摘要:
Methods for detecting a hydrogen leak and quantifying a rate of the same in a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell stack are provided, as well as a fuel cell diagnostic apparatus that diagnoses a hydrogen leak in a fuel cell stack.
摘要:
In solid polymer fuel cells employing framed membrane electrode assemblies, a conventional anode compliant seal is employed in combination with a cathode non-compliant seal to provide for a thinner fuel cell design, particularly in the context of a fuel cell stack. This approach is particularly suitable for fuel cells operating at low pressure.
摘要:
An exemplary flow field includes a plurality of flow channel portions. There are n inlet portions configured for introducing a fluid into the flow field. A plurality of first pass portions direct fluid flow in a first direction. A plurality of second pass portions direct fluid flow in a second direction that is generally parallel to and opposite to the first direction. A plurality of third pass portions direct fluid flow in the first direction. n outlet portions are configured to allow fluid to exit the flow field. n is an integer and a number of the portions in at least one plurality of pass portions is a non-integer multiple of n.
摘要:
An exemplary fuel cell component includes a generally planar body having a total area defined by a length and width of the body. A first portion of the total area is occupied by a first fuel cell features that renders the first portion unusable for at least one fuel cell function. A second portion of the total area is occupied by a second fuel cell feature that renders the second portion unusable for the fuel cell function. A third portion of the total area is considered an active area of the component that is useful for the fuel cell function. An aspect ratio of the length to the width of the generally planar body is dependent on a dimension of the first portion and a dimension of the second portion.
摘要:
A controller (11a) of a DC/DC converter (10a) responsive to power output of a fuel cell power plant (13) operates under a control strategy which determines if fuel cell voltage exceeds a limit, and if so, provided neither fuel cell output current nor DC/DC converter output current is excessive, causes an increase in DC/DC converter duty cycle to thereby increase power demanded from the fuel cell stack. This eliminates the need for conventional voltage limiting to protect fuel cells from corrosion. Digital control loops and state machines are illustrated.
摘要:
Measurement systems for electrochemical devices employ a semi-conductive measurement strip that can be coupled to the electrochemical device to indicate an electrical characteristic of the electrochemical device. The measurement systems may further include electrical contactors and/or measurement devices. Methods for monitoring cells of an electrochemical device are disclosed for monitoring and analyzing the change over distance of the voltages of the electrochemical device.
摘要:
Flow field plate and method related to the manufacture of the same. Flow field plates are at least partially coated with a low viscosity coating resin to increase mechanical strength and/or to decrease fluid permeability, and find particular utility for manufacturing thin, carbonaceous flow field plates for fuel cell stacks. .
摘要:
Improvements in startup time for an electrochemical fuel cell system from freezing and sub-freezing temperatures are obtained by utilizing an insulated fuel cell stack in combination with an thermal control subsystem. Temperature of the insulated electrochemical fuel cell stack, as well as temperature of the ambient environment, are monitored and a heating fluid is heated by thermal transfer with the environment under appropriate thermal conditions. The heated fluid is then passed to the insulated fuel cell in order to increase the temperature of the same, typically to a temperature at or near the temperature of the ambient environment. In this manner, ambient heat from the environment is utilized to increase the temperature of the insulated fuel cell stack, thus improving conditions for subsequent cold start of the insulated fuel cell stack.
摘要:
A fuel cell subject to intermittent use may be operated in two distinct modes, a 'summer' or a 'winter' mode, depending on whether the cell is expected to be stored at below freezing temperatures or not. At steady state in summer mode, much of the cell interior may be fully saturated with water and thus may contain liquid water. While such conditions may be most desirable for performance reasons during operation, the presence of liquid water however may be detrimental when storing at below freezing temperatures. At steady state in winter mode, the cell interior is essentially sub-saturated throughout and liquid water is not present to form ice during storage. Winter mode operation allows for improved performance during startup, especially in automotive solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell stacks.