H01M8/04097

Air supply system for fuel cell and method of controlling same
11695146 · 2023-07-04 · ·

Disclosed is a method of controlling an air supply system for a fuel cell. The air supply system includes a fuel cell stack, an air channel to supply air to an inlet of the fuel cell stack, a gas adsorption unit disposed on the air channel and configured to adsorb oxygen contained in air introduced into the air channel. In particular, the method includes: determining whether a power generation operation of the fuel cell stack is resumed; when the power generation operation of the fuel cell stack is resumed, controlling a voltage source to apply a voltage to the gas adsorption unit; and supplying air to the fuel cell stack through the air channel in a state in which the voltage is applied to the gas adsorption unit.

Fuel cell system and method of controlling fuel cell system
11695133 · 2023-07-04 · ·

The fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell; an anode supply pipe; a fuel gas supplier disposed at the anode supply pipe, the fuel gas supplier configured to adjust a supply quantity of a fuel gas to be supplied to the fuel cell; an ejector disposed at the anode supply pipe at a position between the fuel gas supplier and the anode supply port; an anode circulation pipe connected to the anode discharge port and the ejector; a circulation stop unit disposed at the anode circulation pipe, the circulation stop unit configured to stop circulation of the fuel gas through the anode circulation pipe; a pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure in the anode supply pipe at a position between the ejector and the anode supply port; and a controller. When a first pressure acquired from the pressure sensor is equal to or less than a predetermined lower limit value, the controller controls the fuel gas supplier to perform constant quantity supply control to supply the fuel gas of a predetermined supply quantity, and controls the circulation stop unit to perform circulation stop control to stop the circulation through the anode circulation pipe, and the controller determines abnormality at the ejector and the anode circulation pipe by using a second pressure acquired from the pressure sensor after the fuel gas supplier performs the constant quantity supply control and the circulation stop unit performs the circulation stop control.

Methods and Apparatus for Mold Mitigation in Fuel Cell Humidifiers

Methods and apparatus for reducing the tendency for mold formation and accumulation in membrane-based humidifiers used in PEM fuel cell systems can include reducing the oxygen concentration and/or generating hydrogen peroxide within the humidifier upon shutdown of a fuel cell system. In some embodiments, a fuel cell system comprises valves and lines located and operable to facilitate introduction of hydrogen into the humidifier upon shutdown of the system. In some embodiments, a fuel cell humidifier comprises a catalyst for promoting the generation of hydrogen peroxide from hydrogen and oxygen, and/or comprises acidic gas transport layers.

System including fuel cell assembly voltage monitor

A system for capturing carbon dioxide in flue gas includes a fuel cell assembly including at least one fuel cell including a cathode portion configured to receive, as cathode inlet gas, the flue gas generated by the flue gas generating device or a derivative thereof, and to output cathode exhaust gas and an anode portion configure to receive an anode inlet gas and to output anode exhaust gas, a fuel cell assembly voltage monitor configured to measure a voltage across the fuel cell assembly, and a controller configured to receive the measured voltage across the fuel cell assembly from the fuel cell assembly voltage monitor, determine an estimated carbon dioxide utilization of the fuel cell assembly based on the measured voltage across the fuel cell assembly, and reduce the carbon dioxide utilization of the fuel cell assembly when the determined estimated carbon dioxide utilization is above a predetermined threshold utilization.

Fuel cell system

A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a plurality of injectors capable of adjusting a flow rate of anode gas supplied to the fuel cell stack, and an ECU causing the plurality of injectors to operate. The plurality of injectors include a main injector, and a BP injector that operates when power that exceeds a prescribed power generation amount is generated. The ECU performs an operational check of causing the BP injector to operate at least once and judging whether the BP injector is normal or abnormal, during a period from when the fuel cell system is activated to when the fuel cell system stops.

Fuel cell system
11545681 · 2023-01-03 · ·

A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a first discharger, an opening-and-closing valve, a second discharger, a voltage detector, and a controller.

FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STARTING SAME

The purpose of the present invention is to provide fuel cell system capable of stable start-up and method for starting the fuel cell system. Fuel cell system includes SOFC, a turbocharger, oxidizing gas supply line, a control valve, oxidizing gas blow line, start-up air line for supplying the start-up air to the oxidizing gas supply line with a blower, and a control unit that, in state in which the control valve is closed and the blow valve is opened to supply the start-up air to the oxidizing gas supply line with the blower when the turbocharger is started, decreases the opening of the blow valve and, after the timing at which the opening of the blow valve starts to decrease, increases the opening of the control valve and then stops the supply of the starting air.

SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF USING AN ENERGY STORAGE DEVICE TO ASSIST AN EJECTOR
20220416269 · 2022-12-29 ·

The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for using an energy storage device to assist a venturi or an ejector in a fuel cell or fuel stack system.

MULTI-EJECTOR FUEL CELL SYSTEM CONFIGURATIONS
20220416268 · 2022-12-29 ·

The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods comprising more than one venturi or ejector with a fuel cell or fuel cell stack.

HANDLING OF VARIABLE AND UNPREDICTABLE GAS COMPOSITION CHANGES TO MAXIMIZE HEALTH AND PERFORMANCE OF FUEL CELL SYSTEMS

A disclosed fuel cell system includes a fuel inlet that receives a fuel gas from a fuel source, a gas analyzer that determines a composition of the fuel gas received by the fuel inlet, and a stack including fuel cells that generate electricity using the fuel gas received from the fuel source. The fuel cell system further includes a controller that controls at least one of a fuel utilization of the stack, a current generated by the stack, or a voltage generated by the stack, based on the composition of the primary fuel gas determined by the gas analyzer. The controller may control the fuel cell system by increasing or decreasing a fuel flow rate to thereby increase or decrease the voltage generated by the stack to maintain a predetermined target voltage or to maintain a predetermined rate at which usable fuel is supplied to the stack based on composition.