Pulsed coolant control for improved stack cold starting
First Claim
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1. A fuel cell system comprising:
- a fuel cell stack including an inlet cooling fluid manifold, an outlet cooling fluid manifold and cooling fluid flow channels therebetween;
a pump for pumping a cooling fluid through a coolant loop outside of the fuel cell stack and through the inlet manifold, the outlet manifold and the cooling fluid flow channels; and
a controller for controlling the operation of the pump based on predetermined variables, said controller intermittently turning the pump on and off to pump the cooling fluid through the fuel cell stack during a cold stack start-up operation, wherein the controller turns the pump on for 1-2 seconds and off for 5-10 seconds in a pulsed manner.
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Abstract
A system and method for controlling the flow of a cooling fluid through a fuel cell stack during cold system start-up. A pump pumps the cooling fluid through the stack. At cold start-up, the pump is selectively turned on and off in a pulsed manner based on the temperature, cooling fluid volume, stack output power and other factors so that a minimal amount of the cold cooling fluid is introduced into the stack. By selectively controlling the duty cycle and the frequency of the pump pulsing, the reaction temperature will heat the cooling fluid, but the influence of the cold cooling fluid on the stack output power will be minimized. In an alternate embodiment, an electric heater is positioned in the inlet manifold, so that the cooling fluid is heated in the inlet manifold during the times that the pump is off.
21 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A fuel cell system comprising:
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a fuel cell stack including an inlet cooling fluid manifold, an outlet cooling fluid manifold and cooling fluid flow channels therebetween; a pump for pumping a cooling fluid through a coolant loop outside of the fuel cell stack and through the inlet manifold, the outlet manifold and the cooling fluid flow channels; and a controller for controlling the operation of the pump based on predetermined variables, said controller intermittently turning the pump on and off to pump the cooling fluid through the fuel cell stack during a cold stack start-up operation, wherein the controller turns the pump on for 1-2 seconds and off for 5-10 seconds in a pulsed manner. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A fuel cell system comprising:
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a fuel cell stack including an inlet cooling fluid manifold, an outlet cooling fluid manifold and cooling fluid flow channels therebetween; a pump for pumping a cooling fluid through a coolant loop outside of the fuel cell stack and through the inlet manifold, the outlet manifold and the cooling fluid flow channels; a temperature sensor positioned within or proximate to the inlet manifold, said temperature sensor providing a temperature signal indicative of the temperature of the cooling fluid; a heater positioned within the inlet manifold; and a controller for controlling the operation of the pump and the heater based on predetermined variables, said controller being responsive to the temperature signal, said controller intermittently turning the pump on and off to pump the cooling fluid through the fuel cell stack and turning the heater on during a cold stack start-up operation. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A fuel cell system comprising:
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a fuel cell stack including an inlet cooling fluid manifold, an outlet cooling fluid manifold and cooling fluid flow channels therebetween; a pump for pumping a cooling fluid through a coolant loop outside of the fuel cell stack and through the inlet manifold, the outlet manifold and the cooling fluid flow channels; a heater positioned within the inlet manifold; and a controller for controlling the operation of the pump by turning the pump on and off at cold stack start-up, said controller turning the heater on during a cold stack start-up operation. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification
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Current AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
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Original AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
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InventorsHoch, Martin M.
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Primary Examiner(s)Maples; John S
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Application NumberUS11/341,544Publication NumberTime in Patent Office1,635 DaysField of SearchNoneUS Class Current429/437CPC Class CodesH01M 2250/20 Fuel cells in motive system...H01M 8/04029 Heat exchange using liquidsH01M 8/04037 Electrical heatingH01M 8/04268 Heating of fuel cells durin...Y02E 60/50 Fuel cellsY02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen tec...
