公开(公告)号：US20230045299A1

公开(公告)日：2023-02-09

申请号：US17388675

申请日：2021-07-29

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： William H. Pettit ,  Charles E. Freese, V ,  Balasubramanian Lakshmanan

IPC: B60L58/40 ,  H01M8/04828 ,  B60L58/32

Abstract: A torque generating system is described, and includes a fuel cell power device, a high-voltage battery, an electric drive unit, and a controller. The fuel cell power device has a non-linear power-temperature relationship that has a local temperature maxima at a first electric power level and a local temperature minima at a second electric power level. A first operating point of the fuel cell power device is less than the first electric power level, and a second operating point of the fuel cell power device is set at a third electric power level that is greater than the first electric power level, wherein the third electric power level generates a fuel cell temperature that is less than the local temperature maxima. The fuel cell power device is controlled to one of the first operating point or the second operating point to transfer electric power to the electric drive unit.

公开(公告)号：US10680266B2

公开(公告)日：2020-06-09

申请号：US15897243

申请日：2018-02-15

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： Mark F. Mathias ,  Balasubramanian Lakshmanan ,  Swaminatha P. Kumaraguru ,  Scott C. Moose

IPC: H01M8/1004 ,  H01M8/04119 ,  H01M8/1081 ,  H01M8/1058 ,  H01M4/88 ,  H01M8/1018

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for manufacturing an integrated MEA, the method includes the following steps: (1) providing a substrate having an AA region and a WVT region; (2) simultaneously coating a microporous layer, a catalyst layer, and a first membrane ionomer layer onto the substrate; (3) applying an optional membrane support layer to the first membrane ionomer layer in the AA region and the WVT region; (4) applying an optional second membrane ionomer layer; (5) heating treating a coated substrate; and (6) assembling the coated substrate to a companion coated substrate.

公开(公告)号：US10439241B2

公开(公告)日：2019-10-08

申请号：US14925485

申请日：2015-10-28

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： Jingxin Zhang ,  Paul Taichiang Yu ,  Balasubramanian Lakshmanan

IPC: H01M8/04 ,  H01M8/04955 ,  H01M8/04746 ,  H01M4/92 ,  H01M8/04303

Abstract: A method for reducing fuel cell voltage loss in a fuel cell that includes an anode catalyst layer including an anode catalyst and a cathode catalyst layer including a cathode catalyst with a proton exchange layer interposed between the anode catalyst layer and the cathode catalyst layer. The method includes a step of initiating shutdown of the fuel cell. Carbon monoxide or carbon monoxide-like species contaminating the anode catalyst is oxidized during shutdown such that carbon monoxide or carbon monoxide-like species is removed from the anode catalyst.

公开(公告)号：US10276878B2

公开(公告)日：2019-04-30

申请号：US15205454

申请日：2016-07-08

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： Smuruthi Kamepalli ,  Balasubramanian Lakshmanan ,  Elizabeth Dicocco

IPC: H01M8/0258 ,  H01M8/1007 ,  H01M8/1004 ,  H01M8/1018

Abstract: A fuel cell flow field plate includes an aluminum substrate plate having a first side and a second side wherein the first side of the aluminum substrate plate defines a plurality of channels for transporting a first fuel cell reactant gas. The flow field plate also includes a first metal interlayer deposited on the first side of the aluminum substrate plate, a second metal interlayer deposited on the second side of the aluminum substrate plate, a first amorphous carbon layer deposited on the first metal interlayer, and a second amorphous carbon layer deposited on the second metal interlayer. The first amorphous carbon layer and second amorphous carbon layer each independently have a density greater than or equal to 1.2 g/cc.

公开(公告)号：US10236517B2

公开(公告)日：2019-03-19

申请号：US15678695

申请日：2017-08-16

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： Smuruthi Kamepalli ,  Balasubramanian Lakshmanan

IPC: C23C16/40 ,  H01M8/021 ,  C23C16/46 ,  C23C16/455 ,  C23C16/52 ,  H01M8/1018

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a coated metal substrate includes the steps of: (1) inserting a substrate with a chromium(III) oxide layer inside a CVD chamber; (2) heating the substrate to a temperature which falls in the range of 400 to 500 degrees Celsius; (3) transporting gaseous nitrogen (N2) and tantalum chloride (TaCl5) into the CVD chamber for at least two cycles; (4) ceasing the transportation of tantalum chloride (TaCl5) while nitrogen continues to flow from the inlet to the outlet; (5) reacting the tantalum chloride and the chromium(III) oxide and creating by-products; and (6) vacuuming the by-product matter from the CVD chamber via the flowing nitrogen gas.

公开(公告)号：US10186723B2

公开(公告)日：2019-01-22

申请号：US15463861

申请日：2017-03-20

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： Jeffrey J. Gagliardo ,  Jeremy W. Dabel ,  Balasubramanian Lakshmanan

IPC: H01M8/04 ,  H01M8/04746

Abstract: A method for controlling a pressure drop across the anode side or the cathode side of a fuel cell stack by controlling the intrusion of a cell separator into the flow channels in a feeder region of the stack so as to create a larger pressure volume on a pressure bias side of the stack. The method controls the flow rates of one or both of the cathode and anode reactant gases so as to cause the cell separators in an inlet feeder region and/or an outlet feeder region to move relative to the anode side and the cathode side so as to change a flow volume in the inlet feeder region and/or the outlet feeder region to control the pressure drop.

公开(公告)号：US09231263B2

公开(公告)日：2016-01-05

申请号：US13746227

申请日：2013-01-21

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： Derek R. Lebzelter ,  Balasubramanian Lakshmanan ,  Sriram Ganapathy ,  Sanja Sljivar-Lovria ,  Bruce J. Clingerman ,  Michael J. Kiefer

IPC: H01M8/04 ,  H01M8/24 ,  H01M8/10

CPC classification number: H01M8/04559 ,  H01M8/0488 ,  H01M8/0494 ,  H01M2008/1095 ,  Y02E60/50

Abstract: A system and method that monitor the rate of a voltage drop of fuel cells in a fuel cell stack to determine whether the voltage drop is a result of cathode reactant starvation or anode reactant starvation. The method looks at a falling voltage of a fuel cell to determine whether the rate of the fall in voltage indicates that hydrogen starvation of the anode of the fuel cell is occurring. The method also looks at the actual voltage of the fuel cell that is falling to determine whether it is a below a predetermined minimum voltage threshold also indicating that hydrogen starvation of the anode of the fuel cell is occurring. If hydrogen starvation is occurring, the method performs power limiting of the fuel cell stack either based on the rate or the voltage level.

Abstract translation: 监测燃料电池堆中的燃料电池的电压降率的系统和方法，以确定电压降是否为阴极反应物饥饿或阳极反应物饥饿的结果。 该方法查看燃料电池的下降电压，以确定电压下降的速率是否表示燃料电池的阳极发生氢气饥饿。 该方法还查看正在下降的燃料电池的实际电压，以确定它是否低于预定的最小电压阈值，也表示正在发生燃料电池的阳极的氢气饥饿。 如果发生氢饥饿，则该方法基于速率或电压电平来执行燃料电池堆的功率限制。

公开(公告)号：US10811713B2

公开(公告)日：2020-10-20

申请号：US15882275

申请日：2018-01-29

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： Mark F. Mathias ,  Balasubramanian Lakshmanan ,  Swaminatha P. Kumaraguru ,  Scott C. Moose

IPC: H01M8/1004 ,  H01M8/04119 ,  H01M4/88 ,  H01M8/0245 ,  H01M8/04089 ,  H01L21/56

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for manufacturing an integrated MEA, the method includes the following steps: (1) providing a substrate having an AA region and a WVT region; (2) coating a hydrophobic microporous layer across the substrate; (3) coating a catalyst layer onto the hydrophobic microporous layer in the AA region; (4) coating a first fuel cell membrane ionomer layer onto the catalyst layer in the AA region and onto the hydrophobic microporous layer in the WVT region; (5) optionally applying a membrane support layer to the first fuel cell membrane ionomer layer in the AA region and the WVT region; (6) optionally applying a coating of second fuel cell membrane ionomer layer thereby forming a coated substrate; and (7) assembling the coated substrate to a companion coated substrate.

公开(公告)号：US20190237787A1

公开(公告)日：2019-08-01

申请号：US15882275

申请日：2018-01-29

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： Mark F. Mathias ,  Balasubramanian Lakshmanan ,  Swaminatha P. Kumaraguru ,  Scott C. Moose

IPC: H01M8/1004 ,  H01M4/88 ,  H01L21/56 ,  H01M8/0245 ,  H01M8/04089

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for manufacturing an integrated MEA, the method includes the following steps: (1) providing a substrate having an AA region and a WVT region; (2) coating a hydrophobic microporous layer across the substrate; (3) coating a catalyst layer onto the hydrophobic microporous layer in the AA region; (4) coating a first fuel cell membrane ionomer layer onto the catalyst layer in the AA region and onto the hydrophobic microporous layer in the WVT region; (5) optionally applying a membrane support layer to the first fuel cell membrane ionomer layer in the AA region and the WVT region; (6) optionally applying a coating of second fuel cell membrane ionomer layer thereby forming a coated substrate; and (7) assembling the coated substrate to a companion coated substrate.

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.