Method and apparatus for monitoring equivalent series resistance and for shunting a fuel cell

• US 6,811,906 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2003
• Issued: 11/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Emergent Power Inc. (Plug Power Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Relion Incorporated (Plug Power Inc.)
• Inventors: Lott, David R., Bai, Lijun, Martin, Vanell L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maples, John S.
• Application Number:
  US10/431,069
• Publication Number:
  US 20030207159A1
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: 429/13, 429/22, 429/23
• US Class Current: 429/431
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/08 Structural combinations, e.g. assembly or connection, of hybrid or EDL capacitors with other electric components, at least one hybrid or EDL capacitor being the main component
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04559 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04589 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04626 of auxiliary devices, e.g. batteries, capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0488 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0491 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A fuel cell power system comprising a fuel cell having a cathode and an anode adapted to be coupled to a fuel supply, and which is configured to produce electrical power having a current and voltage output; a controller electrically coupled with the fuel cell, and configured to selectively short the anode to the cathode of the fuel cell; and circuitry configured to measure resistance of the fuel cell in timed relation to the shorting.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing a fuel cell having an anode and a cathode and having a level of hydration;

applying a short from the anode to the cathode for a predetermined amount of time;

removing the short;

measuring the amount of time for current to recover after the short between the anode and the cathode of the fuel cell is removed; and

determining what the level of hydration of the fuel cell was prior to the shorting, in response to the measured amount of time.