Fuel cell stack health monitoring using groups of fuel cells
First Claim
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1. A fuel cell stack comprising:
- a first cell group including;
a first set of fuel cells; and
a first group sensor coupled to the first set, wherein the first group sensor is configured to measure a first impedance of the first cell group and a derivative of the first impedance;
a second cell group including;
a second set of fuel cells; and
a second group sensor coupled to the second set, wherein the second group sensor is configured to measure a second impedance of the second cell group and a derivative of the second impedance; and
a controller communicatively coupled to the first group sensor and the second group sensor and including;
memory; and
one or more processors that execute machine readable instructions which;
compare at least one of;
the first impedance and the second impedance;
the first impedance and one or more thresholds stored in the memory; and
the second impedance and the one or more thresholds stored in the memory to thereby generate a first comparison;
compare at least one of;
the derivative of the first impedance and the derivative of the second impedance;
the derivative of the first impedance and the one or more thresholds stored in the memory; and
the derivative of the second impedance and the one of more thresholds stored in the memory to thereby generate a second comparison; and
identify a need for fuel cell stack diagnostics when at least one of the first comparison and the second comparison indicates a non-systemic event.
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Abstract
A fuel cell stack includes a plurality of cell groups and a controller wherein each cell group comprises a plurality of fuel cells and a group sensor which measures one or more electrical characteristics of the respective cell group. The controller comprises one or more processors and memory and is communicatively coupled to each group sensor. The one or more processors execute machine readable instructions to compare a measured electrical characteristic of each cell group to one or more thresholds stored in memory, and indicate the need for diagnostics of the fuel cell stack when the comparison indicates a non-systemic event.
8 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A fuel cell stack comprising:
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a first cell group including; a first set of fuel cells; and a first group sensor coupled to the first set, wherein the first group sensor is configured to measure a first impedance of the first cell group and a derivative of the first impedance; a second cell group including; a second set of fuel cells; and a second group sensor coupled to the second set, wherein the second group sensor is configured to measure a second impedance of the second cell group and a derivative of the second impedance; and a controller communicatively coupled to the first group sensor and the second group sensor and including; memory; and one or more processors that execute machine readable instructions which; compare at least one of; the first impedance and the second impedance; the first impedance and one or more thresholds stored in the memory; and the second impedance and the one or more thresholds stored in the memory to thereby generate a first comparison; compare at least one of; the derivative of the first impedance and the derivative of the second impedance; the derivative of the first impedance and the one or more thresholds stored in the memory; and the derivative of the second impedance and the one of more thresholds stored in the memory to thereby generate a second comparison; and identify a need for fuel cell stack diagnostics when at least one of the first comparison and the second comparison indicates a non-systemic event. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A fuel cell propulsion system comprising:
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a fuel cell stack including; a first cell group including; a first set of fuel cells; and a first group sensor coupled to the first set, wherein the first group sensor is configured to measure a first impedance of the first cell group and a derivative of the first impedance; a second cell group including; a second set of fuel cells; and a second group sensor coupled to the second set, wherein the second group sensor is configured to measure one or both of a second impedance of the second cell group and a derivative of the second impedance; and a controller communicatively coupled to the first group sensor and the second group sensor and including; memory; and one or more processors that execute machine readable instructions which; compare at least one of;
the first impedance and the second impedance;
the first impedance and one or more thresholds stored in the memory; and
the second impedance and the one or more thresholds stored in the memory to thereby generate a first comparison;compare at least one of;
the derivative of the first impedance and the derivative of the second impedance;
the derivative of the first impedance and the one or more thresholds stored in the memory; and
the derivative of the second impedance and the one of more thresholds stored in the memory to thereby generate a second comparison; andidentify a need for fuel cell stack diagnostics when at least one of the first comparison and the second comparison indicates a non-systemic event; and one or more fuel storage vessels each configured for storing a reactant or air and fluidly coupled by one or more valves to the fuel cell stack. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification