Methods and systems are described for optimizing water discharge in fuel cell vehicles. The system includes a fuel cell stack, a blower for purging water from the fuel cell stack and a controller. The controller detects that an ambient temperature satisfies a threshold temperature. The controller determines the fuel cell vehicle is approaching a stopping location. The controller calculates a water discharge time prediction necessary to purge excess water from the fuel cell stack while the fuel cell vehicle is operating in response to detecting that the ambient temperature satisfies the threshold temperature and the fuel cell vehicle is approaching the stopping location. The water discharge time prediction is calculated based on the blower operating while the fuel cell stack is in at least one of an idle state and a stopped state as the fuel cell vehicle approaches the stopping location.

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.

A fuel cell arrangement which comprises a fuel cell having a first inlet for a fuel and a second inlet for an oxidizing agent, and comprises a vortex tube having an inlet, a first outlet for heated gas and a second outlet for cooled gas. Here, the first outlet of the vortex tube is fluidically connected to the first inlet or the second inlet of the fuel cell. A fuel cell system may have such a fuel cell arrangement, and a vehicle may have such a fuel cell arrangement or fuel cell system.

A fuel cell arrangement which comprises a fuel cell having a first inlet for a fuel and a second inlet for an oxidizing agent, and comprises a vortex tube having an inlet, a first outlet for heated gas and a second outlet for cooled gas. Here, the first outlet of the vortex tube is fluidically connected to the first inlet or the second inlet of the fuel cell. A fuel cell system may have such a fuel cell arrangement, and a vehicle may have such a fuel cell arrangement or fuel cell system.

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.

A power-to-X system having an electrolyzer and an energy converter which are connected together via a hydrogen line. The system additionally has a chemical reactor for catalytically removing oxygen, a first heat exchanger, a water separator, a store, and a humidifier which are connected into the hydrogen line in the stated order one behind the other between the electrolyzer and the energy converter. A second heat exchanger is arranged in the hydrogen line such that a first side of the second heat exchanger is arranged in front of the first heat exchanger and a second side of the second heat exchanger is arranged downstream of the water separator in the hydrogen line.

A fuel cell system (200), wherein the fuel cell system (200) has: a) a fuel cell stack (10), b) an anode gas path (20) which fluidically communicates with the fuel cell stack (10) and which serves for supplying anode gas from an anode gas store (22) to the fuel cell stack (10), c) a cathode gas path (30) which fluidically communicates with the fuel cell stack (10) and which serves for supplying cathode gas from a cathode gas store (32) to the fuel cell stack (10), d) a cooling fluid path (40) which fluidically communicates with the fuel cell stack (10) and which serves for supplying cooling fluid from a cooling fluid store (42) to the fuel cell stack (10), e) a vibration generator (60) which is in data-transmitting communication with a control unit (50) and which serves for setting the fuel cell stack (10) into a vibrating state, and f) the control unit (50) for actuating the vibration generator (60) in order to set the fuel cell stack (10) into the vibrating state by means of the vibration generator (60).

A membrane humidifier for a fuel cell is disclosed. The membrane includes a middle case in which a plurality of hollow fiber membranes are accommodated; a cap case coupled to the middle case; a potting part formed at the end portions of the plurality of hollow fiber membranes; and an assembling member disposed between the end portions of the cap case and the middle case, and simultaneously coupling, so as to be airtight, a gap between the cap case and the middle case and a gap between the cap case and the potting part.

In a fuel cell system, for example HTPEM fuel cells, especially for automobiles, a multi-stream heat exchange unit is employed in order to save space.

In a fuel cell system, for example HTPEM fuel cells, especially for automobiles, a multi-stream heat exchange unit is employed in order to save space.