CONSUMPTION-BASED FUEL CELL MONITORING AND CONTROL
First Claim
1. A method of operating a fuel cell system, the method comprising:
- providing supply fuel at a supply pressure;
applying oxidant and the supply fuel to a fuel cell stack, which includes at least one fuel cell, and which is adapted to produce electrical current therefrom;
detecting the level of electrical current produced by the fuel cell stack;
determining a target proportion of the supply fuel applied to the fuel cell stack that is consumed by the fuel cell stack for a given level of electrical current produced by the fuel cell stack; and
varying the supply pressure to maintain a proportion of supply fuel applied to the fuel cell stack that is consumed by the fuel cell stack at about the target proportion of the supply fuel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Fuel cell systems and methods for controlling the operation of components of the fuel cell system, such as which may include a fuel source and a fuel cell stack. In some examples, a fuel source is adapted to provide supply fuel to a fuel cell stack at a supply pressure. In some systems, fuel not used by the fuel cell stack is discharged through at least one exit orifice at an exit pressure. In some examples, a control system is adapted to control operation of one or both of the fuel source and the fuel cell stack based on the flow of unused fuel. In some examples, a target pressure is determined based on the level of electrical current produced by a fuel cell stack, such that when fuel is supplied at the target pressure, the fuel cell stack consumes a given proportion of the supply fuel.
99 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of operating a fuel cell system, the method comprising:
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providing supply fuel at a supply pressure; applying oxidant and the supply fuel to a fuel cell stack, which includes at least one fuel cell, and which is adapted to produce electrical current therefrom; detecting the level of electrical current produced by the fuel cell stack; determining a target proportion of the supply fuel applied to the fuel cell stack that is consumed by the fuel cell stack for a given level of electrical current produced by the fuel cell stack; and varying the supply pressure to maintain a proportion of supply fuel applied to the fuel cell stack that is consumed by the fuel cell stack at about the target proportion of the supply fuel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of operating a fuel cell system, the method comprising:
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providing supply fuel at a supply pressure; applying oxidant and the supply fuel to a fuel cell stack, which includes at least one fuel cell, and which is adapted to produce electrical current therefrom; detecting the level of electrical current produced by the fuel cell stack; determining a target proportion of the supply fuel applied to the fuel cell stack that is consumed by the fuel cell stack; determining a target pressure of the supply fuel at which the fuel cell stack consumes the target proportion of the supply fuel for a given level of electrical current produced by the fuel cell stack; and maintaining the supply pressure at about the target pressure. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of operating a fuel cell system, the method comprising:
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providing supply fuel at a supply pressure; applying oxidant and the supply fuel to a fuel cell stack, which includes at least one fuel cell, and which is adapted to produce electrical current therefrom; detecting the level of electrical current produced by the fuel cell stack; determining a target proportion of the supply fuel applied to the fuel cell stack that is consumed by the fuel cell stack for a given level of electrical current produced by the fuel cell stack; determining a target pressure of the supply fuel at which the fuel cell stack consumes the target proportion of the supply fuel; and maintaining the supply pressure at about the target pressure. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification