摘要:
A method of purging residual hydrogen from a fuel cell stack is disclosed. The method includes providing an air stream, providing a temporary nitrogen stream by removing oxygen from the air stream with an adsorbent bed and passing the nitrogen stream through the fuel cell stack.
摘要:
A method of purging residual hydrogen from a fuel cell stack is disclosed. The method includes providing an air stream, providing a temporary nitrogen stream by removing oxygen from the air stream with an adsorbent bed and passing the nitrogen stream through the fuel cell stack.
摘要:
System and methods for preventing battery depletion in a vehicle are disclosed. In certain embodiments, a method for preventing depletion of a battery included in a vehicle may include receiving a measurement of the SOC of the battery from an SOC sensor. A determination may be made as to whether the SOC of the battery has reached a threshold indicating that the battery is nearing depletion. Based on the determination, a notification may be transmitted to a remote device associated with a user of the vehicle. In certain embodiments, the user may use the notification to decide whether to remotely start a system of the vehicle to recharge the battery.
摘要:
A method of operating the fuel cell stack having an anode side and a cathode side by flowing hydrogen into the anode side and flowing air into the cathode side. The fuel cell produces electricity that is used to operate a primary electrical device. To shut down the stack in one embodiment, the primary electrical device is disconnected from the stack. The flow of air into the cathode side is stopped and positive hydrogen pressure is maintained on the anode side. The fuel cell stack is shorted and oxygen in the cathode side is allowed to be consumed by hydrogen. The inlet and outlet valves of the anode and the cathode sides are closed. Thereafter, the flow of hydrogen into the anode side is stopped and the flow of exhaust from the cathode side is stopped.
摘要:
A method for providing a fast and reliable start-up of a fuel cell system. The method uses a stack voltage response to a load to assess if hydrogen and oxygen are being sufficiently distributed to all of the fuel cells by coupling an auxiliary load to the fuel cell stack until a predetermined minimum cell voltage has been reached or a first predetermined time period has elapsed. The method then determines whether a minimum cell voltage has dropped to a first predetermined voltage and, if so, reduces the maximum power allowed to be below the first predetermined voltage value, determines whether the minimum cell voltage in the stack is below a second predetermined voltage, or determines whether the minimum cell voltage drop rate is greater than a predetermined voltage drop rate. If none of these conditions are met, the method returns to loading the stack with system components.
摘要:
A system and method for limiting the output current of a fuel cell stack as the stack degrades overtime. A look-up table identifies a predetermined voltage set-point for stack current density. A first comparator provides a voltage difference signal between the set-point and the stack voltage. The voltage difference signal is provided to a controller, such as a proportional-integral controller, that provides a current limiting signal. The current limiting signal and a current request signal are provided to a second comparator that selects which signal will be used to limit the maximum output current of the stack. A polarization curve estimator estimates parameters of the stack that will change over the life of the stack. The parameters are provided to a gain scheduler that provides gains to the controller that are based on where in the life of the stack it is currently operating.
摘要:
A method for reconditioning a fuel cell stack. The method includes determining whether fuel cell stack reconditioning is desired based on predetermined reconditioning triggers, determining if predetermined system constraints are met that will allow reconditioning of the fuel cell stack to occur, and determining whether previous reconditioning processes have been attempted, and if so, whether predetermine reconditioning limits have been exceeded during those attempts. The reconditioning process is initiated if one or more of the reconditioning triggers has occurred, the predetermined system constraints are met and the predetermined reconditioning limits have not been exceeded. The reconditioning process increases the humidification level of a cathode side of the fuel cell stack over the humidity level of the cathode side during normal operating conditions and waiting for cell membranes in the fuel cell stack to saturate after the humidification level of the cathode has increased.
摘要:
A method for controlling the pressure within a fuel cell stack to control the stack relative humidity. In one embodiment, a two-position valve receiving the cathode exhaust is switchable between a fully open and a fully closed position, where the valve is opened when the fuel cell system is operating at a low operation temperature and the valve is closed when the fuel cell system is operating at a high operation temperature. A fixed restriction valve is provided in parallel with the two-position valve so that when the two-position valve is fully closed, the proper amount of pressure is provided at the cathode output. In another embodiment, the two-position valve employs leak paths so that when the two-position valve is in the closed position, the cathode exhaust gas can still flow through.
摘要:
A method of operating the fuel cell stack having an anode side and a cathode side by flowing hydrogen into the anode side and flowing air into the cathode side. The fuel cell produces electricity that is used to operate a primary electrical device. To shut down the stack in one embodiment, the primary electrical device is disconnected from the stack. The flow of air into the cathode side is stopped and positive hydrogen pressure is maintained on the anode side. The fuel cell stack is shorted and oxygen in the cathode side is allowed to be consumed by hydrogen. The inlet and outlet valves of the anode and the cathode sides are closed. Thereafter, the flow of hydrogen into the anode side is stopped and the flow of exhaust from the cathode side is stopped.
摘要:
System and methods for preventing battery depletion in a vehicle are disclosed. In certain embodiments, a method for preventing depletion of a battery included in a vehicle may include receiving a measurement of the SOC of the battery from an SOC sensor. A determination may be made as to whether the SOC of the battery has reached a threshold indicating that the battery is nearing depletion. Based on the determination, a notification may be transmitted to a remote device associated with a user of the vehicle. In certain embodiments, the user may use the notification to decide whether to remotely start a system of the vehicle to recharge the battery.