Fuel cell power systems and methods of operating fuel cell power systems
First Claim
1. A fuel cell power system comprising:
- a housing;
a fuel cell supported by the housing, configured to convert chemical energy into electrical energy to be selectively supplied to a load;
an air passage in the housing configured to move air relative to the fuel cell;
means for adjusting mass/energy flow through the air passage;
a sensor configured to sense a parameter of the fuel cell; and
a controller coupled to the current sensor to monitor current flow from the fuel cell to the load and to control mass/energy flow adjusting means in response to the sensed parameter.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fuel cell power system comprises a housing; a fuel cell supported by the housing, configured to convert chemical energy into electrical energy to be selectively supplied to a load; a current sensor configured to determine current flow from the fuel cell to a load; and a controller coupled to the current sensor to monitor current flow from the fuel cell to the load and to control one or more operational parameters of the fuel cell power system in response to the current flow. A temperature sensor is also provided, in embodiment, to sense the temperature of the fuel cell. The controller is coupled to the temperature sensor to monitor temperature of the fuel cell and to control one or more operational parameters of the fuel cell power system in response to the current flow.
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Citations
78 Claims
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1. A fuel cell power system comprising:
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a housing;
a fuel cell supported by the housing, configured to convert chemical energy into electrical energy to be selectively supplied to a load;
an air passage in the housing configured to move air relative to the fuel cell;
means for adjusting mass/energy flow through the air passage;
a sensor configured to sense a parameter of the fuel cell; and
a controller coupled to the current sensor to monitor current flow from the fuel cell to the load and to control mass/energy flow adjusting means in response to the sensed parameter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A fuel cell power system comprising:
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a housing;
a fuel cell supported by the housing, configured to convert chemical energy into electrical energy to be selectively supplied to a load;
a fan supported by the housing and configured to move air relative to the fuel cell;
a current sensor configured to determine current flow from the fuel cell to a load; and
a controller coupled to the current sensor to monitor current flow from the fuel cell to the load and to control the fan in response to the current flow. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A fuel cell power system comprising:
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a housing having an interior and exterior, and an opening extending between the interior and exterior;
a fuel cell supported in the housing, configured to convert chemical energy into electrical energy to be selectively supplied to a load;
a variably openable air passage in fluid communication with the opening in the housing and configured to pass air relative to the fuel cell;
a current sensor configured to determine current flow from the fuel cell to a load; and
a controller coupled to the current sensor to monitor current flow from the fuel cell to the load and to control the air passage in response to the current flow. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A fuel cell power system comprising:
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a fuel cell having a cathode and an anode adapted to be coupled to a fuel supply, and configured to produce electrical power having a current and voltage output;
a temperature sensor in temperature sensing relation to the fuel cell; and
a controller electrically coupled with the fuel cell and the temperature sensor, and configured to shunt current between the anode and cathode of the fuel cell according to a duty cycle, the controller further being configured to selectively adjust the duty cycle in response to the sensed temperature. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A fuel cell power system comprising:
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a fuel cell having a cathode and an anode adapted to be coupled to a fuel supply, and configured to produce electrical power having a current and voltage output;
a current sensor configured to sense current produced by the fuel cell; and
a controller electrically coupled with the fuel cell and the current sensor, and configured to shunt current between the anode and cathode of the fuel cell according to a duty cycle, the controller further being configured to selectively adjust the duty cycle in response to the sensed current. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38)
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39. A fuel cell power method comprising:
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providing a housing;
supporting a fuel cell from the housing, and converting chemical energy into electrical energy to be selectively supplied to a load;
providing an air passage in the housing to move air relative to the fuel cell;
adjusting mass/energy flow through the air passage;
determining a parameter of the fuel cell; and
controlling mass/energy flow in response to the parameter. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A fuel cell power method comprising:
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providing a housing;
supporting a fuel cell by the housing, and converting chemical energy into electrical energy to be selectively supplied to a load, using the fuel cell;
moving air relative to the fuel cell using a fan supported by the housing;
determining current flow from the fuel cell to a load, using a current sensor; and
monitoring current flow from the fuel cell to the load and controlling the fan in response to the current flow. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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59. A fuel cell power method comprising:
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providing a housing having an interior and exterior, and an opening extending between the interior and exterior;
supporting a fuel cell supported in the housing, and converting chemical energy into electrical energy to be selectively supplied to a load, using the fuel cell;
passing air relative to the fuel cell from a variably openable air passage in fluid communication with the opening in the housing;
determining current flow from the fuel cell to a load using a current sensor; and
monitoring current flow from the fuel cell to the load, and controlling the air passage in response to the current flow. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69)
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70. A fuel cell method comprising:
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providing a fuel cell having a cathode and an anode adapted to be coupled to a fuel supply, and configured to produce electrical power having a current and voltage output;
providing a temperature sensor in temperature sensing relation to the fuel cell; and
shunting current between the anode and cathode of the fuel cell according to a duty cycle, and selectively adjusting the duty cycle in response to the sensed temperature. - View Dependent Claims (71, 72, 73, 74)
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75. A fuel cell power method comprising:
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providing a fuel cell having a cathode and an anode adapted to be coupled to a fuel supply, and configured to produce electrical power having a current and voltage output;
providing a current sensor configured to sense current produced by the fuel cell; and
shunting current between the anode and cathode of the fuel cell according to a duty cycle, and selectively adjusting the duty cycle in response to the sensed current. - View Dependent Claims (76, 77, 78)
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Specification