COOLANT FLOW PULSING IN A FUEL CELL SYSTEM
First Claim
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1. A method for controlling a coolant pump in a fuel cell system, said method comprising:
- determining whether a stack power request for a fuel cell stack is below a first threshold value;
utilizing said stack power request to determine an off time value for said coolant pump that provides coolant to said fuel stack; and
generating, by a processor, a coolant pump control command that causes said coolant pump to stop providing coolant to said fuel stack during said off time and to provide coolant to said fuel stack during an on time, said coolant pump control command continuing as long as said stack power request is below said first threshold value.
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Abstract
Systems and methods to control the delivery of coolant to a coolant loop within a vehicular fuel cell system. During periods of low power output from one or more fuel cell stacks, operation of a pump used to circulate coolant through the loop is intermittent, thereby reducing pump usage during such times. The frequency of pump operation, as measured by a pump on/off (i.e., pulsed) cycle, may be adjusted to keep a local temperature rise within the one or more stacks to no more than a small amount over the bulk stack temperature.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for controlling a coolant pump in a fuel cell system, said method comprising:
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determining whether a stack power request for a fuel cell stack is below a first threshold value; utilizing said stack power request to determine an off time value for said coolant pump that provides coolant to said fuel stack; and generating, by a processor, a coolant pump control command that causes said coolant pump to stop providing coolant to said fuel stack during said off time and to provide coolant to said fuel stack during an on time, said coolant pump control command continuing as long as said stack power request is below said first threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A pump controller for a fuel cell system comprising:
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at least one processor; and a non-transitory memory in communication with said at least one processor, wherein said memory stores instructions that, when executed by said at least one processor, cause said at least one processor to; determine whether a stack power request for a fuel cell stack is below a first threshold value; utilize said stack power request to determine an off time value for a coolant pump that provides coolant to said fuel stack; and generate a coolant pump control command that causes said coolant pump to stop providing coolant to said fuel stack during said off time and to provide coolant to said fuel stack during an on time, said coolant pump control command continuing as long as said stack power request is below said first threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A fuel cell system comprising:
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a fuel cell stack; a pump that controls a supply of a coolant through said fuel cell stack; and a pump controller including at least one processor and a non-transitory memory in communication with said at least one processor, wherein said memory stores instructions that, when executed by said at least one processor, cause said at least one processor to determine whether a stack power request for a fuel cell stack is below a first threshold value, to utilize said stack power request to determine an off time value for a coolant pump that provides coolant to said fuel stack, and to generate a coolant pump control command that causes said coolant pump to stop providing coolant to said fuel stack during said off time and to provide coolant to said fuel stack during an on time, said coolant pump control command continuing as long as said stack power request is below said first threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification