Energy Load Management System
First Claim
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1. A method for controlling a fuel cell system, wherein the fuel cell system comprises one or more fuel cell stacks, the method comprising:
- receiving from a sensor a temperature signal indicative of a temperature of an anode tail gas oxidizer (ATO), wherein the ATO receives air and fuel exhaust streams from the one or more fuel cell stacks and wherein the one or more fuel cell stacks provide current to one or more loads; and
controlling at least one of a fuel inlet flow to the one or more fuel cell stacks or the current provided to the one or more loads using the ATO temperature signal.
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Abstract
A system and method for controlling a fuel cell system. An anode tail gas oxidizer (ATO) receives air and fuel exhaust streams from one or more fuel cell stacks of the fuel cell system. The one or more fuel cell stacks provide current to one or more loads. An ATO temperature signal is used to control at least one of a fuel inlet flow to the one or more fuel cell stacks or the current provided to the one or more loads.
16 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for controlling a fuel cell system, wherein the fuel cell system comprises one or more fuel cell stacks, the method comprising:
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receiving from a sensor a temperature signal indicative of a temperature of an anode tail gas oxidizer (ATO), wherein the ATO receives air and fuel exhaust streams from the one or more fuel cell stacks and wherein the one or more fuel cell stacks provide current to one or more loads; and controlling at least one of a fuel inlet flow to the one or more fuel cell stacks or the current provided to the one or more loads using the ATO temperature signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system, comprising:
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a fuel cell system, wherein the fuel cell system comprises one or more fuel cell stacks and a anode tail gas oxidizer (ATO), wherein the ATO receives air and fuel exhaust streams from the one or more fuel cell stacks and wherein the one or more fuel cell stacks provide current to one or more loads; a temperature sensor configured to obtain a temperature signal indicative of a temperature of the ATO; and a controller configured to perform operations comprising; receiving the temperature signal from the sensor; and controlling at least one of a fuel inlet flow to the one or more fuel cell stacks or the current provided to the one or more loads using the ATO temperature signal. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for controlling a fuel cell system, comprising:
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receiving from a load a request for additional current at the fuel cell system; determining if additional current is available from the fuel cell system based on a smallest of air flow provided to the fuel cell system, a fuel inlet flow provided to the fuel cell system, and a measure of additional current that may be supplied by the fuel cell system; providing the additional current to the load from the fuel cell system without varying fuel or air flow to the fuel cell system if the additional current is available. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A method for connecting a load to a fuel cell system, the method comprising:
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receiving by a controller a signal demand signal from a load, wherein the load demand signal is indicative of the load requesting connection to a fuel cell system power output bus; delaying the connection of the load to the fuel cell system power output bus; initiating or increasing a fuel inlet flow rate delivered to the fuel cell system in response to the demand signal; and connecting the load to the fuel cell system power output bus when the fuel inlet flow rate is equal to or greater than a fuel inlet flow rate required to provide power required by the load. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for controlling a connection between a plurality of loads and an output of a fuel cell system, the method comprising:
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receiving a signal indicative of at least one of voltage of a middle bus of a power output bus and a fuel utilization measure of the fuel cell system; and signaling a relay to connect or disconnect one or more of the plurality of loads from the fuel cell system power output bus in response to the signal. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. A method for controlling power supplied to a plurality of loads, the method comprising:
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receiving an output voltage of a bus, wherein the bus is supplied power by a plurality of fuel cell modules having different power outputs and wherein the bus supplies power to the plurality of loads; receiving state information of the plurality of loads; sending a same single control signal to the plurality of fuel cell modules in response to the output voltage of the bus and state information of the plurality of loads; and adjusting the power output of one or more of the plurality of fuel cell modules in response to the control signal.
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Specification