公开(公告)号：US10446862B2

公开(公告)日：2019-10-15

申请号：US15589218

申请日：2017-05-08

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： Srikanth Arisetty ,  Aaron R. Rogahn ,  Balasubramanian Lakshmanan

IPC: H01M8/04 ,  B60L3/12 ,  H01M8/04746 ,  H01M8/04302 ,  H01M8/0432 ,  H01M8/04992 ,  H01M8/04701 ,  B60L58/31 ,  B60L58/34

Abstract: Disclosed are fuel cell architectures, thermal sub-systems, and control logic for regulating fuel cell stack temperature. A method is disclosed for regulating the temperature of a fuel cell stack. The method includes determining a pre-start temperature of the fuel cell stack, and determining, for this pre-start temperature, a target heating rate to heat the stack to a calibrated minimum operating temperature. The method then determines a hydrogen bleed percentage for the target heating rate, and executes a stack heating operation including activating the fuel cell stack and commanding a fluid control device to direct hydrogen to the cathode side at the hydrogen bleed percentage to generate waste heat. After a calibrated period of time, the method determines if an operating temperature of the stack exceeds the calibrated minimum stack operating temperature. Responsive to the operating temperature being at or above the minimum operating temperature, the stack heating operation is terminated.

公开(公告)号：US09947950B2

公开(公告)日：2018-04-17

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 ,  H01M8/0444 ,  H01M8/04828

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：US20180323453A1

公开(公告)日：2018-11-08

申请号：US15589218

申请日：2017-05-08

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： Srikanth Arisetty ,  Aaron R. Rogahn ,  Balasubramanian Lakshmanan

IPC: H01M8/04746 ,  H01M8/04992 ,  H01M8/04302 ,  H01M8/0432 ,  B60L3/12 ,  B60L11/18

CPC classification number: H01M8/04753 ,  B60L3/12 ,  B60L58/31 ,  B60L58/34 ,  B60L2240/36 ,  B60L2240/80 ,  B60L2270/12 ,  H01M8/04302 ,  H01M8/04365 ,  H01M8/04731 ,  H01M8/04992 ,  H01M2250/20 ,  H01M2250/402

Abstract: Disclosed are fuel cell architectures, thermal sub-systems, and control logic for regulating fuel cell stack temperature. A method is disclosed for regulating the temperature of a fuel cell stack. The method includes determining a pre-start temperature of the fuel cell stack, and determining, for this pre-start temperature, a target heating rate to heat the stack to a calibrated minimum operating temperature. The method then determines a hydrogen bleed percentage for the target heating rate, and executes a stack heating operation including activating the fuel cell stack and commanding a fluid control device to direct hydrogen to the cathode side at the hydrogen bleed percentage to generate waste heat. After a calibrated period of time, the method determines if an operating temperature of the stack exceeds the calibrated minimum stack operating temperature. Responsive to the operating temperature being at or above the minimum operating temperature, the stack heating operation is terminated.

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：US20250015412A1

公开(公告)日：2025-01-09

申请号：US18347091

申请日：2023-07-05

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： Meng Jiang ,  Yongjie Zhu ,  Louis G. Hector, JR. ,  Meinan He ,  Srikanth Arisetty ,  Mei Cai

IPC: H01M50/242 ,  B60L50/64 ,  H01M10/0525 ,  H01M50/209 ,  H01M50/231 ,  H01M50/249

Abstract: Excessive expansion of rechargeable batteries during recharging is a significant concern since the uncontrolled buildup of high internal battery pressures from expansion inside a confined space can lead to separator membrane failure and/or thermal runaway of a battery cell. A crushable foam or honeycomb insert layer is placed inside of a rigid battery fixture to automatically limit the progressive buildup of internal battery pressure due to charging-induced expansion of the battery cell during recharging. The crushable insert layer is included as part of the rigid battery fixture. Aluminum honeycomb cores and porous aluminum metal foam materials have a significant amount of crushability over a very wide range of compressive strains. Alternatively, a porous metal foam or metal honeycomb material may be infused with a liquid polymer (e.g., silicone, rubber, EDPM, or polyurethane) to enhance the mechanical properties of the polymer-infused metal foam or honeycomb metal/polymer composite material.

公开(公告)号：US20230299365A1

公开(公告)日：2023-09-21

申请号：US17695985

申请日：2022-03-16

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： Herman K. Phlegm ,  Srikanth Arisetty ,  Rajesh K. Bhagirath ,  Edgar P. Calderon

IPC: H01M10/42 ,  H01M50/367 ,  H01M10/48

CPC classification number: H01M10/4207 ,  H01M50/367 ,  H01M10/482

Abstract: A method for constant pressure regulation of battery cells includes disposing the cells in a stacked arrangement within a battery cell placement volume of an apparatus configured to maintain a constant pressure on the cells, providing a gas pressure within a chamber of the apparatus, thereby causing an initial pressure to be applied on the battery cells, and detecting an expansion of the battery cells during a predetermined timespan using a linear displacement sensor. During the predetermined timespan, if the detected expansion is less than a maximum allowable expansion minus a predetermined measurement error, then the gas pressure within the chamber is increased, and if the detected expansion is greater than the maximum allowable expansion plus the predetermined measurement error, then the gas pressure within the chamber is decreased. An apparatus for constant pressure regulation of battery cells is also provided.

公开(公告)号：US10522859B2

公开(公告)日：2019-12-31

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: H01M8/04 ,  H01M8/04858 ,  H01M8/04746

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.