Online low performing cell (LPC) prediction and detection of fuel cell system
First Claim
1. A method for predicting a low performing cell in a fuel cell stack, said method comprising:
- executing, using at least one computing device coupled to a memory, instructions for;
estimating a polarization curve of the fuel cell stack using system parameters for both an average cell voltage and a minimum cell voltage;
determining a low performing cell current density set-point;
calculating an average cell voltage at the current density set-point;
calculating a minimum cell voltage at the current density set-point;
determining a difference voltage between the average cell voltage and the minimum cell voltage; and
determining whether one or both of the difference voltage is greater than a first predetermined voltage threshold and the minimum cell voltage is less than a second predetermined voltage threshold to determine whether the fuel cell stack includes a low performing cell.
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Abstract
A system and method for detecting and predicting low performing cells in a fuel cell stack. When the fuel cell stack is running and certain data validity criteria have been met, an algorithm collects the data, such as stack current density, average cell voltage and minimum cell voltage. This information is used to estimate predetermined parameters that define the stack polarization curve. The system defines a predetermined minimum current density that is used to identify a low performing cell. The system then calculates an average cell voltage and a minimum cell voltage at the minimum current density set-point, and calculates a cell voltage difference between the two. If the cell voltage difference is greater than a predetermined low voltage threshold and the minimum cell voltage is less than a predetermined high voltage threshold, the algorithm sets a flag identifying a potential for a low performing cell.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for predicting a low performing cell in a fuel cell stack, said method comprising:
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executing, using at least one computing device coupled to a memory, instructions for; estimating a polarization curve of the fuel cell stack using system parameters for both an average cell voltage and a minimum cell voltage; determining a low performing cell current density set-point; calculating an average cell voltage at the current density set-point; calculating a minimum cell voltage at the current density set-point; determining a difference voltage between the average cell voltage and the minimum cell voltage; and determining whether one or both of the difference voltage is greater than a first predetermined voltage threshold and the minimum cell voltage is less than a second predetermined voltage threshold to determine whether the fuel cell stack includes a low performing cell. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for predicting a low performing cell in a fuel cell stack, said method comprising:
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executing, using at least one computing device coupled to a memory, instructions for; determining a low performing cell current density set-point; calculating an average cell voltage at the current density set-point; calculating a minimum cell voltage at the current density set-point; determining a difference voltage between the average cell voltage and the minimum cell voltage; and determining whether the difference voltage is greater than a first predetermined voltage threshold to determine whether the fuel cell stack includes a low performing cell. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for predicting a low performing cell in a fuel cell, said system comprising;
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means for estimating a polarization curve of the fuel cell stack using system parameters for both an average cell voltage and a minimum cell voltage; means for determining a low performing cell current density set-point; means for calculating an average cell voltage at the current density set-point; means for calculating a minimum cell voltage at the current density set-point; means for determining a difference voltage between the average cell voltage and the minimum cell voltage; and means for determining one or both of whether the difference voltage is greater than a first predetermined voltage threshold and the minimum cell voltage is less than a second predetermined voltage threshold to determine whether the fuel cell stack includes a low performing cell. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification