Utilization-based fuel cell monitoring and control
First Claim
1. A method of operating an energy producing and consuming assembly, comprising:
- producing a supply fuel at a supply pressure;
applying oxidant and the supply fuel to a fuel cell stack, which includes at least one fuel cell, and which is adapted to produce electric current therefrom at a production amperage;
satisfying at least a portion of an electrical load applied to the fuel cell stack;
continuously discharging unused fuel from the fuel cell stack through an exit orifice at an exit pressure;
detecting the exit pressure; and
controlling the production amperage by actively controlling the electrical load applied to the fuel cell stack based on the detected exit pressure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Fuel cell systems and methods for controlling the operation of components of the fuel cell system, which may include a fuel source and a fuel cell stack. In some examples, a fuel source is adapted to provide supply fuel to a fuel cell stack at a supply pressure. The fuel cell stack produces electric current at a production amperage. In some examples, a control system is adapted to control operation of the fuel cell stack based on a pressure detected at the fuel cell stack. In some examples, a target production amperage is determined based on the detected pressure, such that when electric current is produced at the target production amperage for the detected pressure, the fuel cell stack consumes a predetermined proportion of the supply fuel.
152 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of operating an energy producing and consuming assembly, comprising:
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producing a supply fuel at a supply pressure; applying oxidant and the supply fuel to a fuel cell stack, which includes at least one fuel cell, and which is adapted to produce electric current therefrom at a production amperage; satisfying at least a portion of an electrical load applied to the fuel cell stack; continuously discharging unused fuel from the fuel cell stack through an exit orifice at an exit pressure; detecting the exit pressure; and controlling the production amperage by actively controlling the electrical load applied to the fuel cell stack based on the detected exit pressure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification