Fuel cell system method, apparatus and scheduling
First Claim
1. A control system for a fuel cell assembly, comprising:
- an oxygen sensor; and
a switch couplable to the fuel cell assembly and selectively actuatable to stop fuel cell operation in response to a high hydrogen condition indicated by an oxygen reading from the oxygen sensor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A controller in a fuel cell system performs various operating parameter checks at a predefined schedule, including one or more of a stack current check; a stack voltage check; a cell voltage check; a purge cell check; an oxygen concentration check; a hydrogen concentration check; a stack temperature check; an ambient air temperature check; a fuel pressure check; and an airflow rate check; a hydrogen sensor heater check; a battery voltage check; a microcontroller self-check; and/or toggling a watchdog. The frequency of the checks are set relative to achieve an efficient control of the fuel cell system by selectively distributing the load on the microcontroller.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A control system for a fuel cell assembly, comprising:
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an oxygen sensor; and
a switch couplable to the fuel cell assembly and selectively actuatable to stop fuel cell operation in response to a high hydrogen condition indicated by an oxygen reading from the oxygen sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A fuel cell system for use in a habitable environment, comprising:
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at least one fuel cell;
an oxygen sensor;
a hydrogen sensor; and
a first switch selectively actuatable to stop fuel cell operation in response to at least one of a high hydrogen condition indicated by at least one of a hydrogen reading from the hydrogen sensor and an oxygen reading from the oxygen sensor. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of operating a fuel cell assembly, comprising:
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determining a concentration of oxygen proximate the fuel cell; and
providing fuel to the fuel cell if the determined concentration of oxygen proximate the fuel cell is greater than an oxygen threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A computer-readable media containing instructions to cause a processor to control operation of a fuel cell assembly, by:
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determining a concentration of oxygen proximate the fuel cell assembly; and
providing fuel to the fuel cell if the concentration of oxygen proximate the fuel cell assembly is greater than an oxygen threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification