SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FUEL CELL THERMAL MANAGEMENT
First Claim
1. A method of operating a fuel cell system that is adapted to supply an electrical output to an energy consuming device and which comprises a fuel cell stack adapted to produce the electrical output, an energy delivery system adapted to supply the electrical output to the energy consuming device, a thermal management system adapted to regulate the temperature of the fuel cell stack, a fuel supply system adapted to supply fuel to the fuel cell stack, an oxidant supply system adapted to supply oxidant to the fuel cell stack, a sensor system adapted to detect a status of the fuel cell system, and a control system adapted to control operation of the fuel cell system, the method comprising:
- supplying a fuel stream from the fuel supply system to the fuel cell stack;
supplying an oxidant stream from the oxidant supply system to the fuel cell stack;
producing an electrical output from the fuel cell stack;
supplying a thermal management fluid from the thermal management system to the fuel cell stack;
detecting a variable associated with the oxidant stream;
detecting a variable associated with the thermal management fluid; and
controlling the variable associated with the thermal management fluid based at least in part on the variable associated with the oxidant stream.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Thermal and hydration management systems and methods for fuel cell systems, including control of electrolytic membrane hydration levels. In some embodiments, the thermal properties of the fuel cell are controlled based on a variable associated with the oxidant supply stream and/or a variable associated with the fuel cell energy output. In some embodiments, the temperature of the fuel cell is controlled based on the temperature of the oxidant supply stream. In some embodiments, the temperature range across the fuel cell stack is controlled based on the flow rate of the oxidant stream and the electrical output generated by the fuel cell stack. In some embodiments, the humidity within the fuel cell stack is controlled. In some embodiments, the liquid water content of the cathode exhaust stream is controlled.
-
Citations
27 Claims
-
1. A method of operating a fuel cell system that is adapted to supply an electrical output to an energy consuming device and which comprises a fuel cell stack adapted to produce the electrical output, an energy delivery system adapted to supply the electrical output to the energy consuming device, a thermal management system adapted to regulate the temperature of the fuel cell stack, a fuel supply system adapted to supply fuel to the fuel cell stack, an oxidant supply system adapted to supply oxidant to the fuel cell stack, a sensor system adapted to detect a status of the fuel cell system, and a control system adapted to control operation of the fuel cell system, the method comprising:
-
supplying a fuel stream from the fuel supply system to the fuel cell stack; supplying an oxidant stream from the oxidant supply system to the fuel cell stack; producing an electrical output from the fuel cell stack; supplying a thermal management fluid from the thermal management system to the fuel cell stack; detecting a variable associated with the oxidant stream; detecting a variable associated with the thermal management fluid; and controlling the variable associated with the thermal management fluid based at least in part on the variable associated with the oxidant stream. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A fuel cell system, comprising:
-
a fuel cell stack adapted to produce an electrical output and supply the electrical output to an energy consuming device; a thermal management system adapted to supply a thermal management fluid to the fuel cell stack to regulate the temperature of the fuel cell stack; a fuel supply system adapted to supply a fuel stream to the fuel cell stack; an oxidant supply system adapted to supply an oxidant stream to the fuel cell stack; a fluid sensor adapted to detect a variable associated with the thermal management fluid; an oxidant sensor adapted to detect a variable associated with the oxidant supply system; and a control system adapted to control the variable associated with the thermal management fluid based at least in part on the variable associated with the oxidant supply system. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. A fuel cell system, comprising:
-
a fuel cell stack adapted to produce an electrical output and supply the electrical output to an energy consuming device; a thermal management system adapted to supply a thermal management fluid to the fuel cell stack to control the temperature of the fuel cell stack; a fuel supply system adapted to supply a fuel stream to the fuel cell stack; an oxidant supply system adapted to supply an oxidant stream to the fuel cell stack; means for detecting a variable associated with the thermal management fluid; means for detecting a variable associated with the oxidant supply system; and means for controlling the variable associated with the thermal management fluid based at least in part on the variable associated with the oxidant supply system. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
-
Specification