Energy load management system
First Claim
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1. A method for controlling a fuel cell system, wherein the fuel cell system comprises one or more fuel cell stacks, the method comprising:
- receiving from a sensor an anode tail gas oxidizer (ATO) temperature signal indicative of a measured ATO temperature, wherein the ATO receives air and fuel exhaust streams from the one or more fuel cell stacks and wherein the one or more fuel cell stacks provide current to one or more loads;
determining an amount of fuel by which to adjust a fuel estimate or an additional amount of current that can be generated by the one or more fuel cell stacks based on a determined fuel utilization of the one or more fuel cell stacks by comparing the measured ATO temperature and an ATO set point temperature; and
controlling at least one of a fuel inlet flow to the one or more fuel cell stacks using the amount of fuel by which to adjust the fuel estimate or the current provided to the one or more loads using the additional amount of current that can be generated by the one or more fuel cell stacks.
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Abstract
A system and method for controlling a fuel cell system. An anode tail gas oxidizer (ATO) receives air and fuel exhaust streams from one or more fuel cell stacks of the fuel cell system. The one or more fuel cell stacks provide current to one or more loads. An ATO temperature signal is used to control at least one of a fuel inlet flow to the one or more fuel cell stacks or the current provided to the one or more loads.
41 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for controlling a fuel cell system, wherein the fuel cell system comprises one or more fuel cell stacks, the method comprising:
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receiving from a sensor an anode tail gas oxidizer (ATO) temperature signal indicative of a measured ATO temperature, wherein the ATO receives air and fuel exhaust streams from the one or more fuel cell stacks and wherein the one or more fuel cell stacks provide current to one or more loads; determining an amount of fuel by which to adjust a fuel estimate or an additional amount of current that can be generated by the one or more fuel cell stacks based on a determined fuel utilization of the one or more fuel cell stacks by comparing the measured ATO temperature and an ATO set point temperature; and controlling at least one of a fuel inlet flow to the one or more fuel cell stacks using the amount of fuel by which to adjust the fuel estimate or the current provided to the one or more loads using the additional amount of current that can be generated by the one or more fuel cell stacks. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system, comprising:
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a fuel cell system, wherein the fuel cell system comprises one or more fuel cell stacks and an anode tail gas oxidizer (ATO), wherein the ATO receives air and fuel exhaust streams from the one or more fuel cell stacks and wherein the one or more fuel cell stacks provide current to one or more loads; a temperature sensor configured to obtain an ATO temperature signal indicative of a measured ATO temperature; and a controller configured to perform operations comprising; receiving the ATO temperature signal from the sensor; determining an amount of fuel by which to adjust a fuel estimate or an additional amount of current that can be generated by the one or more fuel cell stacks based on a determined fuel utilization of the one or more fuel cell stacks by comparing the measured ATO temperature and an ATO set point temperature; and controlling at least one of a fuel inlet flow to the one or more fuel cell stacks using the amount of fuel by which to adjust the fuel estimate or the current provided to the one or more loads using the additional amount of current that can be generated by the one or more fuel cell stacks. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification