Methods for fuel cell system optimization

• US 7,393,603 B1
• Filed: 12/20/2006
• Issued: 07/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
• Inventors: Ballantine, Arne Watson, Schumer, Steven Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): WOLFE JR, WILLIS RAY
• Application Number:
  US11/641,942
• Publication Number:
  US 20080152959A1
• Time in Patent Office: 559 Days
• Field of Search: 123/1.A, 429/12, 429/13, 429/18, 429 22- 25, 903/944
• US Class Current: 429/428
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04619 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04701 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04753 of fuel cell reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04828 Humidity; Water content
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0494 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A method of operating a fuel cell system which includes operating a fuel cell system at one or more operational modes, wherein said fuel cell system is configured to operate at a plurality of operational modes comprising: maximum power output, maximum system efficiency, maximum reliability, maximum lifetime, maximum return on investment or a mode combining any two or more of the preceding.

Claims

1. A fuel cell system comprising:

a computer system for directing the operation of said fuel cell system, said computer system comprising;

a fuel cell stack;

a processor; and

a memory, coupled to the processor, the memory comprising a plurality of instructions executable by the processor, the plurality of instructions configured to;

operate the fuel cell system in a first operational mode; and

switch the fuel cell system to a second operational mode;

wherein said first and second operational modes are each selected from an array of operational modes comprising;

maximum power output, maximum system efficiency, maximum reliability, maximum lifetime, maximum return on investment or a mode combining any two or more of the preceding.

2. A fuel cell system comprising:

a fuel cell stack; and

a means for;

operating the fuel cell system at a first operational mode; and

switching from said first operational mode to a second operational mode,

wherein said first and second operational modes are different from one another and each independently selected from a list of modes comprising;

maximum power output, maximum system efficiency, maximum reliability, maximum lifetime, maximum return on investment or a mode combining any two or more of the preceding.

3. A method of operating a fuel cell system comprising:

providing a fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell stack and a control system;

storing in the control system a list of operational mode parameters which correspond to a maximum power output mode, a maximum system efficiency mode, a maximum reliability mode, a maximum lifetime mode, a maximum return on investment mode and a mode combining any two or more of the preceding; and

executing a first operational mode from the list of operational mode parameters stored in the control system to operate the fuel cell system in the first operational mode.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising executing a second operational mode different from the first operational mode from the list of operational mode parameters stored in the control system to operate the fuel cell system in the second operational mode.

5. A method of operating a fuel cell system comprising:

operating the fuel cell system at a first operational mode; and

switching from said first operational mode to a second operational mode,

wherein said first and second operational modes are different from one another and each independently selected from a list of modes comprising;

maximum power output, maximum system efficiency, maximum reliability, maximum lifetime, maximum return on investment or a mode combining any two or more of the preceding.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein switching between the first and second operational modes is carried out manually.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the first mode is maximum power output.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the second mode is maximum power output.

9. The method of claim 5 wherein the first mode is maximum system efficiency.

10. The method of claim 5 wherein the second mode is maximum system efficiency.

11. The method of claim 5 wherein the first mode is maximum reliability.

12. The method of claim 5 wherein the second mode is maximum reliability.

13. The method of claim 5 wherein the first mode is maximum lifetime.

14. The method of claim 5 wherein the second mode is maximum lifetime.

15. The method of claim 5 wherein the first mode is maximum return on investment.

16. The method of claim 5 wherein the second mode is maximum return on investment.

17. The method of claim 5 wherein the first mode is a mode combining two or more of maximum power output, maximum system efficiency, maximum reliability, maximum lifetime, maximum return on investment.

18. The method of claim 5 wherein the second mode is a mode combining two or more of maximum power output, maximum system efficiency, maximum reliability, maximum lifetime, maximum return on investment.

19. The method of claim 5 wherein the system further comprises a control system for storage and execution of settings for each operational mode.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of activating the control system to switch the operational mode of the fuel cell from the first mode to the second mode.

21. The method of claim 5 wherein switching between the first and second operational modes is carried out automatically.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the switching is carried out based on data provided to the system.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising the step of providing data to the system.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the data comprises:

time-of-day electric rate changes, fuel cost or CO₂ emission levels.