Technique and apparatus to measure a fuel cell parameter
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- during the operation of a fuel cell system, introducing an electrical perturbation to the fuel cell system, the electrical perturbation not substantially disrupting the operation of the fuel cell system;
selecting a frequency of the perturbation to target a performance characteristic of the fuel cell system;
in response to the perturbation, measuring an electrical parameter of the fuel cell system; and
automatically controlling the fuel cell system in response to the measurement of the electrical parameter, the controlling comprising controlling at least one of a reactant stoichiometry and a reactant humidification.
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Abstract
A technique includes introducing an electrical perturbation to a fuel cell system during operation of the fuel cell system. This electrical perturbation does not substantially disrupt the operation of the fuel cell system. In response to the perturbation, an electrical parameter of the fuel cell system is measured.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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during the operation of a fuel cell system, introducing an electrical perturbation to the fuel cell system, the electrical perturbation not substantially disrupting the operation of the fuel cell system; selecting a frequency of the perturbation to target a performance characteristic of the fuel cell system; in response to the perturbation, measuring an electrical parameter of the fuel cell system; and automatically controlling the fuel cell system in response to the measurement of the electrical parameter, the controlling comprising controlling at least one of a reactant stoichiometry and a reactant humidification. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system comprising:
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a fuel cell stack; and a circuit adapted to; introduce an electrical perturbation to the fuel cell stack, the electrical perturbation not substantially disrupting operation of the fuel cell stack, in response to the perturbation, select one of a plurality of frequencies to measure a performance characteristic of the fuel cell stack, each of the other said plurality of frequencies being indicative of at least one other performance characteristic of the stack, control the fuel cell system in response to the measurement of the performance characteristic, and control at least one of a reactant stoichiometry and a reactant humidification in response to the measurement of the performance characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method comprising:
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during the operation of a fuel cell system, introducing an electrical perturbation to the fuel cell system, the electrical perturbation not substantially disrupting the operation of the fuel cell system; selecting a frequency of the perturbation to target a performance characteristic of the fuel cell system; in response to the perturbation, measuring an electrical parameter of the fuel cell system; and selectively automatically generating an alarm in response to the measuring.
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23. A system comprising:
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a fuel cell stack; and a circuit adapted to; introduce an electrical perturbation to the fuel cell stack, the electrical perturbation not substantially disrupting operation of the fuel cell stack, in response to the perturbation, select one of a plurality of frequencies to measure a performance characteristic of the fuel cell stack, each of the other said plurality of frequencies being indicative of at least one other performance characteristic of the stack, and selectively generate an alarm in response to the measurement of the performance characteristic.
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Specification