摘要:
The present invention relates to improving the overall efficiency of a fuel cell system by reducing parasitic power consumption. A controller is programmed to decrease oxidant stoichiometry until oxidant starvation is detected or until oxidant stoichiometry is about one. When oxidant starvation is detected, the oxidant stoichiometry is increased until oxidant starvation is no longer detected. The fuel cell system employs a sensor for detecting an operational characteristic such as voltage output, or oxygen or hydrogen concentration in the cathode exhaust stream. The controller uses the operational characteristic to calculate oxidant stoichiometry or to determine when there is oxidant starvation at the cathode.
摘要:
The invention relates to a method for operating a PEM or DMFC fuel cell in the minimal- or partial-load region. According to the invention, the size of the cell surface, on which the fuel cell reaction takes place, is altered by means of opening or closing of feed channels, which serve to supply reaction medium to the cell surface.
摘要:
The performance of a direct feed fuel cell such as, for example, a direct methanol fuel cell, with an anode having a CO-tolerant catalyst, such as a Pt—Ru catalyst, is improved by periodically reducing the output power of the cell to be less than the normal minimum output of the cell. This is effected, for example, by switching the cell at predetermined time intervals to an open circuit or reduced output power condition.
摘要:
A self-healing membrane, especially for using in PEM fuel cells. The membrane comprises at least one porous material which is not ion-conductive and at least one polymer, ion-conductive electrolyte which has a higher melting point or decomposition point that the porous material which is not ion-conductive. If a hole, crack or the like forms in the membrane, the porous material which is not ion-conductive melts due to the temperature rise occurring at the leaking point, before the polymer, ion-conductive electrolyte melts or decomposes and seals the membrane at this point. The inventive membrane heals occurring defects itself in this way, and is thus self-healing.