Disclosed are a method of controlling an operation of a fuel cell and a fuel cell operating system including an air compressor disposed on an air supply line and configured to compress an oxidation gas to be supplied to a fuel cell stack and supply the compressed air to a fuel cell inlet side, an air discharge line configured to discharge the oxidation gas from the fuel cell stack, a bypass line configured to branch off from the air discharge line through a valve, connected to the air supply line, and configured to resupply the discharged oxidation gas to the fuel cell inlet side, and a control unit configured to control a flow rate of the oxidation gas to be supplied to the fuel cell stack by controlling the valve on the bypass line depending on a cell ratio value which is a ratio of the fuel cells each being applied with a voltage lower than a first voltage among the fuel cells.

Disclosed are a method of controlling an operation of a fuel cell and a fuel cell operating system including an air compressor disposed on an air supply line and configured to compress an oxidation gas to be supplied to a fuel cell stack and supply the compressed air to a fuel cell inlet side, an air discharge line configured to discharge the oxidation gas from the fuel cell stack, a bypass line configured to branch off from the air discharge line through a valve, connected to the air supply line, and configured to resupply the discharged oxidation gas to the fuel cell inlet side, and a control unit configured to control a flow rate of the oxidation gas to be supplied to the fuel cell stack by controlling the valve on the bypass line depending on a cell ratio value which is a ratio of the fuel cells each being applied with a voltage lower than a first voltage among the fuel cells.

The subject matter described herein generally relates to a fuel cell power module and air handling system and methods of operating such a system to enable robust exhaust energy extraction for high altitude.

The subject matter described herein generally relates to a fuel cell power module and air handling system and methods of operating such a system to enable robust exhaust energy extraction for high altitude.

A fuel cell system is equipped with a control unit that controls a rotational speed of the turbo compressor that supplies air to an air supply flow passage and an opening degree of at least one valve that adjusts a flow rate and a pressure of the air supplied to a fuel cell such that an operating point of the turbo compressor becomes a target operating point. The control unit sets the target operating point within an operating point range that is on the higher flow rate side than at least part of a first region where an amount of change in flow rate is larger than a predetermined value when a pressure ratio of the turbo compressor is changed by a predetermined amount at a same rotational speed, on a higher flow rate side than a surging region, when a predetermined condition is fulfilled.

A fuel cell system is equipped with a control unit that controls a rotational speed of the turbo compressor that supplies air to an air supply flow passage and an opening degree of at least one valve that adjusts a flow rate and a pressure of the air supplied to a fuel cell such that an operating point of the turbo compressor becomes a target operating point. The control unit sets the target operating point within an operating point range that is on the higher flow rate side than at least part of a first region where an amount of change in flow rate is larger than a predetermined value when a pressure ratio of the turbo compressor is changed by a predetermined amount at a same rotational speed, on a higher flow rate side than a surging region, when a predetermined condition is fulfilled.

To provide a fuel cell system configured to increase fuel cell performance even at high altitude. A fuel cell system for air vehicles, wherein the fuel cell system comprises: a fuel cell, an oxidant gas system for supplying oxidant gas to the fuel cell, an altitude sensor, and a controller; wherein the oxidant gas system comprises an air compressor and a bypass flow path bypassing the fuel cell; wherein the bypass flow path comprises a bypass valve; and wherein, when the controller detects an altitude increase measured by the altitude sensor, the controller increases a rotational speed of the air compressor, and the controller increases an opening degree of the bypass valve.

To provide a fuel cell system configured to increase fuel cell performance even at high altitude. A fuel cell system for air vehicles, wherein the fuel cell system comprises: a fuel cell, an oxidant gas system for supplying oxidant gas to the fuel cell, an altitude sensor, and a controller; wherein the oxidant gas system comprises an air compressor and a bypass flow path bypassing the fuel cell; wherein the bypass flow path comprises a bypass valve; and wherein, when the controller detects an altitude increase measured by the altitude sensor, the controller increases a rotational speed of the air compressor, and the controller increases an opening degree of the bypass valve.

An air handling system for a fuel cell stack includes a pneumatic storage device disposed downstream from a compressor, a flow control valve system configured to operatively couple an inlet of the pneumatic storage device to an outlet of the compressor and configured to operatively couple an outlet of the pneumatic storage device to an inlet of the fuel cell stack, and a controller configured to, in response to a power demand being greater than a threshold, cause the flow control valve to open to increase a flow rate of air from the pneumatic storage device to the fuel cell stack.

An air handling system for a fuel cell stack includes a pneumatic storage device disposed downstream from a compressor, a flow control valve system configured to operatively couple an inlet of the pneumatic storage device to an outlet of the compressor and configured to operatively couple an outlet of the pneumatic storage device to an inlet of the fuel cell stack, and a controller configured to, in response to a power demand being greater than a threshold, cause the flow control valve to open to increase a flow rate of air from the pneumatic storage device to the fuel cell stack.