CELL SYSTEM STARTUP - A detection method for enabling gas composition observation during fuel cell system start-up is described. In one embodiment, the method includes initiating a flow of hydrogen to the anode to pressurize the anode; opening an anode flow valve; determining if an anode pressure exceeds an anode pressure threshold; enabling anode flow set point detection after a first predetermined time if the anode pressure exceeds the anode pressure threshold; monitoring an anode flow set point using the anode flow set point detection; determining if the anode flow set point exceeds an anode flow set point threshold; and closing the anode flow valve after a second predetermined time if the anode flow set point exceeds the anode flow set point threshold. | 04-14-2011 |
20110086284 | METHOD TO REDUCE TIME UNTIL ACCEPTABLE DRIVE AWAY IN A FUEL CELL SYSTEM - Methods and systems of reducing the start-up time for a fuel cell are described. One method of reducing the start-up time includes: concurrently supporting load requests for the fuel cell and stabilizing the voltage of the fuel cell; wherein stabilizing the voltage of the fuel cell comprises: providing a flow of hydrogen to the fuel cell and opening an anode valve, wherein the hydrogen flow continues for predetermined volume or a predetermined time; and ending voltage stabilization after the predetermined volume or predetermined time is exceeded while continuing to support load requests for the fuel cell. | 04-14-2011 |
20110086285 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell having an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte membrane disposed therebetween. An oxidant gas supplying device supplies oxidant gas to the cathode, an oxidant gas backpressure regulating device regulates the pressure of the oxidant gas at the cathode according to a valve opening, and a pressure detecting device detects the oxidant gas pressure at the cathode. During a start-up fuel gas disposal process, a controller controls the oxidant gas supplying device to supply the oxidant gas at a standard oxidant gas flow, controls the valve opening of the oxidant gas backpressure regulating device to a first valve opening, and controls the valve opening of the oxidant gas backpressure regulating device to a second valve opening which is greater than the first valve opening when the oxidant gas pressure detected by the pressure detecting device reaches an elevation target pressure. | 04-14-2011 |
20110091783 | ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT PROVIDED WITH BATTERY CHECK DEVICE - Immediately after a main switch is turned ON, a battery check is performed based on a second inhibit voltage LVL | 04-21-2011 |
20110097636 | Disconnecting Procedure For Fuel Cell Systems - A method for shutting down a fuel cell system having at least one fuel cell, especially a fuel cell provided with a proton exchanging membrane, anode and cathode inlets, anode and cathode outlets, an anode recirculation circuit, a device which is operated according to the Venturi principle and is used to convey the gas in the anode recirculation circuit, and a hydrogen and air supply is disclosed. A method characterized by low emission values and high efficiency is provided. The hydrogen supply to the anode is interrupted during shutdown of the fuel cell system and the current generated from the residual hydrogen is supplied to an electric consumer. | 04-28-2011 |
20110097637 | PURGE SYSTEM FOR FUEL CELL WITH IMPROVED COLD START PERFORMANCE - The present invention provides a purge system for a fuel cell, which can reduce the time required to thaw a frozen valve during cold start-up and reduce the whole start-up time, thus improving the cold start performance. In preferred embodiments, the present invention provides a purge system for a fuel cell with improved cold start performance, the system preferably including a main pipe connected to a purge gas outlet of a fuel cell stack to discharge a purge gas purging the fuel cell stack and impurities; an auxiliary pipe branched from the main pipe; a purge valve installed in each of the main pipe and the auxiliary pipe to perform an purge operation; a cut-off valve installed at an upstream side of the purge valve in the auxiliary pipe; and a controller for controlling the operation of the purge valves and the cut-off valve. | 04-28-2011 |
20110123884 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A FUEL CELL SYSTEM DURING SHUTDOWN - A method for controlling a fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell stack is described in accordance with exemplary embodiments. The method includes operating the fuel cell system in a base operating mode. The method further includes drawing power from the fuel cell stack at a controlled rate when operating the fuel cell system in the base operating mode. The method further includes receiving a fuel cell stack shutdown command. The method further includes transitioning the fuel cell stack from the base operating mode to a base shutdown mode when the fuel cell stack shutdown command is received. The base shutdown mode includes discontinuing power draw from the fuel cell stack and providing fuel to the fuel cell stack at a controlled fuel flow rate. The fuel flow rate being controlled such that the fuel cell stack temperature decreases. | 05-26-2011 |
20110123885 | Fuel cell system and gas control method - A fuel cell system including a fuel cell that generates electricity through an electrochemical reaction between a fuel gas and an oxidizing gas is provided with a gas supply unit that supplies each of the fuel gas and the oxidizing gas to an anode and a cathode of the fuel cell, respectively by quantity corresponding to a load, a gas permeation quantity estimation unit that estimates a gas permeation quantity of at least one of the fuel gas and the oxidizing gas between the anode and the cathode after the power generation performed by the fuel cell is stopped, and a correction unit that corrects a supply quantity of at least one of the fuel gas and the oxidizing gas each corresponding to the load in accordance with the estimated gas permeation quantity, which is to be supplied by the gas supply unit upon a subsequent start of power generation. | 05-26-2011 |
20110123886 | METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT TO ENHANCE THE PREHEATING OF A FUEL CELL SYSTEM - The disclosure relates to a system and a method for enhancing the preheating of a fuel cell system having at least one fuel cell unit whose fuel cells are provided with an anode side, a cathode side and an electrolyte provided therebetween, as well as a connecting plate set between each of the fuel cells. In operation, safety gas flowing on the anode side is heated, at least for the most part (e.g., greater than 50%), in the fuel cell unit by thermal energy contained in a gas flowing on the cathode side. | 05-26-2011 |
20110129747 | FUEL CELL DEVICE HAVING A LIQUID SOAK UP REGION - The fuel cell device includes an electrode assembly. A gas diffusion layer is on each side of the electrode assembly. A solid, non-porous plate is adjacent each of the gas diffusion layers. A hydrophilic soak up region is near an inlet portion of at least one of the gas diffusion layers. The hydrophilic soak up region is configured to absorb liquid water from the electrode assembly when the fuel cell device is shutdown. | 06-02-2011 |
20110136028 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD OF THE SAME - Features is a fuel cell system including: a stack consisting of a plurality of unit cells generating electrical energy by means of electrochemical reaction of a fuel and an oxidizing agent; a fuel supply connected to the stack through a first connecting line to supply the fuel to the stack; an oxidizing agent supply connected to the stack through a second connecting line to supply the oxidizing agent to the stack; a burner mounted on the second connecting line and generating heat by means of oxidizing catalytic reaction of the fuel and oxidizing agent; a mixing valve mounted on a third connecting line which connects the first connecting line with the second connecting line and supplying the fuel and the oxidizing agent to the burner; and a heater mounted at the burner, generating heat by electricity, and supplying the heat to the burner. | 06-09-2011 |
20110143243 | FUEL CELL OPERATIONAL METHODS FOR HYDROGEN ADDITION AFTER SHUTDOWN - A method for reducing the probability of an air/hydrogen front in a fuel cell stack is disclosed that includes closing anode valves for an anode side of the fuel cell stack to permit a desired quantity of hydrogen to be left in the anode side upon shutdown and determining a schedule to inject hydrogen during the time the fuel cell stack is shutdown. The pressure on an anode input line is determined and a discrete amount of hydrogen is injected into the anode side of the stack according to the determined schedule by opening anode input line valves based on the determined pressure along the anode input line so as to inject the hydrogen into the anode side of the stack. | 06-16-2011 |
20110143244 | START-UP METHOD FOR FUEL CELL - A start-up method for a fuel cell system that includes a fuel cell that carries out power generation by the electrochemical reaction between a fuel gas and the oxygen gas in the air; a fuel gas discharge path and a fuel gas supply path that are connected to the fuel cell; a fuel gas circulation path in which the fuel gas discharge path merges with the fuel gas supply path; and a purge valve provided on the fuel gas circulation path in order to discharge the circulating fuel gas from the fuel gas circulation path. The method includes the steps of opening the purge valve at the same time that the fuel gas is supplied to the fuel cell and replacing the nitrogen gas that originates in the air and is present in the fuel gas circulation path by fuel gas; and closing the purge valve after the nitrogen gas in the fuel gas circulation path has been replaced by the fuel gas. | 06-16-2011 |
20110143245 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell ( | 06-16-2011 |
20110143246 | SATURATED VAPOR BLOCK FOR FROZEN FUEL CELL POWER PLANT - A fuel cell power plant includes a cell stack assembly having an anode and a cathode. A component is arranged in fluid connection with at least one of the anode and cathode. The component has a first shut-down cooling rate. A heat exchanger is arranged in fluid communication with and between the component and one of the anode and cathode. The heat exchanger has a second shut-down cooling rate greater than the first shut-down cooling rate. Water vapor within the fuel cell power plant outside of the cell stack assembly will condense and freeze in the heat exchanger rather than the component, avoiding malfunction of the component upon start-up in below freezing environments. | 06-16-2011 |
20110151345 | FUEL CELL ASSEMBLY HAVING FEED-BACK SENSOR - A sensor cell ( | 06-23-2011 |
20110151346 | ENERGY SUPPLY SYSTEM - An energy supply system comprises an energy supply device ( | 06-23-2011 |
20110159389 | ENERGY SUPPLY SYSTEM - An energy supply system includes: an energy supply device ( | 06-30-2011 |
20110159390 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING FUEL CELL SYSTEM - Deterioration at the start-up and deterioration during the leaving period are suppressed in a good balance. As a system shutdown process, a controller ( | 06-30-2011 |
20110165484 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM WITH MECHANICAL CHECK VALVE - A fuel cell system may include a cathode loop having an operating pressure during fuel cell system operation. The cathode loop may include a normally open mechanical check valve disposed at a water pooling location within the loop and having a cracking pressure approximately equal to the operating pressure. | 07-07-2011 |
20110165485 | Fuel Cell System And Method Of Use - A fuel cell having a cathode and an anode. The cathode has an inlet and an outlet. The fuel cell also includes at least one of a first valve and a second valve. The first valve is situated at and connected to the cathode inlet. The second valve is situated at and connected to the cathode outlet. The fuel cell system also includes a controller configured to control the first and second valves during a first operating condition and a second operating condition. The first operating condition includes the transition of the fuel cell system from an operational state to a non-operational state. The second operating condition includes the transition from a non-operational state to an operational state. | 07-07-2011 |
20110171548 | FUEL CELL DEVICE - A fuel cell device is equipped with an ECU | 07-14-2011 |
20110171549 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF DETECTING ABNORMALITY OF FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system and an abnormality detecting method therefore is provided. The fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell that includes at least one fuel-cell cell having an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte membrane, an anode-side passage supplying and exhausting fuel gas to and from the anode, a cathode-side passage supplying and exhausting oxidation gas to and from the cathode, a voltage detecting unit detecting a fuel cell voltage, a suppressing unit setting a suppression state where, after terminating normal power generation, introduction of the fuel and oxidation gas to the anode-side and cathode-side passages and emission of the fuel and oxidation gas from the anode-side and cathode-side passages to outsides are suppressed as compared with those during the normal power generation; and an abnormality detecting unit, after setting the suppression state, detecting abnormality of the fuel cell system based on the detected voltage or a variation thereof. | 07-14-2011 |
20110177413 | ELECTROCHEMICAL DEVICE AND METHODS FOR ENERGY CONVERSION - The present invention relates to an electrochemical device. The device features an anode constructed of materials such that the device can be chemically recharged. In addition, the device is capable of switching between operating as a fuel cell or as a battery. The switch can occur without cessation of electrical output. In certain aspects of the invention, the device is capable of operating at a temperature of less than 1000° C. Other aspects feature a liquid anode which allows higher output, dispersion of fuel and minimal stresses in an interface comprising the anode. Preferably the anode is a liquid at a temperature of less than 1000° C. The invention also relates to methods for energy conversion in which a continual electrical output can be produced in both the presence of fuel without anode consumption or the absence of fuel. | 07-21-2011 |
20110189569 | AUTO-LEARNING OF BASE STACK RESISTANCE FOR HFR BASED RH CONTROL - A method for determining membrane humidification by determining the membrane protonic resistance of a fuel cell stack at humidified conditions, and normalizing the base resistance of the fuel cell stack against the base resistance of a reference fuel cell stack. | 08-04-2011 |
20110189570 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PASSIVATING A FUEL CELL POWER PLANT - A system and method for passivating a fuel cell power plant | 08-04-2011 |
20110195328 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system capable of restraining temperature change in a fuel cell caused by a refrigerant. The fuel cell system has a refrigerant circulating system for circulating the refrigerant. The refrigerant circulating system has flow control means for restraining the inflow of the refrigerant, which has a predetermined difference in temperature from that of the fuel cell, into the fuel cell. | 08-11-2011 |
20110200900 | FEED FORWARD FUEL CONTROL ALGORITHM TO DECREASE FUEL CELL VEHICLE START UP TIME - A method for monitoring the pressure in an anode sub-system of a fuel cell system during a pressurization stage at system start-up prior to an anode purge. The method includes providing hydrogen gas to the anode sub-system during the pressurization stage, typically from one or more injectors. The method determines how many moles of the hydrogen gas has been provided to the anode sub-system, and uses the number of moles to determine the pressure in the anode sub-system. The method uses the determined pressure to stop the pressurization stage when the determined pressure is about equal to the desired pressure. | 08-18-2011 |
20110200901 | DETERMINING DURATION OF FUEL CELL SHUTDOWN HYDROGEN STABILIZATION BY COUNTING COULOMBS - A process for shutting down a fuel cell power plant ( | 08-18-2011 |
20110207009 | METHOD OF PRESERVING POLYMER ELECTROLYTE FUEL CELL STACK AND PRESERVATION ASSEMBLY OF POLYMER ELECTROLYTE FUEL CELL STACK - Provided is a method of preserving a PEFC stack, which is capable of controlling degradation of performance of the PEFC stack during a time period that elapses from when the stack is placed in an uninstalled state until it is placed in an installation position and is practically used. Provided is a preservation assembly of the PEFC stack which is capable of sufficiently inhibiting degradation of performance of the PEFC stack particularly during a time period that elapses from when the stack is placed in the uninstalled state until it is placed in the installation position and is practically used. A method of preserving a PEFC stack that is provided with an oxidizing agent passage ( | 08-25-2011 |
20110217609 | FUEL CELL STACK OPERATION - A method including shutting down an electrochemical fuel cell stack wherein anode pressure is controlled according to a stack discharge fuel consumption estimate. | 09-08-2011 |
20110217610 | CONTROL SYSTEM FOR DIRECT ALCOHOL FUEL CELL - A control system for a direct alcohol fuel cell, comprising: a fuel tank; a fuel cell stack; a pump feeding the fuel in the fuel tank to the fuel cell stack; a switching mechanism connecting the pump selectively with the fuel and air in the fuel tank; and a control unit switching the switching mechanism to connect the pump with the air when stopping power generation of the fuel cell stack. When the generation of the fuel cell stack is stopped, feeding of the fuel to the fuel cell stack is stopped and the air is supplied to the fuel cell stack thereby pushing out the remaining fuel. | 09-08-2011 |
20110217611 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - It is an object of the invention to improve the accuracy of estimating a moisture content and suppress an effect of remaining water at the startup of the fuel cell system. | 09-08-2011 |
20110223504 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell | 09-15-2011 |
20110229781 | VARIABLE ANODE FLOW RATE FOR FUEL CELL VEHICLE START-UP - A fuel cell system is disclosed with a fuel cell stack having a plurality of fuel cells, the fuel cell stack including an anode supply manifold and an anode exhaust manifold, a sensor for measuring at least one of an environmental condition affecting the fuel cell stack and a characteristic of the fuel cell stack, wherein the sensor generates a sensor signal representing the measurement of the sensor; and a processor for receiving the sensor signal, analyzing the sensor signal, and controlling a flow rate of a fluid flowing into the anode supply manifold based upon the analysis of the sensor signal. | 09-22-2011 |
20110229782 | ACTIVATION METHOD FOR FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system capable of performing activation for stabilizing electrical characteristics of a fuel cell with suppressing generation of polarity inversion associated with drying of a polymer electrolyte membrane and excess power consumption. An activation method for a fuel cell, the fuel cell system including a fuel cell having a fuel electrode and an oxidizer electrode that are provided on both sides of a polymer electrolyte membrane; a resistance detector for detecting an internal resistance of the fuel cell; a load connection portion having a mechanism for connecting a resistor between the fuel electrode and the oxidizer electrode; and a control unit for controlling the load connection portion. The control unit controls the operation of the load connection portion based on a value of the inner resistance of the fuel cell, which is detected by the resistance detector. | 09-22-2011 |
20110236779 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system whose fuel loss caused by the crossover of the fuel is small and which can be operated economically. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell | 09-29-2011 |
20110236780 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING STOPPAGE OF FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system for a vehicle includes a fuel cell, a fuel supply device, an oxidizer supply device, an anode potential measuring device, and a discharge controller. The anode potential measuring device is configured to measure an anode potential of an anode. The discharge controller is configured to control discharge of electric current from the fuel cell as part of a process of stopping the fuel cell during idling of the vehicle. When receiving idle stop permission for the fuel cell, the discharge controller determines whether the fuel cell is permitted to discharge. When the anode potential is equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold value, the discharge controller permits the fuel cell to discharge. When the anode potential is higher than the predetermined threshold value, the discharge controller does not permit the fuel cell to discharge. | 09-29-2011 |
20110244346 | METHOD OF ENTERING AND EXITING A REGENERATIVE/STAND-BY MODE ON A FUEL CELL SYSTEM WHERE THE FUEL CELL IS SEPARATED FROM THE REGENERATIVE SOURCE BY A BLOCKING POWER DIODE - A method for operating a fuel cell stack where electrical energy from regenerative braking is used to operate system loads instead of using fuel cell stack power to conserve hydrogen. A fuel cell stack and an ultracapacitor are electrically coupled to a high voltage electrical bus. A by-pass line is provided around a blocking diode including a by-pass contactor. A stack contactor is provided to disconnect the fuel cell stack from the electrical bus. A stand-by mode request is made if the voltage at a node proximate to the blocking diode closest to the ultracapacitor is higher than the voltage at a node proximate to the blocking diode closest to the fuel cell stack. Steps are then made to electrically prepare the high voltage electrical bus. Then, the stack contactor is opened and the by-pass contactor is closed to allow the regenerate braking energy to power the system loads. | 10-06-2011 |
20110244347 | COMPRESSION FILL OF ANODE OF A FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A method for filling a fuel cell system with a fuel during start-up is disclosed, the method including the steps of providing a fuel cell stack having a plurality of fuels cells, each fuel cell having an active area, the fuel cell stack including an anode supply manifold and an anode exhaust manifold, the anode supply manifold and in fluid communication with a source of fuel; providing an anode sub-system in fluid communication with an anode side of the fuel cell stack; and supplying the fuel to the fuel cell stack substantially uniformly and substantially simultaneously to compress any fluids in the fuel cell stack into a volume between an end of each active area adjacent to the anode exhaust manifold and an outlet of the anode sub-system. | 10-06-2011 |
20110244348 | FEEDBACK CONTROL OF H2 INJECTION DURING PARK BASED ON GAS CONCENTRATION MODEL - A method for determining when to inject hydrogen gas into the anode side of a fuel cell stack associated with a fuel cell vehicle when the vehicle is off. The method includes estimating the concentration of hydrogen gas in the anode side of the fuel cell stack using a gas concentration model and determining if the estimated concentration of hydrogen gas is below a first predetermined threshold. If the estimated hydrogen gas is less than the threshold, then hydrogen gas is injected into the anode side from a hydrogen source. While the hydrogen gas is being injected, the method compares the estimated concentration of the hydrogen gas in the anode side to a desired concentration, and generates an error signal there between. If the error signal is greater than a second predetermined threshold, the algorithm continues to inject the hydrogen into the anode side of the fuel cell stack. | 10-06-2011 |
20110244349 | METHOD TO DETECT NO COOLANT FLOW IN A FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A method for determining whether a fuel cell stack cooling fluid is flowing at cold fuel cell system start-up. The method monitors the temperature of the cooling fluid outside of the fuel cell stack, and determines whether the temperature of the cooling fluid is increasing properly as the temperature of the stack increases. | 10-06-2011 |
20110244350 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - An object of the invention is to provide a fuel cell system capable of improving accuracy of water content estimation during a standstill. | 10-06-2011 |
20110250516 | METHOD OF SHUT-DOWN AND STARTING OF A FUEL CELL - A method of operating a PEM fuel cell including an anode feed circuit and a cathode feed circuit for feeding of an anode side with a reactant gas and for feeding a cathode side with a cathode gas. A shut-down mode for shutting down an electricity generating operation of the fuel system includes decreasing the supply of reactant gas and cathode gas in response of a shut-down signal, monitoring an output voltage of at least one cell of a fuel cell stack, monitoring the reactant gas pressure and the cathode gas pressure, electrically shunting of the at least one fuel cell in response of the output voltage reaching a predefined voltage level, at least reducing the pressure of the anode side to a predefined pressure level by means of at least one pump, and filling and/or flushing of at least the anode side with an inert gas. | 10-13-2011 |
20110262822 | CONTROLS GIVING -25.degree. C FREEZE START CAPABILITY TO A FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A method for shutting down a fuel cell system including operating a fuel cell stack. the method includes providing an increased cathode air flow so as to dry fuel cell membranes in the stack until a first desired level of high frequency resistance is achieved, rehydrating the cell membranes of the stack until a second desired level of high frequency resistance is achieved, and operating the stack with a decreased cathode input relative humidity until a third desired level of high frequency resistance is achieved. | 10-27-2011 |
20110269040 | SHUTDOWN METHODS AND DESIGNS FOR FUEL CELL STACKS - Improved water distribution can be obtained within the cells of a fuel cell series stack by maintaining a suitable temperature difference between the cathode and anode sides of each cell in the stack during shutdown. This can be accomplished by thermally insulating the “hot” end and sides of the stack and by providing a thermal mass adjacent to the “hot” end. | 11-03-2011 |
20110269041 | FUEL CELL COGENERATION SYSTEM - A fuel cell cogeneration system according to the invention is disclosed, the system comprising: a fuel cell ( | 11-03-2011 |
20110287331 | METHOD OF STARTING OPERATION OF SOLID POLYMER ELECTROLYTE FUEL CELL - A method of starting operation of a fuel cell stack includes the steps of performing gas replacement by supplying a fuel gas to a fuel gas flow field from a downstream side of the fuel gas flow field through a fuel gas discharge passage, and supplying an oxygen-containing gas to an oxygen-containing gas flow field from an upstream side of the oxygen-containing gas flow field through an oxygen-containing gas supply passage. After the step of performing gas replacement, normal power generation is carried out by supplying the fuel gas to the fuel gas flow field from an upstream side of the fuel gas flow field through a fuel gas supply passage, and supplying the oxygen-containing gas to the oxygen-containing gas flow field from the upstream side of the oxygen-containing gas flow field through the oxygen-containing gas supply passage. | 11-24-2011 |
20110300462 | FUEL CELL STACKS AND SYSTEMS WITH FLUID-RESPONSIVE TEMPERATURE REGULATION - Fuel cell stacks and systems with thermal management systems to deliver a liquid heat exchange fluid into thermal communication with the stack and thereafter recycle the stream. In some embodiments, the system is adapted to selectively apportion the recycled liquid stream between a stream that, prior to reuse as a heat exchange stream, is returned to a fluid reservoir and/or selectively cooled, and/or selectively returned to the reservoir and mixed with heat exchange fluid in the reservoir, and a stream that is returned into thermal communication with the stack without returning the stream to the reservoir and/or without heating or cooling and/or without being mixed with additional heat exchange fluid. In some embodiments, the system is adapted to automatically apportion the recycled stream responsive to its temperature. In some embodiments, the system includes a thermostatic valve and/or selectively apportions the recycled stream without requiring an electronic controller or manual input. | 12-08-2011 |
20110311894 | USAGE OF REGENERATIVE BRAKE POWER FOR SYSTEM RESTART IN START-STOP OPERATION OF FUEL CELL HYBRID VEHICLES - A system and method are disclosed for using regenerative braking power to start a fuel cell stack for system restart during a start/stop operation of a fuel cell hybrid vehicle. The method includes disconnecting the fuel cell stack from a high voltage bus for the start/stop operation and using regenerative braking power provided by an electric traction system to recharge a battery in the hybrid vehicle during the start/stop operation. The method also includes reconnecting the fuel cell stack to the high voltage bus and providing at least some of the regenerative braking power from the electric traction system to a compressor that provides cathode air to the fuel cell stack when the stack is reconnected to the high voltage bus at the end of the start/stop operation. A bi-directional DC converter selectively distributes the power to the compressor and the battery. | 12-22-2011 |
20110318663 | STACK CATHODE INLET RH (RELATIVE HUMIDITY) CONTROL WITHOUT RH SENSING DEVICE FEEDBACK - A method for controlling relative humidity (RH) of a cathode side of a fuel cell stack in a fuel cell system that includes an RH sensor on a cathode inlet line for providing an RH signal indicative of the RH of cathode inlet air. If the RH sensor is providing a valid RH signal, the RH signal is calculated as an RH average of the cathode inlet air. When the RH sensor is not providing a valid RH signal, the calculated RH average is utilized to control the cathode inlet air RH. If the RH sensor is not providing a valid signal during start-up, then the stack power is temporarily set at an optimum level for a known cathode inlet air RH. | 12-29-2011 |
20120003557 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND START-UP CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - An object is to suppress the degradation of durability due to a heat concentration while performing a rapid warm-up operation as necessary, when starting a fuel cell system at temperatures below freezing point. In order to achieve such an object, the present invention stores in a memory an operation termination condition of the last operation of the system, data such as the start-up temperature, or the remaining amount of product water at the time of the last scavenging; calculates the remaining amount of product water based on data read out from the memory at the time of starting the system to make judgments, from the remaining amount and the start-up temperature, on whether or not a rapid warm-up of the system is necessary and whether to start without circulating the cooling water when a rapid warm-up is necessary; and conducts, based on the judgment result provided by the judgment means, with or without circulating the cooling water, a low-efficiency power generation where a reactant gas to be supplied to the fuel cell is less than that in a normal power generation and an electronic power loss is larger than that in a normal power generation. The data includes, for example, an impedance, a temperature of the fuel cell and a scavenging air amount at the last termination of the operation of the fuel cell. | 01-05-2012 |
20120009493 | COMPRESSION OF DIRECT METHANOL FUEL CELL STACKS WITH CATALYST COATED MEMBRANES AND MEMBRANE ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY - An apparatus to control a swelling of a catalyst coated membrane in a fuel cell includes an insulator layer provided at a perimeter of the fuel cell. The insulator layer has a plurality of insulator films and is secured to a flow field plate. The insulator layer has a less compressibility relative to a gasket used in the fuel cell. A method for controlling a swelling of a catalyst coated membrane in a fuel cell includes providing an insulator layer at a perimeter of each of fuel cells in a fuel cell stack. The fuel cell stack is compressed for a predetermined duration when the catalyst coated membrane is in a substantially dry state. Passage of fuel is allowed inside the fuel cell thereby facilitating the catalyst coated membrane to swell. A swollen catalyst coated membrane is allowed to contact the insulator layer. | 01-12-2012 |
20120015267 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM, CONTROL METHOD FOR THE FUEL CELL SYSTEM, AND ELECTRIC VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH THE FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell that has a plurality of fuel unit cells, and a control portion that controls voltage of the fuel cell. The control portion has: start means for starting the fuel cell by raising the voltage of the fuel cell from a starting voltage to a high-potential-avoiding voltage that is lower than an open-circuit voltage; and command means for further raising the voltage of the fuel cell beyond the high-potential-avoiding voltage if cell voltage of at least one of the plurality of fuel unit cells is lower than or equal to a certain voltage after a certain time elapses after the voltage of the fuel cell is raised to the high-potential-avoiding voltage. | 01-19-2012 |
20120015268 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM, CONTROL METHOD FOR THE FUEL CELL SYSTEM, AND ELECTRIC VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH THE FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system that includes a fuel cell that generates electricity through an electrochemical reaction between a fuel gas and an oxidant gas, and a control portion that determines whether there is leakage of the fuel gas. The control portion has start means for starting the fuel cell by raising the voltage of the fuel cell from a starting voltage to an operation voltage that is lower than an open-circuit voltage, and leakage determination means for determining whether there is leakage of the fuel gas before the voltage of the fuel cell reaches the operation voltage when the fuel cell is started. | 01-19-2012 |
20120028147 | FUEL CELL VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING OPERATION OF THE SAME - A fuel cell vehicle includes a stack that generates electrical energy by a fuel gas, a blower that blows air into the stack, an air cut-off valve that is mounted on an air supply line, a bypass line diverged between the air cut-off valve and the blower and having an end portion that is opened, a bypass valve that is mounted on the bypass line, and a control portion that closes the air cut-off valve and opens the bypass valve upon detecting an off signal for idle engine stop or a signal for turning off the engine. Therefore, if the fuel cell vehicle is in an idle stop condition, the blower supplying the stack with air stops operating, and simultaneously the bypass line is opened and the air cut-off valve is closed such that the air supplied to the stack can be securely cut off. | 02-02-2012 |
20120028148 | ASSISTED STACK ANODE PURGE AT START-UP OF FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system that enables an assisted anode purge upon start-up is provided. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack having a plurality of fuel cells with anodes and cathodes. The fuel cell stack has an anode supply manifold and an anode exhaust manifold in fluid communication with the anodes. The fuel cell system further includes a suction device in fluid communication with at least one of the anode supply manifold and the anode exhaust manifold. The suction device adapted to selectively draw a partial vacuum on the fuel cell stack during a start-up of the fuel cell system. Methods for starting the fuel cell system are also provided. | 02-02-2012 |
20120028149 | SHUTDOWN METHOD FOR SHUTTING DOWN INDIRECT INTERNAL REFORMING SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL - Provided is a method for shutting down an indirect internal reforming SOFC, in which reliable reforming and the prevention of the oxidative degradation of the anode are possible. A | 02-02-2012 |
20120070755 | FUEL CELL POWER GENERATION SYSTEM - A fuel cell power generation system including: a measurement section configured to measure an accumulated energized period; a calendar section configured to specify a time and a date; a memory having stored therein a matrix in which time-of-year segments which are defined by dividing a one-year period are arranged in rows, and energized period segments which are defined by dividing a target value of the accumulated energized period are arranged in columns, wherein the matrix stores, as elements, upper limit values of a power generation period per unit time of a fuel cell stack, and the upper limit values are set such that the sum of power generation periods calculated for all of the elements coincides with a pre-measured life period of the fuel cell stack; a calculation section configured to apply the time and the date and the accumulated energized period to the matrix, and to determine an upper limit value of the power generation period per unit time; and an operation controller configured to set, in consideration of at least a thermal demand from a demander, a plan for a power generation operation to be performed in each unit time within the range of the upper limit value, and to control the power generation operation of the fuel cell stack based on the plan. | 03-22-2012 |
20120070756 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system is equipped with a fuel cell, a DC/DC converter that is electrically connected to the fuel cell, and a control unit that controls the supply of a fuel gas and an oxidizing gas to the fuel cell and issues a voltage command to and drives the DC/DC converter to perform high potential avoidance control of restraining an output voltage of the fuel cell from exceeding a high potential avoidance voltage lower than an open circuit voltage. The control unit continues to drive the DC/DC converter so as to perform the high potential avoidance control for a predetermined time after stopping supplying the fuel cell with hydrogen and air in response to the inputting of a system operation stop command. | 03-22-2012 |
20120077102 | METHOD OF SHUTTING DOWN FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A method of shutting down a fuel cell system includes a first step of supplying hydrogen gas and air to a fuel cell stack to thereby cause the fuel cell stack to generate electricity, and a second step of stopping supply of the hydrogen gas, and then supplying air to the fuel cell stack so as to cause the fuel cell stack to generate electricity upon detection of a command to shut down the fuel cell stack. In the second step, when the pressure of the hydrogen gas is lowered to a preset lower-limit value based on an anode pressure, which actually is measured, the fuel cell stack is caused to stop generating electricity. | 03-29-2012 |
20120082914 | METHOD TO THAW FROZEN COOLANT IN A FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A method for increasing the temperature of a cooling fluid used to control the temperature of a fuel cell stack at a system freeze start-up. The method includes determining that the cooling fluid is frozen or nearly frozen, and if so, deactivating excessive power draw on the fuel cell stack to minimize stack waste heat and activating a cooling fluid heater to heat the cooling fluid. Once it is determined that the cooling fluid is not frozen or is flowing, then the method initiates a normal system start-up. | 04-05-2012 |
20120088171 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INDEPENDENTLY CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF FUEL CELL STACKS AND FUEL CELL SYSTEMS INCORPORATING THE SAME - The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for independently controlling the operation of fuel cell stacks and to fuel cell systems incorporating the same. These systems and methods may include providing a fuel cell system including a plurality of fuel cell stacks and at least a first energy storage device and controlling the operation of the plurality of fuel cell stacks based at least in part on a variable associated with the fuel cell system and/or an energy consuming device. These systems and methods may further include beginning production of electrical output from the fuel cell system responsive to a start condition, initiating production of electrical output from the plurality of fuel cell stacks responsive to a plurality of stack start conditions, and ceasing the production of electrical output from the fuel cell stacks responsive to at least a first stack stop condition. | 04-12-2012 |
20120088172 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - The power generation efficiency of a fuel cell system is improved. A fuel cell and an FC converter are integrally assembled so as to allow heat transfer therebetween, and are contained in the same casing. A control unit shifts a switching mode of a boost switch included in the FC converter from a soft switching mode to a hard switching mode when a temperature of the fuel cell is lower than a lower limit value of an allowable temperature range in accordance with an output of the fuel cell. | 04-12-2012 |
20120094200 | Freeze Start Method for Fuel Cells - A method for starting operation of a solid polymer fuel cell from a temperature below 0° C. is disclosed that prevents certain problems with ice formation as the fuel cell thaws. During startup, the method involves providing the oxidant flow at a rate less than half of its maximum when the coolant temperature is near 0° C. | 04-19-2012 |
20120100449 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell activation portion that starts electricity generation of a fuel cell; a cooling medium passage that is provided with a pump and that is provided for passing a cooling medium through a cell-side passage for the cooling medium; and a pump control portion that stops the pump for a first predetermined period after a start of the electricity generation caused by the fuel cell activation portion at a time when a temperature of the fuel cell is a low temperature lower than or equal to a predetermined value, and that starts operating the pump after the first predetermined period elapses. The pump control portion includes a cooling medium reverse portion that alternately reverses a direction of flow of the cooling medium in the cell-side passage according to elapsed time by controlling operation of the pump after the first predetermined period elapses. | 04-26-2012 |
20120122000 | HEATING CONTROL METHOD FOR FUEL CELL VEHICLE - The present invention provides a heating control method for a fuel cell vehicle, in which an additional heating source is used together with a typical electric heater to reduce power consumption and increase fuel efficiency as compared to the sole use of the electric heater. For this purpose, the present invention provides a heating control method for a fuel cell vehicle which comprises an electric heater for heating air supplied to the interior of the vehicle, and a heater core provided in a coolant line for cooling a fuel cell stack and heating the air supplied to the interior of the vehicle by heat exchange with the coolant discharged from the fuel cell stack. The method comprises: detecting a state of charge (SOC) of a battery when the interior temperature is lower than a predetermined temperature set by a driver and, if the SOC of the battery is above a predetermined lower limit, heating the interior of the vehicle by operating the electric heater by the power of a battery; heating the interior of the vehicle by operating the electric heater by the power generated by the fuel cell stack, if the SOC of the battery is below the lower limit; heating the interior of the vehicle using both the heater core and the electric heater, if the temperature of the coolant is above a predetermined temperature at which the fuel cell stack does not reach a normal operating temperature; and heating the interior of the vehicle using only the heater core while turning off the electric heater, if the temperature of the coolant is increased above a normal operating temperature of the fuel cell stack. | 05-17-2012 |
20120135326 | BACK-UP FUEL CELL ELECTRIC GENERATOR COMPRISING A COMPACT MANIFOLD BODY, AND METHODS OF MANAGING THE OPERATION THEREOF - A fuel cell electric generator designed for back-up in the absence of network electricity supply. The generator comprises a fuel cell stack, means for supplying the stack with a first and a second reagent flow comprising, in turn, pressure reducing means, and a manifold body to communicate with the stack said first and second reagent flows and at least a flow of coolant fluid via a respective coolant loop. The manifold body comprises inside chambers for the mixing of said reagent flows with corresponding re-circulated product flows and a coolant fluid expansion chamber within which said pressure reducing means of said first and second reagent flows are positioned at least partially drowned by said coolant. Method for the start-up and shut-down of the generator, and a method for detecting the flooding of a fuel cell and a method for detecting the presence of gas leakages in the generator are also disclosed. | 05-31-2012 |
20120141895 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING OPERATION OF FUEL CELL HYBRID SYSTEM - The present invention provides a hybrid fuel cell system that is configured to determine if an idle stop condition has been satisfied during a normal operation mode of the hybrid fuel cell system, cut off air supply to a fuel cell to stop power generation of the fuel cell and reduce a voltage which the fuel cell outputs in response to determining that the idle stop condition has been satisfied. The voltage of a bidirectional converter, connected between a battery and a bus terminal is reduced and the output of the fuel cell is controlled, based on a first predetermined value and maintained at that first predetermined value. Subsequently, the battery is charged via the output current of the fuel cell generated by maintaining the reduced voltage of the bidirectional converter. | 06-07-2012 |
20120141896 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - Disclosed are a fuel cell system and a method of controlling the system to efficiently remove air flowing into an anode side and a cathode side during a stop of a fuel cell vehicle to prevent an overvoltage of a fuel cell stack that is generated at the time of a start-up thereby enhancing a durability of a fuel cell stack. The fuel cell system illustratively includes a concentration detector mounted at a cathode side and/or an anode side of a fuel cell stack to detect the oxygen concentration in the air; a controller that outputs a control signal to release air when the oxygen concentration is greater than a set value; and an absorber that absorbs air from the cathode side and/or the anode side through an absorption line in response to the control signal output from the controller to thereby release the absorbed air to the outside. | 06-07-2012 |
20120141897 | COOLING METHOD FOR FUEL CELL - A start-up method for a fuel cell system that includes a fuel cell that carries out power generation by the electrochemical reaction between a fuel gas and the oxygen gas in the air; a fuel gas discharge path and a fuel gas supply path that are connected to the fuel cell; a fuel gas circulation path in which the fuel gas discharge path merges with the fuel gas supply path; and a purge valve provided on the fuel gas circulation path in order to discharge the circulating fuel gas from the fuel gas circulation path. The method includes the steps of opening the purge valve at the same time that the fuel gas is supplied to the fuel cell and replacing the nitrogen gas that originates in the air and is present in the fuel gas circulation path by fuel gas; and closing the purge valve after the nitrogen gas in the fuel gas circulation path has been replaced by the fuel gas. | 06-07-2012 |
20120148929 | METHODS OF OPERATING FUEL CELL STACKS AND SYSTEMS - A method for removing contaminants in a fuel cell comprises: supplying a hydrogen-based fuel to the anode; supplying a first oxidant to the cathode, wherein the first oxidant comprises at least some sulfur dioxide; drawing a primary load from the fuel cell stack while supplying the hydrogen-based fuel to the anode and the air to the cathode; shutting down the fuel cell when a voltage of the fuel cell is equal to or less than a threshold voltage at which sulfur crosses over from the cathode to the anode, wherein shutting down the fuel cell comprises: performing at least one oxidant starvation while drawing the primary load, removing the primary load after performing the at least one oxidant starvation, and bringing the anode to a high potential after removing the primary load; and thereafter, restarting the fuel cell. | 06-14-2012 |
20120183871 | METHOD OF OPERATING HIGH TEMPERATURE FUEL CELL - A method of operating a high-temperature fuel cell, the method including increasing the temperature of a fuel cell stack the operation of which has stopped; starting the operation of the fuel cell stack and applying at least a portion of a load to the fuel cell stack when the temperature of the fuel cell stack reaches a first temperature; and applying any remaining load to the fuel cell stack when the temperature of the fuel cell stack reaches a second temperature that is higher than the first temperature. | 07-19-2012 |
20120183872 | FLOW BATTERY START-UP AND RECOVERY MANAGEMENT - A start-up plating process for a flow cell battery is disclosed. Upon start-up of the flow-cell stack, catalysts may have deplated from the electrodes. The catalyst is replated to the electrode by application of currents to the stack prior to circulating electrolyte fluids. | 07-19-2012 |
20120189932 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATING A FUEL CELL SYSTEM - In a fuel cell system a specific connection and a valve arrangement make it possible for a compressor to supply precompressed air to a fuel cell stack via a waste gas line, said air then leaving the fuel cell stack via a line which is otherwise an air feed line. In this way, a humidifier may be bypassed. This is sensible in particular during a start phase at low ambient temperatures, during which the fuel cell system is intended to warm up without moisture in the fuel cell stack having a negative effect, for instance by freezing. The compressor may be operated both in the start phase or stop phase and during conventional operation by the same mode of operation. | 07-26-2012 |
20120196197 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - A method for controlling a fuel cell system includes following steps. It is determined whether an output voltage of a fuel cell stack in the fuel cell system is greater than or equal to a temporary voltage during a first predetermined period, and if yes, an output current of the fuel cell stack is progressively increased during a second predetermined period, and if not, when a variation degree of the output voltage of the fuel cell stack is greater than a predetermined value, the output current of the fuel cell stack is progressively decreased during the second predetermined period. The output voltage of the fuel cell stack is changed in response to progressive increasing or progressive decreasing of the output current of the fuel cell stack, and the temporary voltage is updated to the changed output voltage after a third predetermined period. | 08-02-2012 |
20120202131 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD FOR FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell generating electricity through reaction between fuel and oxidant gases; an air compressor supplying air, as the oxidant gas, to the fuel cell; a shut-off valve interrupting exhaust of air as fuel cell exhaust gas; an air flow meter measuring the flow rate of air supplied to the fuel cell; a pressure sensor measuring a supplied air pressure; and a control unit controlling power generation reaction of the fuel cell, calculating a first calculated air flow rate based on a value measured by the air flow meter and a second calculated air flow rate based on a system volume from the air compressor to the shut-off valve, an air pressure increase in the system volume, calculated based on a value measured by the pressure sensor, and an atmospheric pressure, and calculating a ratio of the second to first calculated air flow rates. | 08-09-2012 |
20120208101 | HIGH-TEMPERATURE FUEL CELL SYSTEM HAVING A START BURNER - The invention relates to a high-temperature fuel cell system having a start burner. Such fuel cell systems are in particular operated at temperatures between 650° C. and 1000° C. due to the ion-conductive properties of the electrolytes used. It is necessary for this reason to carry out a heating before the actual operation of the systems, which takes place by an external supply of energy. The exhaust gas of a start burner of the high-temperature fuel cell system is supplied to a heat exchanger or to two heat exchangers in a series connection for the preheating of an oxidizing agent which can be supplied to at least one fuel cell at the cathode side. In this respect, the oxidizing agent and the exhaust gas of the start burner are conducted over the total surfaces of the one heat exchanger or of the two heat exchangers available for the heat exchange and hot, returned exhaust gas from the total system is conducted over one heat exchanger of the two heat exchangers arranged in series or in a second zone B of a single heat exchanger having two zones A and B over a part region of the surface available for the heat exchange. | 08-16-2012 |
20120214077 | INTEGRATED RECIRCULATING FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A PEM fuel system includes a fuel cell stack comprising one or more PEM fuel cells and fan configured to provide process air to supply oxidizer to and cool the fuel cell stack. The system has an air duct coupled to the fan and the fuel cell stack, and an electrical service load coupled to the fuel cell stack for receiving electrical power generated from reactions within the fuel cell stack. The system further includes as auxiliary electrical load coupled to the fuel cell stack and located within the air duct to reduce potentials across the fuel cell stack. The air duct is configured to direct the flow of air to the fuel cell stack and auxiliary electrical load to provide cooling air to the fuel cell stack and auxiliary electrical load. | 08-23-2012 |
20120225364 | METHOD OF STOPPING OPERATION OF FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A method includes an in-stop-mode power generating process of, if an instruction to stop an operation of a fuel cell is detected, stopping supply of a fuel gas, and supplying an oxide gas to the fuel cell to generate power from an oxide-gas supply apparatus, and then stopping power generation of the fuel cell, and a gas replacing process of, after the power generation of the fuel cell is stopped, activating the gas replacement apparatus at a predetermined timing to supply a replacement gas to the anode side of the fuel cell to replace the fuel gas on the anode side with the replacement gas. | 09-06-2012 |
20120225365 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A method includes determining, if an instruction to stop a operation of a fuel cell is detected, whether an in-stop-mode power generating process has been executed, a fuel gas being to be stopped and an oxide gas being to be supplied to the fuel cell to generate power from the oxide-gas supply apparatus in the in-stop-mode power generating process, and shortening a time for a diluting process to be executed by a scavenging apparatus when it is determined that the in-stop-mode power generating process has been executed, as compared with a case where it is determined that the in-stop-mode power generating process has not been executed. | 09-06-2012 |
20120237843 | ELECTROCHEMICAL REACTOR, SUCH AS A FUEL CELL OR AN ELECTROLYSER, PROVIDED WITH A DEVICE FOR MEASURING A PARAMETER OF A GAS SPECIFIC TO THE OPERATION OF SAID REACTOR - An electrochemical reactor, such as a fuel cell stack or an electrolyser, comprises: a stack ( | 09-20-2012 |
20120237844 | Method for Operating a Fuel Cell System - A method serves for operating a fuel cell system with at least a fuel cell and a feed air side air conveyor and an outgoing air side turbine. The fuel cell system is flushed at least during a switching-off procedure with air from the air conveyor. During flushing a connection is created between the air conveyor and the outgoing air side between the fuel cell and turbine. | 09-20-2012 |
20120251909 | PRESSURE-BASED LIQUID LEVEL DETECTION AND CONTROL FOR A FUEL CELL STACK ASSEMBLY - A fluid detection system and method for a fuel cell power plant is disclosed having a pressure sensor ( | 10-04-2012 |
20120251910 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A method includes an in-stop-mode power generating process and a first startup process. In the a first startup process, if an operation start instruction to start a fuel cell system is detected after the in-stop-mode power generating process, supply of a fuel gas from a fuel-gas supply apparatus is started, and supply of an oxide gas from an oxide-gas supply apparatus is started after a predetermined time has elapsed from the starting of supply of the fuel gas, when a pressure of an anode side is equal to or lower than a first threshold pressure. | 10-04-2012 |
20120251911 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A method includes: determining whether or not an elapsed time since stopping of power generation of a fuel cell till an operation start instruction to start a fuel cell system is detected is shorter than a specified time, if the operation start instruction to start the fuel cell system is detected after the power generation of the fuel cell is stopped; setting, as a first amount, an amount of replacement of a fuel gas on an anode side, if it is determined that the elapsed time is shorter than the specified time; and setting, as a second amount, an amount of replacement of the fuel gas on the anode side, if it is determined that the elapsed time is longer than the specified time. The first amount is larger than the second amount. | 10-04-2012 |
20120270126 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A fuel cell system that can quickly transition to idling stop and can suppress degradation of the electrolyte membrane and decline in cell voltage during idling stop, without requiring a discharge resistor to be provided, and a control method thereof are provided. A fuel cell system ( | 10-25-2012 |
20120270127 | Method for Detecting the Permeability State of the Ion Exchanger Polymer Membrane of a Fuel Cell - Procedure for detecting the permeability state of the polymeric ion-exchange membrane of a fuel cell stack, in which, as soon as the pressure difference in the anode and cathode circuits drops to a value below a threshold value P | 10-25-2012 |
20120276465 | Method for Detecting the Sealed State of a Fuel Cell - Procedure for detecting the sealing state of a fuel cell stack in which, as soon as the fuel cell stack is considered to be extinguished, the sum of the pressures in the anode circuit and in the cathode circuit equal to P | 11-01-2012 |
20120301803 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A fuel cell system includes an ECU that sets the fuel cell stack to a state of idling stop by lowering both a revolution speed of an air pump and a discharge current value of the fuel cell stack to less than during idling power generation within a range larger than 0, in response to a predetermined idling stop initiation condition having been satisfied during idling power generation. The ECU decreases the discharge current value further as the lowest cell voltage value CV_low of the fuel cell stack decreases so that the lowest cell voltage value CV_low does not fall below a cancellation threshold B, with an event of the lowest cell voltage CV_low of the fuel cell stack having fallen below the cancellation threshold B as a cancellation condition of idling stop. | 11-29-2012 |
20120301804 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A fuel cell system is provided that can establish, for a long time period, a stack to an idling stop state. The fuel cell system includes: an idling stop control means for setting the stack to an idling stop state by, decreasing both a supplied amount of air to the stack and generated electric current produced from the stack to less than during the idling power generation; and a discharge valve control means for determining whether there is a necessity to discharge nitrogen or generated water inside of the anode system, and for opening the purge valve or drain valve in a case of there being a necessity. The discharge valve control means shortens valve open times (PO | 11-29-2012 |
20120308908 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes an air supply flow path configured to supply the air to a fuel cell, a reed valve provided in the air supply flow path, an air exhaust flow path configured to allow the air discharged from the fuel cell to flow therethrough, a pressure regulating valve provided in the air exhaust flow path and configured to adjust back pressure of the air supplied to the fuel cell, a bypass flow path configured to connect an upstream section of the air supply flow path upstream of the reed valve with the air exhaust flow path, and a bypass valve provided in the bypass flow path and configured to open and close the bypass flow path. The fuel cell system reduces the opening of the pressure regulating valve with supplying the air to the fuel cell in the closed position of the bypass valve, so as to increase the pressure of the air upstream of the pressure regulating valve, and subsequently opens the bypass valve. | 12-06-2012 |
20120321976 | CONTROLLING FUEL CELL - A fuel cell system has a fuel cell that includes at least one cell with an electrolyte membrane, an index value acquirer and a controller. The index value acquirer obtains a temperature index value correlated to temperature of a short circuit area in each cell. The controller controls a control parameter of the fuel cell affecting the temperature of the short circuit area, such that the temperature index value is within a predetermined range set to make the temperature of the short circuit area lower than a decomposition temperature of the electrolyte membrane. | 12-20-2012 |
20120321977 | FUEL CELL OPERATING METHOD AND FUEL CELL SYSTEM - Included are: a basic operation plan creating section | 12-20-2012 |
20120328967 | FUEL CELL WITH SELECTIVELY CONDUCTING ANODE COMPONENT - By incorporating a selectively conducting component in electrical series with the anode components in a solid polymer fuel cell, degradation during startup and shutdown can be reduced. As a result, the startup and shutdown procedures can be simplified and consequently certain system apparatus may be omitted. The anode does not need to be rapidly purged with hydrogen on startup or with air on shutdown. Additionally, the auxiliary load usually employed during such purging is not required. | 12-27-2012 |
20130004868 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING SAME - A fuel cell system has a fuel cell for generating electricity by reacting a fuel gas with an oxidant gas and an exhaust flow passage for exhausting the fuel exhaust gas exhausted from a fuel electrode | 01-03-2013 |
20130004869 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system having a fuel cell | 01-03-2013 |
20130017465 | LEAKAGE DIAGNOSTIC FOR A FUEL CELL SYSTEM IN IDLE-STOP MODEAANM Harris; Daniel I.AACI Honeoye FallsAAST NYAACO USAAGP Harris; Daniel I. Honeoye Falls NY USAANM Garcia; Sergio E.AACI WebsterAAST NYAACO USAAGP Garcia; Sergio E. Webster NY USAANM McMurrough; BrianAACI Honeoye FallsAAST NYAACO USAAGP McMurrough; Brian Honeoye Falls NY US - A method for determining if more hydrogen has been added to a fuel cell system than a predetermined threshold amount to detect leaks in an anode subsystem or a cathode subsystem of a fuel cell system. The method includes determining a quantity of hydrogen added to the fuel cell system for a given period of time during a predetermined operating condition of the fuel cell system and determining whether the quantity of hydrogen added is more than the predetermined threshold amount. The method also includes adapting an anode subsystem reactant gas concentration model if the quantity of hydrogen added to the fuel cell system is more than the predetermined threshold amount to provide precise control of pressure in the anode subsystem and the cathode subsystem of the fuel cell system. | 01-17-2013 |
20130029238 | STARTUP CONTROL DEVICE AND METHOD FOR FUEL CELL SYSTEM - The present invention provides a startup control device and method for a fuel cell system. The startup control device includes a concentration meter, a hydrogen feed rate controller, and a controller. The concentration meter measures the concentration of oxygen located in the anode of a fuel cell stack. The hydrogen feed rate controller is disposed at an inlet of the anode. The controller receives an oxygen concentration signal value from the concentration meter while controlling the hydrogen feed rate controller to adjust a hydrogen feed rate to the anode. | 01-31-2013 |
20130029239 | SHUTDOWN AND SELF-MAINTENANCE OPERATION PROCESS OF LIQUID FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A shutdown and self-maintenance operation process of a liquid fuel cell system is introduced. The liquid fuel cell system gives out a shutdown signal and a liquid fuel cell of the liquid fuel cell system stops discharging when receiving the shutdown signal. Thereafter, a self-maintenance operation consisting of the following four steps will be performed: (a) Supply of the cathode gas is stopped in the liquid fuel cell system. (b) After a first duration, the supply of the cathode gas is started. (c) The liquid fuel cell discharges until the output power of the liquid fuel cell is less than or equal to a first predetermined value. (d) The liquid fuel cell stops discharging and the supply of the cathode gas is stopped again. The (a) to (d) four steps are repeated several times before the liquid fuel cell system is completely stopped. | 01-31-2013 |
20130034786 | METHOD OF STARTING FUEL CELL SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE AND FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A method of starting a fuel cell system for a vehicle includes determining whether or not an activation signal of a fuel cell provided in the fuel cell system has been inputted, operating, if it is determined that the activation signal has been inputted, a cooling medium circulation pump to supply a cooling medium to an impurity removal mechanism for reducing a conductivity of the cooling medium, and driving an oxidant gas supply device and a fuel gas supply device in the fuel cell system to start activation of the fuel cell if it is determined that the conductivity of the cooling medium is less than or equal to a predetermined value. | 02-07-2013 |
20130034787 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a fuel gas supply channel, a fuel off-gas discharge channel, an oxidant gas supply channel, an oxidant off-gas discharge channel, a first shut valve, a second shut valve, a shut valve controller, a temperature detector, a scavenging device, and an elapsed-time detector. The elapsed-time detector is configured to detect an elapsed time elapsed from a timing at which the fuel cell is shut down. The scavenging device scavenges the oxidant gas flow channel and the fuel gas flow channel in sequence if the elapsed time detected by the elapsed-time detector is within a first predetermined period of time. The scavenging device scavenges the fuel gas flow channel and the oxidant gas flow channel in sequence if the elapsed time detected by the elapsed-time detector is outside the first predetermined period of time. | 02-07-2013 |
20130040218 | GAS SUPPLY DEVICE - A gas supply device for use in a fuel cell system, comprises: a first injector configured to have a first maximum valve-openable pressure; a second injector arranged in parallel with the first injector and configured to have a lower flow rate than the first injector and a greater second maximum valve-openable pressure than the first maximum valve-openable pressure; a first pressure sensor located upstream of the first and second injectors; and a controller configured to control open/close operation of the first and second injectors, wherein at a start of the fuel cell system, (i) when pressure in the upstream of the first and second injectors is greater than the first maximum valve-openable pressure but is less than or equal to the second maximum valve-openable pressure, the controller opens the second injector, and (ii) when the pressure in the upstream of the first and second injectors is less than or equal to the first maximum valve-openable pressure, the controller opens the first injector or the second injector. | 02-14-2013 |
20130040219 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, an operation controller and an air-conditioning mechanism. In response to a heating request for the air-conditioning mechanism during ordinary operation where the fuel cell is operated at an operating point on a current-voltage characteristic curve of the fuel cell, the operation controller compares a heat value-based required current value that is a current value of an operating point that is located on the current-voltage characteristic curve and satisfies a required heat value for the fuel cell with an output-based required current value that is a current value of an operating point that is located on the current-voltage characteristic curve and satisfies a required output for the fuel cell. When the output-based required current value is equal to or greater than the heat value-based required current value, the operation controller causes the fuel cell to be operated at an operating point on the current-voltage characteristic curve. When the output-based required current value is smaller than the heat value-based required current value, the operation controller controls the operating point of the fuel cell to an operating point of lower power generation efficiency than that of the operating point on the current-voltage characteristic curve. | 02-14-2013 |
20130052553 | HIGH PRESSURE GAS SUPPLY SYSTEM AND FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system ( | 02-28-2013 |
20130065147 | Method for Controlling the Energy Management in a Fuel Cell System - A method for operating a fuel cell system for supplying at least one electrical consumer with electric energy is provided. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell and an accessory for supplying the fuel cell. The efficiency of the fuel cell system is determined and the fuel cell is switched off temporarily when the efficiency of the fuel cell system falls below a switch-limit efficiency. | 03-14-2013 |
20130071765 | Method for Operating a Fuel Cell System - A method for operating a fuel cell system for the provision of electrical power is provided. The fuel cell system is disconnected when control electronics detect a fault. The fault that led to the disconnection is evaluated by the control electronics. An automatic restart of the fuel cell system through the control unit occurs if the evaluation of the fault permits this. | 03-21-2013 |
20130084512 | FUEL BATTERY SYSTEM - A fuel battery system of the present invention includes: an alkaline fuel battery; a fuel supply device for supplying a fuel to an anode of the fuel battery; an oxidizing agent supply device for supplying an oxidizing agent to a cathode of the fuel battery; a liquid supply device which supplies a liquid to the cathode; a valve which switches between fluids to be supplied to the cathode; and a control device which controls the switching of the valve. The fuel battery system suppresses the neutralization of an anion-exchange electrolyte due to carbon dioxide in the air, by supplying the liquid from the liquid supply device to the cathode and making the cathode in the state of being immersed in the liquid when the fuel battery stops power generation. | 04-04-2013 |
20130095403 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND STOP METHOD THEREOF - A fuel cell system and a stop method thereof are provided that can supply inert gas to the anode with a simple configuration during system stop. The method includes the steps of: cutting off new supply of fuel gas to the anode and discharge of discharge gas from the anode to outside after a stop command for the system (S | 04-18-2013 |
20130095404 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - The fuel cell system of the present invention supplies oxidant gas to a fuel cell during periods where generation of electrical power by the fuel cell is stopped. As a result, an amount of oxidant gas that is just sufficient to continue a reaction with remaining fuel gas is continued even when generation of electrical power itself is stopped. It is therefore possible to protect electrolyte membranes from damage occurring as a result of oxygen deficiency. Further, in addition to intermittent operation, the fuel cell system of the present invention is also applicable to steps for the stopping of generation of electrical power by a fuel cell in accordance with other conditions or at the time of the complete stopping of operation of the fuel cell system. | 04-18-2013 |
20130108941 | QUICK RESTART OF FUEL CELL POWER PLANT AS ALTERNATIVE TO IDLING | 05-02-2013 |
20130130140 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system having a fuel cell includes a power generation-time gas supplier that supplies hydrogen-containing fuel gas to an anode of the fuel cell and supplies an oxygen-containing oxidizing gas to a cathode of the fuel cell during power generation of the fuel cell. The fuel cell system also includes an anode potential rise information acquirer that acquires anode potential rise information, which represents information regarding a status of an anode potential rise of the fuel cell, after termination of supplies of the fuel gas and the oxidizing gas by the power generation-time gas supplier. The fuel cell system further includes an anode morphology variation deriver that derives an anode morphology variation representing a degree of a morphology change of a catalyst metal included in the anode, based on the anode potential rise information. | 05-23-2013 |
20130130141 | DIRECT OXIDATION FUEL CELL SYSTEM - Disclosed is a direct oxidation fuel cell system including: a direct oxidation fuel cell including an anode and a cathode, an air pump for supplying air to the cathode, a liquid feed pump for supplying an aqueous fuel solution to the anode, and a collection tank for collecting an anode fluid discharged from the anode. The collection tank has an anode fluid collection port at which the anode fluid is merged with a liquid in the collection tank. Either during normal operation or during suspension of operation of the fuel cell system, or both, the volume of the liquid in the collection tank is controlled to be equal to or greater than a predetermined first lower-limit value. The first lower-limit value is set such that the anode fluid collection port is positioned below the level of the liquid in the collection tank. | 05-23-2013 |
20130149623 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME - A fuel cell system according to the present invention includes: a fuel cell ( | 06-13-2013 |
20130196240 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STOPPING OPERATION OF FUEL CELL SYSTEM - In a method for stopping an operation of a fuel cell system, supply of a fuel gas to an anode side of a fuel cell provided in the fuel cell system is stopped. A fuel exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell is recirculated to the anode side of the fuel cell. An oxidant-exhaust-gas discharge path through which an oxidant exhaust gas is to be discharged from the fuel cell is sealed at a downstream position of a connecting portion at which the oxidant-exhaust-gas discharge path is connected to an oxidant-exhaust-gas recirculation path. The oxidant exhaust gas is recirculated to a cathode side of the fuel cell through the oxidant-exhaust-gas recirculation path. Recirculation of the fuel exhaust gas is stopped. Recirculation of the oxidant exhaust gas is stopped. An oxidant-gas supply path through which an oxidant gas is to be supplied to the fuel cell is sealed. | 08-01-2013 |
20130196241 | FREEZE START METHOD FOR FUEL CELLS - A method for starting operation of a solid polymer fuel cell from a temperature below 0° C. is disclosed that prevents certain problems with ice formation as the fuel cell thaws. During startup, the method involves providing the volumetric oxidant flow at a rate less than two thirds of its maximum when the coolant temperature is near 0° C. | 08-01-2013 |
20130196242 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system ( | 08-01-2013 |
20130209906 | REACTANT CONTROL METHOD FOR A FUEL CELL SYSTEM IN IDLE-STOP MODE - A system and method for controlling the reactants in anode and cathode compartments of a fuel cell stack while the fuel cell stack is in a stand-by or idle-stop mode. The method includes identifying a voltage set-point for an average voltage of the fuel cells in the fuel cell stack or an overall stack voltage that is a minimum voltage acceptable for the idle-stop mode. The actual cell voltage average or stack voltage is compared to the voltage set-point to generate a voltage error. The voltage error is provided to a controller that does one or both of providing hydrogen gas to the anode compartment of the stack to increase the anode compartment pressure, which decreases the voltage error if the voltage is above the voltage set-point, or providing more cathode air to the cathode compartment of the fuel cell stack if the voltage error is below the voltage set-point. | 08-15-2013 |
20130209907 | OPERATIONAL METHOD FOR A SIMPLIFIED FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A system and method for reducing the corrosive effects of an air/hydrogen front in a fuel cell stack. The method includes shutting down the fuel cell stack and then initiating a hydrogen sustaining process where hydrogen is periodically injected into an anode side of the fuel cell stack while the stack is shut down for a predetermined period of time. The method determines that the hydrogen sustaining process has ended, and then purges the anode side and a cathode side of the fuel cell stack with air after the hydrogen sustaining process has ended and the stack is still shut-down. | 08-15-2013 |
20130209908 | METHOD FOR STARTING FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND STARTING APPARATUS FOR FUEL CELL SYSTEM - In a method for starting a fuel cell system, an oxidizer gas bypass passage is operated by an oxidizer gas bypass passage controller to supply oxidizer gas to a diluter from an oxidizer gas supply device under a condition where an oxidizer gas supply passage is sealed by an oxidizer gas supply passage sealing device and an oxidizer exhaust gas exhaust passage is sealed by an oxidizer exhaust gas exhaust passage sealing device. A fuel exhaust gas recirculation passage is operated by a fuel exhaust gas recirculation passage controller to supply fuel gas to the fuel cell from a fuel gas supply device. | 08-15-2013 |
20130224614 | FIELD-ENHANCED THERMAL DECOMPOSITION OF FUEL STORAGE COMPOSITIONS - A method of controlled fuel release from a fuel storage composition including applying an electric field to a section of the fuel storage composition, supplying a reagent to the section of the fuel storage composition, measuring a system parameter, and adjusting an electric field parameter based on the system parameter measurement. | 08-29-2013 |
20130224615 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a control valve and a controller. The controller controls the control valve to periodically increase and decrease the anode gas pressure downstream of the control valve. The controller executes a shutdown/restart operation of the fuel cell by closing the control valve to stop the anode gas and shutting down power generation of the fuel cell upon receiving a shutdown command, and restarting feeding of the anode gas and restarting the power generation upon a prescribed operation restart condition being met. The controller estimates an anode gas concentration at a location where the anode gas concentration is locally lower within a power generation region of the fuel cell based on a control state of the anode gas when the shutdown command is issued. The controller sets the prescribed operation restart condition for executing the shutdown/restart operation based on the anode gas concentration. | 08-29-2013 |
20130224616 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a control valve and a controller. The controller controls the control valve to periodically increase and decrease the anode gas pressure downstream of the control valve. The controller executes a shutdown operation of the fuel cell by closing the control valve to stop the anode gas and shutting down power generation of the fuel cell upon receiving a shutdown command. The controller estimates an anode gas concentration at a location where the anode gas concentration is locally lower within a power generation region of the fuel cell based on a control state of the anode gas at a time the shutdown command is issued. The controller determines whether to permit or prohibit shutting down the power generating operation based on the anode gas concentration. | 08-29-2013 |
20130252123 | FUEL CELL POWER PLANT OPERATING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USE IN SUB-FREEZING AMBIENT CONDITIONS - The fuel cell power plant operating system ( | 09-26-2013 |
20130252124 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACTIVATING FUEL CELL - A system for activating a fuel cell includes a flow meter for measuring the amount of water discharged from an outlet of the air electrode and an outlet of the fuel electrode; a pressure sensor for measuring the pressure at the respective outlets; and a back pressure regulator receiving flow values measured by the flow meters and pressure values measured by the pressure sensors, which are fed back from a controller, and regulating a pressure difference (ΔP=P | 09-26-2013 |
20130252125 | POWER GENERATION SYSTEM AND OPERATION METHOD THEREOF - A power generation system of the present invention comprises a fuel cell system ( | 09-26-2013 |
20130266880 | METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR AVOIDING ANODE OXIDATION - An exemplary cooling arrangement for high temperature fuel cell system for substantially reducing the amount of purge gas in a system shutdown situation includes a fuel cell having an anode side, a cathode side, and an electrolyte between the anode side and the cathode side. The cooling arrangement includes a coolant source capable of providing coolant to be used in a cooling process of the high temperature fuel cell system during the system shutdown situation, and a cooling structure in connection with the coolant source arranged in a thermal effect area of the fuel cell stacks. The arrangement also includes the vessel that feeds the coolant into the cooling structure from the coolant source, a heat exchanger that exhausts used coolant from the cooling structure, and an actuating device that uses a triggering force to trigger a coolant flow in the cooling structure, when the system shutdown situation has started. | 10-10-2013 |
20130280630 | Fuel Cell Electricity Production Device and Associated Startup Method - An enclosure houses a fuel cell and defines an enclosed volume around the cell and is provided with openings selectively closed off by mobile shutters for regulate of air circulation between the enclosure interior and exterior, the cell being placed in the enclosure on a support floor, wherein the device comprises at least one selective heating member, separate from the cell, placed in the enclosure underneath the floor, and a volume situated under the floor housing the at least one heating member communicates with the volume of the enclosure situated above the floor via at least one passage. | 10-24-2013 |
20130295479 | HUMID STREAM ORIFICE VIA GEOMETRY AND MATERIAL THAT IS ROBUST TO BECOMING BLOCKED - A component for reducing the likelihood of ice-related blockage in a fuel cell and methods for starting a fuel cell system. In one embodiment, the component is a separate insert configured with a sharp leading edge such that water droplets present in a reactant fluid that pass through an orifice in the component are conveyed away from an unstable formation at the edge to a more stable formation in an adjacent part of the component. In one form, the component is sized to fit within a valve inlet that in turn is placed in a humid reactant flowpath. In this way, when the fuel cell is operated in cold conditions—such as those associated with temperatures at or below the freezing point of water—the water droplets do not freeze in the area around the orifice such that ice-related blockage of the flowpath does not occur. | 11-07-2013 |
20130295480 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND OPERATION METHOD THEREOF - A fuel cell system may be capable of reducing an adverse influence which acts on a fuel cell at the time of restarting the fuel cell after emergency shutdown of operation of the fuel cell. A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a fuel gas supply unit, an oxygen-containing gas supply unit, a storage unit that stores whether shutdown of operation of the fuel cell is normal shutdown or emergency shutdown, and a control unit that controls at least the fuel gas supply unit and the oxygen-containing gas supply unit. The control unit, in emergency shutdown, controls the fuel gas supply unit at a time of restarting the fuel cell after the shutdown of the fuel cell so as to reduce an amount of fuel gas supplied to the fuel cell to be less than that at a time of restarting the fuel cell after normal shutdown. | 11-07-2013 |
20130302710 | VANADIUM FLOW CELL - A Flow Cell System that utilizes a Vanadium Chemistry is provided. The flow cell system includes a stack, electrolyte heat exchangers, and a controller executing a state machine. | 11-14-2013 |
20130316259 | Fuel Cell System - A fuel cell system ( | 11-28-2013 |
20130330645 | VEHICULAR FUEL CELL SYSTEM - There is provided a vehicular fuel cell system. A fuel gas supply path is configured to supply fuel gas from a fuel gas container to a fuel cell stack. A primary decompression valve is disposed on the fuel gas supply path. A secondary decompression valve is disposed on the fuel gas supply path at a downstream side of the primary decompression valve. The secondary decompression valve is fixed to the fuel cell stack. | 12-12-2013 |
20130337354 | POWER GENERATION SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME - A power generation system includes: an air intake passage; a fuel cell system that includes a fuel cell; a case configured to house the fuel cell, a ventilator (air supply unit), and an air intake temperature detector configured to detect a temperature of the intake air supplied to the case; a combustion device that includes a combustor; an exhaust gas passage configured to discharge a flue gas generated in the combustion device to the outside; and a controller. The air intake passage and the exhaust gas passage are configured to allow heat exchange to occur between media flowing through the passages. The controller causes the combustion device to operate when the fuel cell system is activated and the temperature detected by the air intake temperature detector is equal to or lower than a first predetermined temperature. | 12-19-2013 |
20130344410 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING FUEL CELL SYSTEM - Disclosed is a system and method for operating a fuel cell system, which improves durability of a fuel cell stack by purging oxygen diffusing into an air electrode of the fuel cell stack while the fuel cell vehicle is parking. That is, the present invention provides a system and method for operating a fuel cell system, which prevents an interface between oxygen and hydrogen from forming at an anode by periodically supplying hydrogen to a cathode to purge oxygen when the oxygen concentration is greater than a predetermined level to prevent oxygen in the air from diffusing into the cathode while parking the fuel cell vehicle, thus preventing durability of a membrane electrode assembly of a fuel cell stack from deteriorating. | 12-26-2013 |
20140017584 | MODULE LEVEL REDUNDANCY FOR FUEL CELL SYSTEMS - This disclosure relates to module level redundancy for fuel cell systems. A monitoring component monitors a set of operational parameters for a fuel cell group. The fuel cell group includes a set of fuel cell units, each having a set of fuel cell stacks. The fuel cell stacks include a set of gas powered fuel cells that convert air and fuel into electricity using a chemical reaction. The monitoring component determines that the set of operational parameters do not satisfy a set of operational criteria, and, in response, a load balancing component adjusts the electrical output capacity of the set of fuel cell units included in the fuel cell group. | 01-16-2014 |
20140038073 | SHUTDOWN STRATEGY TO AVOID CARBON CORROSION DUE TO SLOW HYDROGEN/AIR INTRUSION RATES - A fuel cell system including a fuel cell stack having a plurality of fuel cells, each of the fuel cells including an electrolyte membrane disposed between an anode and a cathode, an anode supply manifold in fluid communication with the anodes of the fuel cells, the anode supply manifold providing fluid communication between a source of hydrogen and the anodes, an anode exhaust manifold in fluid communication with the anodes of the fuel cells, and a fan in fluid communication with the anodes of the fuel cells, wherein the fan controls a flow of fluid through the anodes of the fuel cells after the fuel cell system is shutdown. | 02-06-2014 |
20140045086 | PRE-ACTIVATION METHOD FOR FUEL CELL STACK - Disclosed is a pre-activation method for a fuel cell stack, which can reduce the amount of hydrogen used and the processing time required during the regular activation process for the fuel cell stack. The disclosure provides, in part, a pre-activation method including: injecting water droplet-containing, humidified hydrogen into a cathode inlet manifold of a fuel cell stack assembled in an assembly process such that the water droplet-containing hydrogen is supplied to a cathode of the fuel cell stack; and sealing and storing the resulting fuel cell stack for a period of time to pre-activate the fuel cell stack. | 02-13-2014 |
20140045087 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DEACTIVATING FUEL CELL SYSTEM - In a method for deactivating a fuel cell system, low electric-power generation is performed prior to oxygen-consumption electric-power generation in a case where a state of charge in an electricity storage device provided in the fuel cell system is larger than a predetermined value when a stop switch provided in the fuel cell system is operated. After the state of charge in the electricity storage device is reduced to the predetermined value by compensating for a negative net output by discharging electricity from the electricity storage device, the oxygen-consumption electric-power generation in which oxygen remaining in a cathode system of the fuel cell is consumed to reduce oxygen concentration within the cathode system is performed. | 02-13-2014 |
20140057189 | FUEL CELL STARTUP APPARATUS AND METHOD - Disclosed is a fuel cell startup apparatus and method, particularly, a fuel cell startup method, by which in an emergency situation such as when a high-voltage battery mounted on a fuel cell vehicle is completely discharged, fuel cell startup can be achieved without assistance of a high-voltage power source. To this end, an air supply port, which is connected to an emergency air supplier, is formed on an air supply line configured to supply air to a cathode of a fuel cell stack, and the emergency air supplier supplies the air to the fuel cell stack when complete discharge of a high-voltage battery and is removably engaged to the air supply port. | 02-27-2014 |
20140057190 | DIRECT OXIDATION TYPE FUEL CELL SYSTEM - Disclosed is a fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell including an anode and a cathode to which a water-soluble fuel and an oxidant are supplied, respectively, and a water-permeable electrolyte membrane interposed therebetween; a fuel tank; a first fuel supply unit which supplies an aqueous fuel solution to the anode; a second fuel supply unit which supplies the fuel to the first fuel supply unit; an oxidant supply unit which supplies an oxidant to the cathode; a temperature sensor which detects a temperature FT of the fuel cell; and a control unit which controls the first, second, and oxidant supply units, and the fuel cell whether to start or stop power generation. The control unit allows at least the first fuel supply unit to operate while the fuel cell is stopped from generating power, provided that the temperature FT of the fuel cell as such meets specific requirements. | 02-27-2014 |
20140057191 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF DETECTING ABNORMALITY OF FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system and an abnormality detecting method therefor is provided. The fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell that includes at least one fuel-cell cell having an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte membrane, an anode-side passage supplying and exhausting fuel gas to and from the anode, a cathode-side passage supplying and exhausting oxidation gas to and from the cathode, a voltage detecting unit detecting a fuel cell voltage, a suppressing unit setting a suppression state where, after terminating normal power generation, introduction of the fuel and oxidation gas to the anode-side and cathode-side passages and emission of the fuel and oxidation gas from the anode-side and cathode-side passages to outsides are suppressed as compared with those during the normal power generation; and an abnormality detecting unit, after setting the suppression state, detecting abnormality of the fuel cell system based on the detected voltage or a variation thereof. | 02-27-2014 |
20140065502 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM ACTIVATION METHOD AND FUEL CELL SYSTEM - As an activation time power generation mode of a fuel cell system, a control device executes: a first step of determining whether or not hydrogen is present in an anode gas flow path; a second step of bringing a contactor to a connected state if hydrogen is detected in the first step as being present in the anode gas flow path; a third step of supplying air to a cathode through a cathode gas flow path after the second step has been executed; and a fourth step of, if a voltage of the fuel cell stack detected by a voltage detection device reaches a predetermined voltage, connecting an electrical load to the fuel cell stack, and performing electric power generation of the fuel cell stack while maintaining the voltage at or below the predetermined voltage. | 03-06-2014 |
20140072893 | POWERING A FUEL CELL STACK DURING STANDBY - A system and method for limiting voltage cycling of a fuel cell stack during a stand-by mode by providing power from a battery to the stack while the stack is turned off. The method includes monitoring the voltage of each of the fuel cells in the fuel cell stack and determining an average cell voltage of the fuel cells in the fuel cell stack. The method also determines whether the average cell voltage of the fuel cells in the fuel cell stack has fallen below a predetermined voltage value and, if so, applies a voltage potential to the fuel cell stack to increase the average cell voltage above the predetermined voltage value. | 03-13-2014 |
20140093801 | AUTOMATED COLD STORAGE PROTECTION FOR A FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A system and method for selectively determining whether a freeze purge should be performed at shut-down of a fuel cell stack. The method includes identifying that the vehicle has been keyed off and then determining whether a stack membrane humidification value is less than a predetermined humidification value that identifies the humidification of membranes in fuel cells in the fuel cell stack. If the stack membrane humidification value is not less than the predetermined humidification value, then the method determines if the ambient temperature is below a predetermined ambient temperature, and if so, performs the freeze purge. If the ambient temperature is not below the predetermined ambient temperature, then the method performs a short non-freeze purge of the flow channels in the fuel cell stack. The method determines a wake-up time for a controller for a next time to determine whether a freeze purge should be performed. | 04-03-2014 |
20140120438 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ENHANCING FUEL CELL VEHICLE STARTUP - Methods and systems for enhancing the performance of fuel cells in fuel cell vehicles. Some embodiments comprise a current control module for controlling the application of a load to the fuel cell and a voltage monitoring module for monitoring one or more voltages within the fuel cell. The current control module may be configured to apply a delay period before applying a load to the fuel cell after the fuel cell has reached an open circuit voltage. In other embodiments, a fixed delay period may be applied before applying a load to the fuel cell after the fuel cell has reached an open circuit voltage or, for example, an incremental set of delay periods that increase as measured temperature decreases. | 05-01-2014 |
20140120439 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM & CONTROL METHOD OF FUEL CELL SYSTEM - In a fuel cell system which executes a stop process of stopping an output from a fuel cell when a required power generation amount for the fuel cell is smaller than a predetermined power generation amount and supplies oxidant during a stop process period, fuel gas is intermittently supplied to a fuel electrode at a basic supply interval, which is set in advance and at which carbon dioxide is not generated in an oxidant electrode, during the stop process period. | 05-01-2014 |
20140141348 | PROCEDURE FOR STACK VOLTAGE RECOVERY - A system and method for reconditioning a fuel cell stack to recover stack voltage loss. The method includes first operating the fuel cell stack in a wet condition where the humidity level in the stack is above 100% to provide liquid water at the cell electrodes. The method then applies a low voltage potential to the stack that causes contaminants to be released from the catalyst surface of the cell electrodes. This step can include starving the cathode side of oxygen for a limited period of time. The method then causes water to flow through the stack so that the contaminants are flushed out of the stack. The process can be performed during vehicle operation where small amounts of voltage would be recovered or during vehicle service where a relatively large amount of voltage could be recovered. | 05-22-2014 |
20140154599 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SIMULTANEOUS CONTROLLING OF FUEL CONCENTRATION AND TEMPERATURE OF LIQUID FUEL BY SENSOR-LESS AND TEMPERATURE-CONTROL BASED FEED-BACK CONTROL, LIQUID FUEL CELL APPARATUS USING THE SAME - A concentration of a fuel supplied to a fuel cell and a heat exchange rate of a heat exchanger are controlled simultaneously in order to maintain a temperature of fuel cell stack and a diluted fuel concentration that is supplied to the fuel cell stack in a target level. Further, by appropriately responding to an exterior temperature changes or unexpected fuel cell performance changes, it is possible to improve a system efficiency and stability of fuel cell operation and to regulate the fuel concentration quickly and accurately compared to a prior sensor-less concentration controller. | 06-05-2014 |
20140154600 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system can be initiated in shorter time while minimizing the deterioration of a fuel cell. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack having a fuel electrode, an oxidizer electrode and an electrolyte membrane disposed there between, the fuel cell producing electricity by an electrochemical reaction of a fuel gas and an oxidizer gas, which are supplied to the fuel electrode and the oxidizer electrode, respectively; a fuel gas supplying device for supplying the fuel gas to the fuel cell stack; an oxidizer gas supplying device for supplying the oxidizer gas to the fuel cell stack; a current controlling device for extracting a current from the fuel cell stack; and a voltage sensor disposed in at least two of the fuel cell stacks. A controller controls the current controlling device such that a minimum voltage, which is obtained from the voltage sensor after a fuel gas is supplied to the fuel electrode without supplying the oxidizer gas to the oxidizer electrode at the time of initiating, becomes zero volts or more. Then, the oxidizer gas is supplied to the oxidizer to start producing electricity. | 06-05-2014 |
20140170513 | ANODE PROTECTION SYSTEM FOR SHUTDOWN OF SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL SYSTEM - An Anode Protection Systems for a SOFC system, having a Reductant Supply and safety subsystem, a SOFC anode protection subsystem, and a Post Combustion and slip stream control subsystem. The Reductant Supply and safety subsystem includes means for generating a reducing gas or vapor to prevent re-oxidation of the Ni in the anode layer during the course of shut down of the SOFC stack. The underlying ammonia or hydrogen based material used to generate a reducing gas or vapor to prevent the re-oxidation of the Ni can be in either a solid or liquid stored inside a portable container. The SOFC anode protection subsystem provides an internal pressure of 0.2 to 10 kPa to prevent air from entering into the SOFC system. The Post Combustion and slip stream control subsystem provides a catalyst converter configured to treat any residual reducing gas in the slip stream gas exiting from SOFC stack. | 06-19-2014 |
20140170514 | VARIABLE PEM FUEL CELL SYSTEM START TIME TO OPTIMIZE SYSTEM EFFICIENCY AND PERFORMANCE - A system and method for controlling a fuel cell system start time based on various vehicle parameters. The method includes providing a plurality of inputs that identify operating conditions of the fuel cell system and determining a maximum allowable start-time of the fuel cell system using a hybridization control strategy and the plurality of inputs. The method then determines a maximum compressor speed and ramp rate to provide the optimal allowable start-time of the fuel cell system minimizing energy consumption and noise. | 06-19-2014 |
20140178783 | OFFSET CONTROL ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING VOLTAGE VALUES IN A FUEL CELL SYSTEM - An offset control arrangement is disclosed for controlling voltage values in a fuel cell system including an anode side, a cathode side and an electrolyte between the anode side and the cathode side. The fuel cell system can include at least one fuel cell array of at least two fuel cells, and at least one load for performing load function. The offset control arrangement can include voltage monitoring for monitoring an input voltage of the load, a control processor for processing the monitoring information, and at least one offsetting source in serial connection to the at least one fuel cell array, with a power level of the offsetting source being substantially low compared to the power level of the fuel cell array, and the offsetting source being arranged to perform at least unidirectional shifting of fuel cell array output voltage. | 06-26-2014 |
20140186730 | HEATING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FUEL CELL - A heating apparatus for a fuel cell that includes heating units that extend in the stacking direction of a plurality of separators, in contact with upper ends and lower ends of air intake sides of the stacked separators. | 07-03-2014 |
20140186731 | Operating A Redox Flow Battery With A Negative Electrolyte Imbalance - Loss of flow battery electrode catalyst layers during self-discharge or charge reversal may be prevented by establishing and maintaining a negative electrolyte imbalance during at least parts of a flow battery's operation. Negative imbalance may be established and/or maintained actively, passively or both. Actively establishing a negative imbalance may involve detecting an imbalance that is less negative than a desired threshold, and processing one or both electrolytes until the imbalance reaches a desired negative level. Negative imbalance may be effectively established and maintained passively within a cell by constructing a cell with a negative electrode chamber that is larger than the cell's positive electrode chamber, thereby providing a larger quantity of negative electrolyte for reaction with positive electrolyte. | 07-03-2014 |
20140186732 | FUEL CELL COOLING SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE AND FUEL CELL-POWERED VEHICLE - The grill shutter is disposed between the front grill and the air intake duct. The grill shutter is capable of opening or closing shutter members and regulating positions of the shutter members when being opened. When a maximum supplied flow rate of air provided by the wind during running is greater than a flow rate of air required for the hydrogen fuel battery, the required flow rate of air is established only by opening/closing control of the shutter members through a grill shutter opening instruction. If this is not the case, the grill shutter members are opened fully through the grill shutter opening instruction to maximize the volume of the wind during running taken in from the front grille. Additionally, a shortfall in the required flow rate of air for the hydrogen fuel battery is compensated for by actuating the blower through a blower speed instruction. | 07-03-2014 |
20140205923 | POWER GENERATION CHARACTERISTIC ESTIMATION DEVICE FOR FUEL CELL - A power generation characteristic estimation device for fuel cell includes a reference characteristic setting unit for setting a reference power generation characteristic of a fuel cell, a current detection unit for detecting an actual current of the fuel cell, a voltage detection unit for detecting an actual voltage of the fuel cell, and a characteristic estimation unit for estimating an actual power generation characteristic of the fuel cell based on a voltage difference between a voltage on the reference power generation characteristic and an actual voltage at the actual current. The characteristic estimation unit estimates the power generation characteristic during a warm-up operation of the fuel cell when a pressure of a gas supplied to the fuel cell is not lower than a predetermined value. | 07-24-2014 |
20140212779 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING FUEL CELL SYSTEM - Provided is a method of controlling a fuel cell system including a stop command sensing process of sensing a stop command output when the fuel cell system stops, an anode pressure increasing process of increasing pressure so that the pressure of the anode reaches a first predetermined pressure value, and a stop-time discharge process of performing discharge by consuming oxygen remaining within an oxidant off-gas while driving an oxidant off-gas circulation pump. | 07-31-2014 |
20140212780 | METHOD OF STARTING FUEL CELL SYSTEM - Provided is a method of starting a fuel cell system including a hydrogen concentration acquisition process of acquiring a concentration of hydrogen in the anode, a threshold value determination process of determining whether or not the concentration of hydrogen which is acquired by the hydrogen concentration acquisition process is greater than or equal to a predetermined second threshold value, and a starting pressure setting process of setting a pressure of hydrogen supplied to an anode from a hydrogen tank when supplying hydrogen to the anode from the hydrogen tank in a state in which a contactor is shut off. | 07-31-2014 |
20140242487 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes a control valve for controlling the pressure of anode gas to be supplied to a fuel cell, a buffer unit for storing anode off-gas discharged from the fuel cell, and a start-up anode gas pressure control unit for feeding inert gas in an anode gas flow passage of the fuel cell under pressure to the buffer unit by controlling the pressure of the anode gas to be supplied to the fuel cell when the fuel cell system is started. The start-up anode gas pressure control unit controls the pressure of the anode gas according to a temperature difference between the temperature of the fuel cell and that of the buffer unit. | 08-28-2014 |
20140248547 | METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR AVOIDING ANODE OXIDATION - An arrangement for high temperature fuel cell system for substantially reducing the amount of purge gas in an emergency shut-down situation. The arrangement includes a known volume for containing a pneumatic actuation pressure, the known volume including at least one discharge route for designed discharge rate, at least one pressure source providing pressure capable of performing the pneumatic actuation, at least one purge gas source having a gas overpressure capable of displacing residual reactants in the fuel cell system. Purge gas is discharged through the discharge route causing pressure decline in the known volume, accomplishing a designed time delay in state change of at least one pneumatically actuated valve, to reduce or close down completely emergency shutdown actuated flow of the purge gas into the fuel cell system piping after the designed time delay. | 09-04-2014 |
20140272646 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD TO PREVENT WATER-INDUCED DAMAGE - 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. | 09-18-2014 |
20140272647 | Fluidic Interface Module for a Fuel Cell System - Purge valves that are manually turned ON but are automatically or electrically turned OFF as the fuel cell's production of electricity reaches a predetermined level, e.g., steady state or thereabout are disclosed. The purge valve may be opened at system start-up, or may be opened at system shut-down so that the purge valve is armed and the fuel cell system is purged at the next start-up. Also disclosed is an integrated fluidic interface module that contains various fluidic components including one of these purge valves. The integrated fluidic interface module can operate passively or without being actively controlled by a processor. Methods of operating a fuel cell system, wherein the fuel cell system is purged at system start-up, are also disclosed. The purging automatically stops when the anode plenum is fully purged and replaced with fuel. | 09-18-2014 |
20140272648 | Method for Operating a Fuel Cell System - Methods of operating a fuel cell system, wherein the fuel cell system is purged at system start-up, are disclosed. The purging automatically stops when the anode plenum is fully purged and replaced with fuel. Also discussed are purge valves that are manually turned ON but are automatically turned OFF as the fuel cell's production of electricity reaches a predetermined level, e.g., steady state or thereabout. The purge valve may be opened at system start-up, or may be opened at system shut-down so that the purge valve is armed and the fuel cell system is purged at the next start-up. Also disclosed is integrated fluidic interface module that contains various fluidic components including one of these purge valves. The integrated fluidic interface module can operate passively or without being actively controlled. | 09-18-2014 |
20140272649 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HEATING A FUEL CELL STACK - An apparatus for heating a fuel cell stack in a cold start mode is provided. The apparatus comprises a fuel cell stack, a boost converter, and a controller. The fuel cell stack powers a vehicle. The boost converter includes a power switch that is thermally coupled to the fuel cell stack. The controller is configured to receive a signal indicative of a temperature during a vehicle startup and to compare the temperature to a predetermined temperature value. The controller is further configured to activate the power switch if the temperature is below the predetermined temperature value such that the power switch generates heat to apply to the fuel cell stack and generates a voltage for powering a power circuit to enable the vehicle to driveaway while the fuel cell stack receives the heat. | 09-18-2014 |
20140272650 | SLIP STREAM FOR RELIABLE ANODE TO CATHODE FLOW IN FREEZE CONDITIONS - A device and method for ensuring proper fuel cell system warmup or shutdown during freeze conditions. A three-way valve is used in conjunction with a flow-controlling orifice to ensure that the orifice avoids ice blockage during frozen conditions. Dry, warm air is delivered as a slip stream under pressure to a cathode flowpath, where the construction of the orifice is such that it is structurally compliant to promote flexing in response to the pressurized slip stream, thereby helping to break up any small amount of ice that may have formed in or on the orifice. | 09-18-2014 |
20140272651 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - An IR resistance of each of unit cells is measured, and a highest unit cell voltage as a threshold voltage is set based on the IR resistance and load current. The setting of the highest unit cell voltage uses map data that approximates current-voltage characteristics of a unit cell when the fuel gas is insufficiently supplied. In that case, the highest unit cell voltage is determined based on the voltage with respect to the load current obtained from the map data, and the IR loss calculated from the IR resistance and the load current. This highest unit cell voltage is compared with the measured unit cell voltage. If the unit cell voltage is below the highest unit cell voltage, the power generation of the fuel cell is stopped or restrained. | 09-18-2014 |
20140287334 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND THE OPERATING METHOD THEREOF - A fuel cell system includes an air manifold through which air is supplied or exhausted, a fuel gas manifold through which fuel gas is supplied or exhausted, a stack portion that generates electricity by using air and fuel that are supplied by the air manifold and the fuel gas manifold, and an injection array that is disposed along an inside of the air manifold or the fuel gas manifold to inject air or fuel gas. | 09-25-2014 |
20140295305 | FUEL CELL VEHICLE AND MOVING BODY - A data signal accurately reflecting the actual state of a storage vessel is sent to a station side. A fuel cell system ( | 10-02-2014 |
20140295306 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - In a method for controlling a fuel cell system, a shutoff valve is opened to supply a fuel gas from a storage container to a fuel cell after a fuel cell system shutdown instruction is sent to the fuel cell system so that the fuel cell generates and discharges electricity. The storage container is supplied to the fuel gas supplied from a fuel supply source provided outside the fuel cell system in response to a filling instruction to supply the fuel gas to the storage container. A data signal indicating a state of the storage container is transmitted to the fuel supply source. The shutoff valve is closed and the storage container is supplied to the fuel gas supplied from the fuel supply source if the filling instruction is output while opening the shutoff valve after the fuel cell system shutdown instruction is sent. | 10-02-2014 |
20140342258 | FUEL CELL STARTUP METHOD FOR FAST FREEZE STARTUP - A method for starting a cold or frozen fuel cell stack as efficiently and quickly as possible in a vehicle application is based upon a state of charge of a first power source such as a high voltage battery. Power flow between the first power source and fuel cell system is coordinated in conjunction with a specific load schedule and parallel control algorithms to minimize the start time required and optimize system warm-up. | 11-20-2014 |
20140356745 | ENERGY SYSTEM HAVING A FUEL CELL ARRANGEMENT - An energy system having a fuel cell arrangement, wherein the fuel cell arrangement has at least one fuel cell and the fuel cell arrangement has at least one first electrical contact and at least one second electrical contact for tapping off electrically generated energy of the fuel cell arrangement. An electrical component for warming up the fuel cell arrangement is electrically connectable between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact. At least some of the electrical energy flow which is necessary to release the thermal energy can be fed back to the energy system by the electrical component. | 12-04-2014 |
20150010839 | GAS SUPPLY SYSTEM - A gas supply system that supplies a gas after making confluence of the gas flows from gas containers includes: a supply pressure detector that detects supply pressure of the gas following the confluence; and a controller that permits a gas supply-destination apparatus to be activated if the supply pressure detected after an elapse of a determination time from a start of the gas supply is greater than or equal to a threshold pressure, and that prohibits the apparatus from being activated if the supply pressure is less than the threshold pressure. The controller uses a first determination time as the determination time if it is determined that internal pressures that are the gas pressures in the containers are not imbalanced between the containers, and uses a second determination time that is longer than the first as the determination time if it is determined that the internal pressures are imbalanced. | 01-08-2015 |
20150037698 | ELECTROCHEMICAL SYSTEM COMPRISING AN INDUCTION HEATING SYSTEM - Electrochemical system comprising a fuel cell comprising a stack ( | 02-05-2015 |
20150086891 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR STARTING FUEL CELL VEHICLE IN EMERGENCY - An apparatus and a method for starting a fuel cell vehicle in an emergency by using the blower of an air conditioning system of the vehicle are disclosed. Thus, upon failure of a high voltage system including a high voltage DC-DC converter or a high voltage battery used as a power source of an air blower during start-up of a fuel cell, air is supplied to the fuel cell so as to be started in the emergency, thereby ensuring starting efficiency of the vehicle and security to the driver in the emergency. | 03-26-2015 |
20150093667 | VERIFICATION OF REPLACEABLE FUEL CARTRIDGES FOR FUEL CELL POWER SYSTEMS - A hydrogen cartridge with a dispensing end, said cartridge having unique identification associated therewith is disclosed, said cartridge providing a supply of hydrogen and being removably fitted to a host device. Prior to use in said host device, the unique identifier is input into a communications device which, through a network, contacts a secure database with records of authentic unique identifiers. Said secure database may require verification of a user and/or a communication device prior to granting access. The host device also has a communications link whereby one of the database and the communications device may provide authorization to a host device, including but not limited to a controller, to utilize the hydrogen in the canister associated with a specific unique identifier. | 04-02-2015 |
20150099203 | ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT PROVIDED WITH BATTERY CHECK DEVICE - Immediately after a main switch is turned ON, a battery check is performed based on a second inhibit voltage LVL | 04-09-2015 |
20150118590 | Methods for Operating a Fuel Cell System - Methods of operating a fuel cell system, wherein the fuel cell system is purged at system start-up, are disclosed. The purging automatically stops when the anode plenum is fully purged and replaced with fuel. Also discussed are purge valves that are manually turned ON but are automatically turned OFF as the fuel cell's production of electricity reaches a predetermined level, e.g., steady state or thereabout. The purge valve may be opened at system start-up, or may be opened at system shut-down so that the purge valve is armed and the fuel cell system is purged at the next start-up. Also disclosed is integrated fluidic interface module that contains various fluidic components including one of these purge valves. The integrated fluidic interface module can operate passively or without being actively controlled. | 04-30-2015 |
20150140461 | METHOD OF OPERATING A HEATER - A method is provided for operating a heater including a heater housing extending along a heater axis; a plurality of fuel cell stack assemblies disposed within the heater housing along the heater axis and having a plurality of fuel cells which convert chemical energy from a fuel cell fuel into heat and electricity through a chemical reaction with a fuel cell oxidizing agent; and a plurality of combustors disposed within the heater housing along the heater axis. The method includes supplying a combustor fuel to the plurality of combustors, combusting the combustor fuel to produce a heated combustor exhaust when the fuel cell stack assemblies are substantially electrochemically inactive, and using the heated combustor exhaust to elevate the temperature of the fuel cell stack assemblies to be electrochemically active. | 05-21-2015 |
20150295256 | POWER GENERATION SYSTEM, AND METHODS FOR STARTING AND OPERATING FUEL CELL IN POWER GENERATION SYSTEM - The present invention enables a fuel cell to be stably started by minimizing a lack of air in a gas turbine when starting the fuel cell. This fuel cell system comprises: a gas turbine ( | 10-15-2015 |
20150295257 | INTEGRATED RECIRCULATING FUEL CELL METHODS - A PEM fuel system includes a fuel cell stack comprising one or more PEM fuel cells and fan configured to provide process air to supply oxidizer to and cool the fuel cell stack. The system has an air duct coupled to the fan and the fuel cell stack, and an electrical service load coupled to the fuel cell stack for receiving electrical power generated from reactions within the fuel cell stack. The system further includes as auxiliary electrical load coupled to the fuel cell stack and located within the air duct to reduce potentials across the fuel cell stack. The air duct is configured to direct the flow of air to the fuel cell stack and auxiliary electrical load to provide cooling air to the fuel cell stack and auxiliary electrical load. | 10-15-2015 |
20150325871 | PROCEDURE FOR DETECTING THE STATE OF PERMEABILITY OF THE ION EXCHANGE POLYMER MEMBRANE OF A FUEL CELL - An automated method or procedure for detecting a permeability state of a membrane of a fuel cell stack is provided. The procedure is sensitive enough to detect a defective membrane, and is accurate enough to enable correct maintenance of the fuel cell stack. The fuel cell stack is formed of a stack of electrochemical cells each having an anode and a cathode sandwiching a polymeric ion-exchange membrane therebetween. The fuel cell stack includes a fuel gas supply system on the anode side of the electrochemical cells, and includes an oxidant gas supply system on the cathode side of the electrochemical cells. | 11-12-2015 |
20150325872 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MITIGATING CARBON CORROSION IN A FUEL CELL SYSTEM - System and methods for reducing carbon corrosion in a fuel cell system are presented. Particularly, the disclosed systems and methods may be utilized in connection with preventing the formation of a propagating H | 11-12-2015 |
20150349360 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - A fuel cell system includes an auxiliary machine electrically connected to a fuel cell, the auxiliary machine being driven by power of the fuel cell, a heater electrically connected to the fuel cell, the heater being configured to heat cooling water supplied to the fuel cell, and a warm-up control unit configured to warm up the fuel cell itself by the supply of power to the auxiliary machine and the heater during start-up of the fuel cell below freezing point. The warm-up control unit includes a water amount computation unit configured to compute a produced water amount on the basis of a degree of wetness and a temperature of the fuel cell and a generated power of the fuel cell during warm-up, the produced water amount being a water amount produced in an electrolyte membrane until the temperature of the fuel cell increases to a freezing point temperature, and an anti-freezing control unit configured to increase a power ratio of power to the heater in regards to the auxiliary machine during the warm-up when the computed produced water amount is determined to be larger than a threshold value. | 12-03-2015 |
20150357657 | CONTROL AND HEATING OF FUEL CELL STACK COOLANT THERMAL MASS - A fuel cell system is includes a fuel cell stack with a cooling line arrangement configured to pass coolant through the stack, a pump configured to move the coolant through the arrangement, and at least one controller. The controller is programmed to, in response to a start-up event for the stack at an ambient temperature less than a first threshold value, initiate operation of the stack and to prevent activation of the pump in order to promote static flow conditions within the arrangement. | 12-10-2015 |
20150357663 | POWER-ON SHUTDOWN OF FUEL CELL POWER PLANT FOR ENHANCED DURABILITY - A technique is disclosed of modified shut-down of a fuel cell power plant ( | 12-10-2015 |
20150364776 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - A fuel cell system and a method tor controlling the same are provided. The method includes rapidly increasing an angular speed of a rotating magnetic field of an induction motor to maximize iron loss of the induction motor, thereby resulting in an increase in the temperature of a rise cell stack. The method further includes eliminating torque of a driving motor generated by an increase in the angular speed of the rotating magnetic field, using a torque eliminator. The torque eliminator includes a P-stage reducer or a hydraulic break. | 12-17-2015 |
20150372327 | SEALING APPARATUS FOR A FUEL CELL STACK - A fuel cell stack assembly comprises a stack of fuel cells, each fuel cell having an air flow conduit with an input/output ventilation aperture disposed on a ventilation face of the stack, the ventilation apertures forming an array over said ventilation face of the stack. A membrane is moveable between a first configuration in which the ventilation face is occluded and a second configuration in which the ventilation face is not occluded. The membrane is rollable between the first configuration and the second configuration. Ventilation of the fuel cell stack is thereby controlled by the position of the membrane, e.g. during fuel cell start up and/or shut down procedures or for hydration control of the fuel cells. | 12-24-2015 |
20150380752 | Fuel Cell Supply System - A supply system of the anode circuit of a fuel cell ( | 12-31-2015 |
20150380753 | METHOD FOR STOPPING FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A method for stopping a fuel cell system includes supplying a fuel gas containing a fuel to an anode of a fuel cell which is to generate electric power. An oxidant gas containing an oxidant is supplied to a cathode of the fuel cell. A concentration of the oxidant gas in the cathode is reduced. An output voltage of the fuel cell is lowered while a slope of a change in the output voltage with respect to elapsed time is controlled such that an output current of the fuel cell has a predetermined relationship with a predetermined current reference value. | 12-31-2015 |
20160006056 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - Disclosed is a fuel cell system and a method for controlling the fuel cell system. In the method, an external air temperature and a fuel cell temperature are monitored. When a vehicle having the fuel cell system mounted therein is keyed on, a shut-off duration of the fuel cell system, a maximum external air temperature for the shut-off duration and a maximum fuel cell temperature for the shut-off duration are calculated. A gas composition of a fuel cell at a key-on time is estimated using the shut-off duration, the maximum external air temperature and the maximum fuel cell temperature. An ignition condition of the fuel cell system is set based on the estimated gas composition. Ignition of the fuel cell system is performed based on the set ignition condition. | 01-07-2016 |
20160006057 | POWER GENERATION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING POWER GENERATION SYSTEM - Provided are: a power generation system that can generate electric power efficiently with a fuel cell; and a method for operating said power generation system. This power generation system comprises: a fuel cell including a plurality of unit fuel cell modules; a gas turbine; various lines for circulating fuel gas, air, discharged fuel gas, and discharged air between the fuel cell and the gas turbine; and a control device. The control device determines the number of said unit fuel cell modules to be operated on the basis of the required power generation amount, and operates the determined number of said unit fuel cell modules. | 01-07-2016 |
20160036070 | DYNAMICALLY CONTROLLED HEAT EXCHANGE FOR CASCADING STARTUP OF FUEL CELL GRIDS - A “Cascading Startup Controller” provides various techniques for quickly and efficiently initializing grids of interconnected fuel cells. In general, the Cascading Startup Controller dynamically controls heat exchange between fuel cells in the grid to produce a cascading startup of the fuel cell grid via an expanding pattern of excess thermal energy routing from hotter fuel cell stacks to cooler fuel cell stacks. This expanding pattern of excess thermal energy routing is dynamically controlled via automated valves of a heat exchange grid coupled to the fuel cell grid to decrease a total startup time for fuel cell stacks in the grid. Additional excess heat beyond that used to heat fuel cells to operational temperatures is then made available for a variety of purposes, including, but not limited to, preheating gas or other fuel for use by the fuel cells, local or community-based heating systems, heat-based energy cogeneration systems, etc. | 02-04-2016 |
20160043417 | METHOD FOR CREATING AN OXYGEN DEPLETED GAS IN A FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A method for creating an oxygen depleted gas in a fuel cell system, including operating a fuel cell stack at a desired cathode stoichiometry at fuel cell system shutdown to displace a cathode exhaust gas with an oxygen depleted gas. The method further includes closing a cathode flow valve and turning off a compressor to stop the flow of cathode air. | 02-11-2016 |
20160049673 | REDOX FLOW BATTERY AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME - A redox flow battery includes: a positive electrolyte storage tank; a negative electrolyte storage tank; a cell stack; a positive electrolyte outward path that sends positive electrolyte to positive electrode chambers in the cell stack; a positive electrolyte return path that sends positive electrolyte to the positive electrolyte storage tank; a negative electrolyte outward path that sends negative electrolyte to negative electrode chambers of the cells; a negative electrolyte return path that sends negative electrolyte to the negative electrolyte storage tank; an entrance open circuit voltage measuring portion that measures an upstream open circuit voltage between the positive electrolyte inside the positive electrolyte outward path and the negative electrolyte inside the negative electrolyte outward path; and an exit open circuit voltage measuring portion that measures a downstream open circuit voltage between the positive electrolyte inside the positive electrolyte return path and the negative electrolyte inside the negative electrolyte return path. | 02-18-2016 |
20160056484 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATING FUEL CELL SYSTEM - An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel cell system and a method of operating the fuel cell system which is difficult to give an uncomfortable feeling to a driver or passenger by operation sound of the injector while satisfactorily discharging water. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack having an anode flow path, an injector for supplying hydrogen at a predetermined drive cycle toward the anode flow path by being opened, and an ECU for controlling the injector, wherein the ECU performs a valve opening time extension step in which hydrogen is supplied in a valve opening time longer than that in next and previous drive cycles. | 02-25-2016 |
20160056485 | FLUIDIC INTERFACE MODULE FOR A FUEL CELL SYSTEM - Purge valves (I | 02-25-2016 |
20160064753 | METHODS FOR OPERATING A FUEL CELL SYSTEM - Purge valves that are manually turned ON but are automatically or electrically turned OFF as the fuel cell production of electricity reaches a predetermined level, e.g., steady state or thereabout are disclosed. The purge valve may be opened at system start-up, or may be opened at system shut-down so that the purge valve is armed and the fuel cell system is purged at the next start-up. Also disclosed is an integrated fluidic interface module that contains various fluidic components including one of these purge valves. The integrated fluidic interface module can operate passively or without being actively controlled by a processor. Methods of operating a fuel cell system, wherein the fuel cell system is purged at system start-up, are also disclosed. The purging automatically stops when the anode plenum is fully purged and replaced with fuel. | 03-03-2016 |
20160079618 | FUEL BATTERY SYSTEM - There are provided a hydrogen tank for compressed storage of hydrogen gas, as fuel gas, at high pressures; a fuel cell stack for generating and supplying power using the hydrogen gas from the hydrogen tank; a hydrogen supply path interconnecting the hydrogen tank and the fuel cell stack; a shutoff valve for allowing supply of the hydrogen gas from the hydrogen tank by opening or closing the hydrogen supply path; a fuel supply valve, situated downstream of the shutoff valve, with respect to a supply direction of oxygen gas, for allowing supply of hydrogen gas to fuel cell stack; and an ECU for controllably causing the fuel supply valve to assume its closed state and the shutoff valve to assume its opened state during filling the hydrogen tank with hydrogen gas. | 03-17-2016 |
20160079621 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A fuel cell system comprises a fuel cell stack, a circulation flow path of a cooling medium, a pump provided in the circulation flow path, a supply-side temperature sensor provided to detect a supplied cooling medium temperature, a discharge-side temperature sensor provided to detect a discharged cooling medium temperature, and a cold-start controller configured to control a circulation volume of the cooling medium by the pump at a cold start of the fuel cell stack. The cold-start controller estimates a fuel cell internal temperature and selectively sets the circulation volume of the cooling medium between a reduced volume and a normal volume, based on a magnitude relationship between the internal temperature and the discharged cooling medium temperature. When the supplied cooling medium temperature becomes equal to the discharge cooling medium temperature after setting the circulation volume, the cold-start controller sets the circulation volume of the cooling medium to an increased volume (maximum circulation volume). | 03-17-2016 |
20160087291 | ROTATABLE HEATER OF FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A rotatable heater of a fuel cell system includes a heater housing, into and out of which a coolant for cooling a fuel cell stack flows, and which defines a coolant chamber therein. A motor is driven by an electrical energy generated from the fuel cell stack or by another power source. At least one heater stick generates heat by the electrical energy generated by the fuel cell stack and heats the coolant. The at least one heater stick rotates by the motor. | 03-24-2016 |
20160087293 | VENTILATION APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A ventilation apparatus includes: a controller that determines whether insulation resistance between a fuel cell stack and an enclosure including the fuel cell stack is equal to or smaller than a preset value, and varies a degree of opening of a valve provided between an inlet provided on one side of the enclosure and an air blower injecting air to an interior of the enclosure through the inlet based on the determination. | 03-24-2016 |
20160093906 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING COLD START OF FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A device and a method for controlling a cold start of a fuel cell system are provided and are capable of increasing a fuel cell load to reduce a cold start time using a kinetic energy storage method for a rotor of a motor for driving a fuel cell system. The method improves cold start performance by performing self-heating of a fuel cell stack based on an increase in an output current amount of a fuel cell and by restricting a motor torque simultaneously with generating the motor torque while applying a current to a motor when a vehicle stops to consume an output current of the fuel cell. | 03-31-2016 |
20160133959 | CONTROL METHOD AND SYSTEM OF FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A control method and system of a fuel cell system are provided. The control method includes draining the voltage of a fuel cell stack by charging a high voltage battery. In addition, the method includes draining the voltage of the fuel cell stack by connecting a fuel cell load device to the fuel cell stack, which is performed when the voltage of the fuel cell stack decreased by the first draining process is less than a predetermined first reference voltage. | 05-12-2016 |
20160133966 | Fuel Cell System and a Method for Controlling a Fuel Cell System - A fuel cell system comprises a fuel cell, a tank, a 1st pressure sensor that measures a fill-time pressure, a 2nd pressure sensor that measures a supply piping pressure, a temperature sensor that measures an internal temperature of the tank; and a controller that, when the fuel cell starts, derives an estimated pressure value of the supply piping pressure based on a 1st pressure value that shows the fill-time pressure, the internal temperature when the 1st pressure value was measured, and the internal temperature when the supply piping pressure was measured, and that detects as the supply piping pressure the lower value among the estimated pressure value and the 2nd pressure value that shows the measured supply piping pressure. | 05-12-2016 |
20160133967 | OPERATION CONTROL METHOD OF FUEL CELL AND OPERATION CONTROL APPARATUS OF FUEL CELL - The operation control method of a fuel cell includes acquiring a startup temperature of the fuel cell; acquiring a present temperature of the fuel cell; setting a present target operation point of the fuel cell that is identified by an output voltage value and an output current value based on the startup temperature, or based on the startup temperature and the present temperature; controlling at least one of the flow of the reaction gas supplied to the fuel cell, and an output voltage of the fuel cell so that the operation point of the fuel cell becomes the target operation point, and setting the target operation point includes a process of setting an operation point having a low output voltage value as the target operation point when the startup temperature is low as compared to the case when the startup temperature is high, if the present temperature is the same. | 05-12-2016 |
20160141663 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING AIR FLOW IN FUEL CELL - The present disclosure relates to a method of controlling an air flow in a fuel cell, capable of periodically supplying air to a cathode and alleviating a rate at which a hydrogen concentration of an anode is decreased in an Idle stop state in which air supply to the cathode of a stack is stopped in order to suppress dry phenomenon of the fuel cell. | 05-19-2016 |
20160141664 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A plurality of high voltage unit controllers each includes: a monitoring unit that monitors the hard shutdown signal sent through the dedicated wire lines; and a shutdown unit that, based on a monitoring result of the monitoring unit, stops operation of the high voltage unit that is under control of this high voltage unit controller, and further stops at least part of control functions of this high voltage unit controller. | 05-19-2016 |
20160141666 | SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING LOW-TEMPERATURE STARTING OF FUEL CELL VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR THE SAME - A system for controlling low-temperature starting of a fuel cell vehicle includes a high-pressure hydrogen flow control valve controlling a flow of hydrogen supplied to a fuel cell stack. A fuel cell controller is configured to change and control an opening rate of the high-pressure hydrogen flow control valve when an internal temperature of the fuel cell stack is a reference value or less. When the opening rate of the high-pressure hydrogen flow control valve decreases, a pressure of the hydrogen passing through the high-pressure hydrogen flow control valve decreases to increase a temperature of the hydrogen which is supplied to the fuel stack. | 05-19-2016 |
20160141667 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND OPERATION CONTROL METHOD OF THE SAME - The present invention enables the determination of an operating point of a fuel cell so as to prioritize the fulfillment of an amount of required power generation while avoiding various limitations, such as a current limit, in a fuel cell system that warms up the fuel cell by a low efficiency operation. | 05-19-2016 |
20160141668 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND START-UP METHOD THEREOF - The present disclosure provides a fuel cell system which comprises: a target output reaching time estimation unit configured to estimate a target output reaching time that requires for a fuel cell after start-up at a below-freezing temperature to become capable of providing an expected output desired or expected by a user of the fuel cell system or a predetermined output according to the expected output, based on the water content in the fuel cell and the temperature inside the fuel cell at the time of start-up at a below-freezing temperature; and a target output reaching time notification unit that notifies the user of the time estimated by the target output reaching time estimation unit. | 05-19-2016 |
20160141677 | Method of Detecting Leakage of Reactive Gas of Fuel Cell and Fuel Cell System - To provide a technique that allows prompt detection of leakage of fuel gas in a fuel cell system. A controller included in a fuel cell system performs a hydrogen leakage detecting process of detecting the occurrence of hydrogen leakage in the low-pressure zone based on the detected pressure in a low-pressure zone of an anode gas piping at a time of start-up of the fuel cell system. A controller uses at least one of a first condition and a second condition for determination as a determination condition in hydrogen leakage detecting process, and determines that there is no leakage of the reactive gas while the fuel cell stops generating power if the determination condition is satisfied. | 05-19-2016 |
20160141686 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - The present invention provides a fuel cell system capable of suppressing the accumulation of impurities in a hydrogen system even when a hydrogen pump stops. A fuel cell system 100 includes a hydrogen pump 4, which is provided in a hydrogen gas circulation flow path 3 and which circulates a hydrogen off-gas discharged from the outlet side of a hydrogen electrode 1 | 05-19-2016 |
20160141863 | SAFETY APPARATUS OF FUEL CELL VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAFETY APPARATUS - A safety apparatus uses a fuel cell and a high voltage battery as a power source, and includes: a first voltage sensor that measures a voltage of a positive side of a voltage bus; a second voltage sensor that measures a voltage of a negative side of the voltage bus; and a controller that determines an electrical insulation between the positive side of the voltage bus and the electrical chassis based on the voltage of the positive side of the voltage bus and determines an electrical insulation between the negative side of the voltage bus and the electrical chassis based on the voltage of the negative side of the voltage bus. | 05-19-2016 |
20160149237 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PREVENTING MOISTURE CONDENSATION - An apparatus for preventing moisture condensation includes a fuel cell stack and an enclosure in which the fuel cell stack is disposed. A heater and a temperature sensor are provided in the enclosure. A controller is configured to control the heater to be turned on when an insulation resistance between the fuel cell stack and the enclosure is less than a preset resistance value. The controller controls the heater not to be turned on when a surface temperature of the enclosure measured by the temperature sensor exceeds a preset temperature. | 05-26-2016 |
20160149239 | Portable Fuel Cell System Having a Fuel Cell System Controller - A portable fuel cell system includes a fuel cell having a plurality of flow inputs and a power output, a temperature sensor configured to measure operating temperature of the fuel cell, a power output sensor coupled to the fuel cell and configured to measure a power parameter related to fuel cell power output, a controllable power converter, coupled to the power output of the fuel cell, that transfers power from the fuel cell to the fuel cell system, and a flow control device coupled to a first flow input and configured to control a first one of the flow inputs into the fuel cell. The system further includes a fuel cell system controller, coupled to the fuel cell, the power output, the temperature sensor, the power output sensor, the controllable power converter, and the flow control device. | 05-26-2016 |
20160149241 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DISCHARGING RESIDUAL ELECTRIC ENERGY OF FUEL CELL - An apparatus and a method for discharging a residual electric energy of a fuel cell can rapidly discharge and remove a residual electric energy of a fuel cell for safety after the fuel cell is operated or when a collision is detected. The apparatus for discharging the residual electric energy of the fuel cell includes: a discharge relay connected with a fuel cell and turned on when starting or stopping a vehicle or a collision detecting sensor detects a collision; and a non-linear protecting element connected with the discharge relay in order to discharge a residual electric energy from the fuel cell. | 05-26-2016 |
20160164117 | COOLANT BYPASS STRUCTURE - A coolant bypass structure includes a main loop forming a channel in which coolant circulates; a bypass loop connected to the main loop and forming a selective bypass channel; and a stack bypass valve provided between the main loop and the bypass loop to open and close the bypass loop according to a predetermined temperature, and provided with an outlet temperature sensor. The coolant bypass structure may improve marketability by decreasing the starting time of the fuel cell vehicle in a frozen state and improve power efficiency. | 06-09-2016 |
20160164119 | ACTIVATION APPARATUS OF FUEL CELL STACK - An activation apparatus of a fuel cell stack is provided. The activation apparatus of a fuel cell stack which is provided to perform activation and evaluate performance of the fuel cell stack while the fuel cell stack enters a frame. The apparatus includes an output cable connecting unit that is movably installed back and forth along a side direction of the fuel cell stack in a motor operated manner, and is configured to connect an output cable with the fuel cell stack. | 06-09-2016 |
20160164127 | CONTROL METHOD AND SYSTEM OF FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A control method and system of a fuel cell system is provided. The control method includes detecting, by a controller, a voltage of a fuel cell stack when power generation of a fuel cell is stopped while a fuel cell vehicle is being driven. In addition, hydrogen supply pressure at an anode side is adjusted based on a variation in the detected voltage. | 06-09-2016 |
20160204455 | SIMPLIFICATION OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OF FUEL CELLS BY MEANS OF DEPLETION OF THE CATHODE SUPPLY | 07-14-2016 |
20160204456 | METHOD FOR CHANGING A FUEL CELL SYSTEM OVER TO A STANDBY MODE AS WELL AS SUCH A FUEL CELL SYSTEM | 07-14-2016 |
20160254556 | Method and Device for Enhancing Fuel Cell Lifetime | 09-01-2016 |
20160380280 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM WITH A SINGLE COOLANT LOOP - Embodiments of the present invention provide a single coolant loop ( | 12-29-2016 |
20160380283 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - There is provided a technique to suppress water from remaining in a fuel cell and auxiliary machines after a stop of operation of a fuel cell system. A fuel cell system | 12-29-2016 |
20160380284 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - An object is to reduce the noise and the vibration caused in operation of an injector in a non-power generation state of a fuel cell. There is provided a fuel cell system comprising fuel cells configured such that each fuel cell includes an anode, an electrolyte membrane and a cathode; an injector that is configured to supply hydrogen to the anode; and a controller that is configured to control operation of an injector to make pressure of the anode reach a target pressure. In a non-power generation state that is after a start of the fuel cell system but is before power generation of the fuel cells, the controller sets a second target pressure that is higher than a first target pressure to the target pressure and controls operation of the injector to make the pressure of the anode equal to the second target pressure. After the pressure of the anode is increased to be higher than the first target pressure, the controller sets the first target pressure to the target pressure and controls operation of the injector to make the pressure of the anode equal to the first target pressure. The first target pressure is a pressure required to supply hydrogen over the entire anodes in the fuel cell stack. | 12-29-2016 |
20160380285 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system comprises a fuel cell; a fuel cell controlling converter; an oxidizing gas supplier that is configured to supply an oxidizing gas to the fuel cell; and a controller that is configured to control a voltage and a current value of the fuel cell. In a first power generation state, the controller sets the voltage and the current value of the fuel cell according to a required output, based on a current-voltage characteristic of the fuel cell. In a second power generation state, the controller sets the voltage and the current value of the fuel cell according to the required output and a required amount of heat, to a voltage and a current value that provide a lower power generation efficiency than a power generation efficiency in the first power generation state. The controller reduces the required amount of heat in a process of changing over a power generation state from the second power generation state to the first power generation state. The controller reduces a decrement in the required amount of heat per unit time when the required output is equal to or higher than a reference value, compared with a decrement when the required output is lower than the reference value. | 12-29-2016 |
20160380287 | VEHICLE - An object is to provide a technique of reducing a potential failure to start a fuel cell system due to a temperature decrease in a vehicle with the fuel cell system mounted thereon. There is provided a vehicle that comprises a fuel cell system, a battery, a motor, and a determiner configured to determine that the fuel cell system has a frozen part when temperature measured by a temperature measurement unit is equal to or lower than a predetermined first temperature and at least one of conditions (1) to (3) is satisfied: (1) no purging process is performed after a change from an on state of the vehicle to an off state of the vehicle; (2) ambient temperature decreases to or below a predetermined second temperature in the off state of the vehicle and no purging process is performed; and (3) an inclination of the vehicle is equal to or greater than a predetermined inclination at a time of change from the off state of the vehicle to the on state of the vehicle. | 12-29-2016 |
20170237095 | FUEL CELL DEVICE AND OPERATION CONTROL METHOD FOR FUEL CELL DEVICE | 08-17-2017 |
20180026282 | RESTARTING SYSTEM, CONTROLLER AND RESTARTING METHOD FOR FUEL CELL VEHICLE | 01-25-2018 |
20190148744 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM | 05-16-2019 |
20190148747 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM | 05-16-2019 |
20220140368 | System and Method for injecting a deicing agent in a muffler for a fuel cell electric vehicle - A fuel cell electric vehicle includes a muffler deicing agent injection system composed of a deicing agent injector injecting a deicing agent, which is pumped by a deicing agent injection pump, from a deicing agent tank and is supplied to a deicing agent pipe. The muffler deicing agent injection system performs a muffler deicing agent injection logic to inject the deicing agent through operations of the deicing agent injection pump and the deicing agent injector by a controller under an ambient temperature satisfaction condition and a deicing agent injection satisfaction condition. | 05-05-2022 |