公开(公告)号：US20180316027A1

公开(公告)日：2018-11-01

申请号：US15583389

申请日：2017-05-01

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： Srikanth Arisetty ,  Andrew J. Maslyn ,  Balasubramanian Lakshmanan ,  Robert J. Moses

IPC: H01M8/04858 ,  H01M8/04746 ,  H01M8/04111 ,  H01M8/04082

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack and a controller. The fuel cell stack includes a catalyst and a stack voltage. The controller increases efficiency of the fuel cell stack by minimizing or removing an accumulation of oxides on the catalyst during a low-power operating mode of the fuel cell system. The controller executes a method for dynamically controlling the stack voltage during a detected low-power operating mode. The method includes commanding low-voltage/high-power pulses to the fuel cell stack via the controller at a magnitude and frequency sufficient for minimizing or removing the oxides. The system may include a direct current-direct current (DC-DC) boost converter, with the controller programmed to command the power pulses from the DC-DC boost converter. Or, the controller may be configured to command the power pulses by controlling a feed rate of the oxygen and/or the hydrogen.

公开(公告)号：US20180261858A1

公开(公告)日：2018-09-13

申请号：US15451893

申请日：2017-03-07

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： Jingxin Zhang ,  Nagappan Ramaswamy ,  Balasubramanian Lakshmanan ,  Swaminatha P. Kumaraguru

IPC: H01M8/04119 ,  H01M8/04828

CPC classification number: H01M8/04141 ,  H01M8/04223 ,  H01M8/04225 ,  H01M8/04302 ,  H01M8/04835 ,  Y02P70/56

Abstract: Disclosed are fuel cell stack break-in procedures, conditioning systems for performing break-in procedures, and motor vehicles with a fuel cell stack conditioned in accordance with disclosed break-in procedures. A break-in method is disclosed for conditioning a membrane assembly of a fuel cell stack. The method includes transmitting humidified hydrogen to the anode of the membrane assembly, and transmitting deionized water to the cathode of the membrane assembly. An electric current and voltage cycle are applied across the fuel cell stack while the fuel cell stack is operated in a hydrogen pumping mode until the fuel cell stack is determined to operate at a predetermined threshold for a fuel cell stack voltage output capability. During hydrogen pumping, the membrane assembly oxidizes the humidified hydrogen, transports protons from the anode to the cathode across the proton conducting membrane, and regenerates the protons in the cathode through a hydrogen evolution reaction.

公开(公告)号：US20170092971A1

公开(公告)日：2017-03-30

申请号：US14869467

申请日：2015-09-29

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： SRIKANTH ARISETTY ,  ANDREW J. MASLYN ,  Balasubramanian Lakshmanan

IPC: H01M8/04701 ,  H01M8/04537 ,  H01M8/04828 ,  H01M8/0444

CPC classification number: H01M8/04723 ,  B60L11/1881 ,  G01R31/3675 ,  H01M8/0444 ,  H01M8/04544 ,  H01M8/04559 ,  H01M8/04574 ,  H01M8/04604 ,  H01M8/04701 ,  H01M8/04835 ,  H01M8/0485 ,  H01M8/04992 ,  H01M2008/1095 ,  H01M2250/20 ,  Y02T90/32

Abstract: Systems and methods for initiating voltage recovery procedures in a fuel cell system based in part on an estimated specific activity over the life of a fuel cell catalyst are presented. In certain embodiments, SA loss of catalyst and electrochemical surface area loss of a FC system may be estimated. An output voltage of the FC system may be estimated based on the estimated SA loss and the electrochemical surface area loss. An amount of recoverable voltage loss may be determined based on a comparison between the estimated output voltage and a measured output voltage. Based on the determined amount of recordable voltage loss, a FC system control action (e.g., a voltage recovery procedure) may be initiated.

公开(公告)号：US20170025692A1

公开(公告)日：2017-01-26

申请号：US14804706

申请日：2015-07-21

Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC

Inventor： Jingxin Zhang ,  Balasubramanian Lakshmanan ,  Manish Sinha

IPC: H01M8/04 ,  H01M8/06 ,  G01N27/403

CPC classification number: H01M8/04447 ,  H01M8/04798 ,  H01M8/04873 ,  H01M8/0656

Abstract: A fuel cell stack hydrogen starvation detection device, a fuel cell system and a method of operating a fuel cell stack to protect it from hydrogen starvation conditions. In one particular form, the fuel cell system includes a stack of fuel cells, a controller and a detection device made up of one or more sensors that can compare a reference signal corresponding to the presence of substantially pure hydrogen to a signal that corresponds to a local hydrogen value within a single fuel cell within the stack or across multiple fuel cells within the stack. In this way, the detection device promptly provides indicia of a hydrogen starvation condition within the cell or stack without the need for conventional cell voltage monitoring. The detected hydrogen starvation condition may be presented as a warning signal to alert a user that such a condition may be present, as well as to the controller for modification of the stack operation.

Abstract translation: 燃料电池堆氢饥饿检测装置，燃料电池系统和操作燃料电池堆的方法，以保护其免受氢的饥饿条件的影响。 在一种具体形式中，燃料电池系统包括一堆燃料电池，一个控制器和一个由一个或多个传感器组成的检测装置，该传感器可以将对应于基本上纯氢的存在的参考信号与对应于 堆内或单个燃料电池内的局部氢值位于堆内的多个燃料电池。 以这种方式，检测装置在电池或堆叠内迅速提供氢饥饿状况的标记，而不需要传统的电池电压监测。 检测到的氢饥饿状况可以作为警告信号呈现，以警告用户这种情况可能存在，以及控制器用于修改堆栈操作。

公开(公告)号：US09368816B2

公开(公告)日：2016-06-14

申请号：US14050438

申请日：2013-10-10

Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC

Inventor： Thomas A. Greszler ,  Gary M. Robb ,  John P. Salvador ,  Balasubramanian Lakshmanan ,  Hubert Gasteiger

IPC: H01M8/06 ,  H01M8/18 ,  H01M2/38 ,  H01M8/04

CPC classification number: H01M8/04303 ,  H01M8/04097 ,  H01M8/04223 ,  H01M8/04302 ,  H01M8/242 ,  H01M8/2483 ,  Y02E60/50

Abstract: 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.

公开(公告)号：US11158871B2

公开(公告)日：2021-10-26

申请号：US16038754

申请日：2018-07-18

Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC

Inventor： Kelsey M. Rollag ,  Balasubramanian Lakshmanan

IPC: H01M8/04089 ,  H01M8/04746 ,  H01M16/00 ,  B60L50/72

Abstract: A fuel cell assembly includes a fuel cell stack. A vehicle includes a propulsion system and the fuel cell assembly configured to provide power to the propulsion system in at least one mode. The fuel cell assembly also includes an air compressor and an air pump spaced from the air compressor. The air compressor includes an on position in which the air compressor is configured to supply air to the fuel cell stack and an off position in which the air compressor does not supply air to the fuel cell stack. The air compressor also includes a bearing configured to be levitated via air. The air pump is configured to supply air to the fuel cell stack when the air compressor is in the off position and configured to supply air to the bearing when the air compressor is in the on position.

公开(公告)号：US20200028189A1

公开(公告)日：2020-01-23

申请号：US16038754

申请日：2018-07-18

Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC

Inventor： Kelsey M. Rollag ,  Balasubramanian Lakshmanan

IPC: H01M8/04089 ,  H01M8/04746 ,  H01M16/00 ,  B60L11/18

Abstract: A fuel cell assembly includes a fuel cell stack. A vehicle includes a propulsion system and the fuel cell assembly configured to provide power to the propulsion system in at least one mode. The fuel cell assembly also includes an air compressor and an air pump spaced from the air compressor. The air compressor includes an on position in which the air compressor is configured to supply air to the fuel cell stack and an off position in which the air compressor does not supply air to the fuel cell stack. The air compressor also includes a bearing configured to be levitated via air. The air pump is configured to supply air to the fuel cell stack when the air compressor is in the off position and configured to supply air to the bearing when the air compressor is in the on position.

公开(公告)号：US20180366738A1

公开(公告)日：2018-12-20

申请号：US15625579

申请日：2017-06-16

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： Nagappan Ramaswamy ,  Ellazar V. Niangar ,  Balasubramanian Lakshmanan

IPC: H01M4/88 ,  H01M4/86

Abstract: Systems and methods of the present disclosure include supplying a porous substrate, heating the porous substrate to produce a pre-heated substrate, applying an electrode ink to the pre-heated substrate to produce a coated substrate, and drying the electrode ink of the coated substrate to produce an electrode on the porous substrate. The pre-heated substrate has a temperature greater than 23° C. The applying occurs via a coating mechanism. The electrode ink includes a catalyst and an ionomer dispersed in a solvent. The drying occurs via a drying mechanism.

公开(公告)号：US20180202041A1

公开(公告)日：2018-07-19

申请号：US15408583

申请日：2017-01-18

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： Smuruthi Kamepalli ,  Robert J Moses ,  Balasubramanian Lakshmanan

IPC: C23C16/02

CPC classification number: C23C16/0209 ,  C23C14/021 ,  C23C14/24 ,  C23C14/542 ,  C23C14/562 ,  C23C14/568

Abstract: A method and system for manufacturing a corrosion resistant performs the steps of: (1) providing a substrate; (2) moving the substrate to a cleaning chamber via the conveyor; (3) cleaning the substrate; (4) moving the substrate into a first pressure chamber; (5) moving the substrate out of the first pressure chamber; (5) determining a first temperature change in the substrate at the first pressure chamber; (6) adjusting a second heat source at a second pressure chamber based on the first temperature change; and (7) moving the substrate into the second pressure chamber. The system includes at least one pressure chamber housing a heat source wherein a temperature sensor is disposed at the inlet and at the outlet of the pressure chamber. A control unit may be in communication with the temperature sensors and the heat sources.

公开(公告)号：US09755244B2

公开(公告)日：2017-09-05

申请号：US14296053

申请日：2014-06-04

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： Balasubramanian Lakshmanan ,  Jingxin Zhang

IPC: B05D5/12 ,  H01M4/88 ,  H01M4/04 ,  H01M4/1393 ,  H01M4/62 ,  H01M4/139 ,  H01M4/90 ,  H01M4/92 ,  C23C16/00 ,  H01M4/02

CPC classification number: H01M4/8867 ,  C23C16/00 ,  H01M4/0428 ,  H01M4/139 ,  H01M4/1393 ,  H01M4/625 ,  H01M4/628 ,  H01M4/9083 ,  H01M4/926 ,  H01M2004/027 ,  H01M2250/20

Abstract: A method for making corrosion resistant carbon nanoparticles includes a step of heating a carbon powder to a predetermined temperature. The carbon powder includes carbon particles having an average spatial dimension from about 10 to 100 nanometers. The carbon powder is contacted with a vapor of a metal-containing compound. The carbon powder is then contacted with a vapor of an activating compound. These steps are repeated plurality of times to form a metal-containing layer on the carbon particles.