Integrated current sensors for a fuel cell stack

• US 20060068237A1
• Filed: 09/29/2004
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Murphy, Michael W., Fuss, Robert L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,288,046 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/431
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04574 Current
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04582 of the individual fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A current sensor assembly that monitors current flow through segments of a fuel cell stack. The current sensor assembly includes a first plate including a first non-conductive substrate having a first conductive path therethrough and that is in electrical communication with a first segment of the fuel cell stack. A second plate includes a second non-conductive substrate having a second conductive path therethrough and that is in electrical communication with a second segment of the fuel cell stack. A first current sensor is operably disposed between the first plate and the second plate and facilitates a first current flow between the first conductive path and the second conductive path. The first current sensor generates a first current signal based on the first current flow.

Claims

1. A current sensor assembly that monitors current flow through segments of a fuel cell stack, comprising:

a first plate including a first non-conductive substrate having a first conductive path therethrough and that is in electrical communication with a first segment of said fuel cell stack;

a second plate including a second non-conductive substrate having a second conductive path therethrough and that is in electrical communication with a second segment of said fuel cell stack; and

a first current sensor operably disposed between said first plate and said second plate to establish electrical continuity between said first conductive path and said second conductive path and to generate a first current signal based on a first current flow through said first conductive path.

2. The current sensor assembly of claim 1 wherein said first current sensor is a Hall effect current sensor.

3. The current sensor assembly of claim 1 wherein said first plate further comprises a conductive pad that provides electrical continuity between said first conductive path and said first segment of said fuel cell stack.

4. The current sensor assembly of claim 1 wherein said second plate further comprises a conductive pad that provides electrical continuity between said second conductive path and said second segment of said fuel cell stack.

5. The current sensor assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a third conductive path through said first plate and that is in electrical communication with a third segment of said fuel cell stack;

a fourth conductive path through said second plate and that is in electrical communication with a fourth segment of said fuel cell stack; and

a second current sensor operably disposed between said first plate and said second plate to establish electrical continuity between said third conductive path and said fourth conductive path and to generate a second current signal based on a second current flow through said third conductive path.

6. The current sensor assembly of claim 5 wherein said first and second current sensors are Hall effect current sensors.

7. The current sensor assembly of claim 5 wherein said first and second current sensors generate said first and second current signals independently of one another.

8. A fuel cell stack, comprising:

a first fuel cell having a set of first current segments defined thereacross;

a second fuel cell having a set of second current segments defined thereacross; and

a current sensor assembly that monitors current flow through said set of first current segments and said set of second current segments, said current sensor assembly including;

a first plate having a first non-conductive substrate with a first conductive path therethrough that is in electrical communication with a first current segment of said set of first current segments;

a second plate having a second non-conductive substrate with a second conductive path therethrough that is in electrical communication with a first current segment of said set of second current segments; and

a first current sensor operably disposed between said first plate and said second plate to establish a first path of electrical continuity between said first conductive path and said second conductive path and to generate a first current signal based on a first current flow through said first path.

9. The fuel cell stack of claim 8 wherein said first current sensor is a Hall effect current sensor.

10. The fuel cell stack of claim 8 wherein said first plate further comprises a conductive pad that provides electrical continuity between said first conductive path and said first current segment of said set of first current segments.

11. The fuel cell stack of claim 8 wherein said second plate further comprises a conductive pad that provides electrical continuity between said second conductive path and said first current segment of said set of second current segments.

12. The fuel cell stack of claim 8 wherein said current sensor assembly further comprises:

a third conductive path through said first plate and that is in electrical communication with a second current segment of said set of first current segments;

a fourth conductive path through said second plate and that is in electrical communication with a second current segment of said set of second current segments; and

a second current sensor operably disposed between said first plate and said second plate to establish a second path of electrical continuity between said third conductive path and said fourth conductive path and to generate a second current signal based on a second current flow through said second path.

13. The fuel cell stack of claim 12 wherein said first and second current sensors are Hall effect current sensors.

14. The fuel cell stack of claim 12 wherein said first and second current sensors generate said first and second current signals independently of one another.

15. A fuel cell stack, comprising:

a first fuel cell sub-stack including a plurality of fuel cells connected in electrical series to define a set of first segments;

a second fuel cell sub-stack including a plurality of fuel cells connected in electrical series to define a set of second segments; and

a current sensor assembly that monitors current flow through said set of first segments and said set of second segments, said switch assembly including;

a first plate having a first non-conductive substrate with a first conductive path therethrough that is in electrical communication with a first segment of said set of first segments;

a second plate having a second non-conductive substrate with a second conductive path therethrough that is in electrical communication with a first segment of said set of second segments; and

a first current sensor operably disposed between said first plate and said second plate to establish a first path of electrical continuity between said first conductive path and said second conductive path and to generate a first current signal based on a first current flow through said first path.

16. The fuel cell stack of claim 15 wherein said first current sensor is a Hall effect current sensor.

17. The fuel cell stack of claim 15 wherein said first plate further comprises a conductive pad that provides electrical continuity between said first conductive path and said first segment of said set of first segments.

18. The fuel cell stack of claim 15 wherein said second plate further comprises a conductive pad that provides electrical continuity between said second conductive path and said first segment of said set of second segments.

19. The fuel cell stack of claim 15 wherein said current sensor assembly further comprises:

a third conductive path through said first plate and that is in electrical communication with a second segment of said set of first segments;

a fourth conductive path through said second plate and that is in electrical communication with a second segment of said set of second segments; and

a second current sensor operably disposed between said first plate and said second plate to establish a second path of electrical continuity between said third conductive path and said fourth conductive path and that generates a second current signal based on a second current flow through said second path.

20. The fuel cell stack of claim 19 wherein said first and second current sensors are Hall effect current sensors.

21. The fuel cell stack of claim 19 wherein said first and second current sensors generate said first and second current signals independently of one another.