Patent classifications
H01M8/04679
HYDROGEN LEAK SENSING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR FUEL CELL VEHICLE
In one aspect, disclosed are a hydrogen leak sensing device and method for a fuel cell vehicle. The device comprises a processor configured to control a valve of a hydrogen tank, wherein the processor may calculate a state of fuel (SOF) of the hydrogen tank when the valve is closed and a SOF of the hydrogen tank when the valve is opened, and determine whether hydrogen leak has occurred based on the calculated SOFs.
System and method for transitioning a reversible solid oxide fuel cell system between generation and electrolysis modes
A method for transitioning between fuel cell and electrolysis modes in a Reversible Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (RSOFC) system includes measuring and recording sensor data indicating a status of components associated with an RSOFC system coupled to an electrical power grid, the system comprising an RSOFC unit, a hydrogen compression system, a hydrogen storage system, and a water supply, determining a state of the RSOFC system based on the sensor data through a conditional logic algorithm, and transitioning the RSOFC system between the fuel cell mode and the electrolysis mode based upon the sensor data and the system state.
Method for calculating voltage loss of fuel cell and system performing the same
A method for calculating voltage loss of a fuel cell is provided. The method includes sensing an open circuit voltage that is generated in a stack when the switch is opened and detecting an operation voltage and an operation current that are generated in the stack when the switch is closed. A first change graph of voltage data over time is calculated using the voltage data and current data from a time when the switch is opened in a state where the switch is closed. A first voltage of a point at which a trend line for an interval where the voltage data linearly varies with the time meets the first change graph is sensed and then an ohmic resistance voltage loss is calculated using a difference between the first voltage and the operation voltage.
FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF SHUTTING DOWN THE SAME
A method of shutting down a fuel cell system includes a fuel cell includes generating power via an electrochemical reaction between a fuel gas and an oxidant gas. A shutdown command is output to the fuel cell to stop generating power. The fuel cell is controlled to continue generating power during an oxygen consumption process to consume oxygen in the oxidant gas remaining in a cathode system of the fuel cell even when the shutdown command is output to the fuel cell. At least one of voltage, current, and power output from the fuel cell is detected during the oxygen consumption process. Whether an abnormality occurs during the oxygen consumption process is determined based on at least one of the voltage, the current, and the power. The fuel cell is controlled to stop generating power during the oxygen consumption process when it is determined that abnormality occurs.
Fuel cell system
A fuel cell system includes a first fuel cell having first unit cells stacked together, a second fuel cell having second unit cells stacked together, a first voltage detector, a second voltage detector, and a controller. The first voltage detector detects voltage of the first unit cells for every “N” unit cells on average, and the second voltage detector detects voltage of the whole second fuel cell, or detects voltage of the second unit cells for every “M” unit cells on average. The controller determines whether any of the first unit cells is in a fuel deficiency state, by referring to a detection result of the first voltage detector, and performs a cancellation process to cancel the fuel deficiency state, on the first fuel cell that is in a power generating state, while stopping power generation of the second fuel cell, when an affirmative decision is obtained.
STATE ESTIMATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR FUEL CELL AND FUEL CELL SYSTEM
A state estimation device for a fuel cell for generating power upon receiving the supply of anode gas and cathode gas, comprising: an internal impedance measurement unit configured to measure an internal impedance of the fuel cell on the basis of an alternating-current signal of a predetermined frequency output from the fuel cell; a state quantity preliminary estimation value calculation unit configured to calculate a first preliminary estimation value for a state quantity of an electrode obtained from a real component of a measurement value of the internal impedance and a second preliminary estimation value for the state quantity of the electrode obtained from an imaginary component of the measurement value of the internal impedance; and a state quantity final estimation value determination unit configured to determine a final estimation value of the state quantity of the electrode on the basis of the calculated first and second preliminary estimation values.
FUEL CELL SYSTEM
A fuel cell system having a fuel cell using a fuel gas containing a combustible gas and an oxidant gas to generate power includes an exhaust gas route for an exhaust gas from the fuel cell to circulate, an air supplier absorbing air within the fuel cell system and supplying the air to the exhaust gas, an air supply route for the air to circulate, a merging part where the exhaust gas and the air merge, a discharge route discharging a mixed gas composed of the merged exhaust gas and the air to the atmosphere, and a combustible gas detector that detects the concentration of a combustible gas in the mixed gas. With respect to flow of the air circulating in the air supply route and the discharge route, from the upstream side, the air supplier, the merging part, and the combustible gas detector are disposed in this order.
Fuel cell hydrogen supply fault diagnosis system and method
A fuel cell hydrogen supply fault diagnosis system is provided. The system includes multiple fuel tanks that store hydrogen therein to supply the hydrogen and a fuel tank valve disposed at each of the fuel tanks and configured to be opened or closed to supply or shut off the hydrogen of the fuel tanks. A pressure sensor measures pressure in a fuel supply line that extends from each of the multiple fuel tanks to be integrally connected to a fuel cell stack. A supply amount estimator then estimates a supply amount of hydrogen supplied to the fuel cell stack and a consumption amount estimator estimates a consumption amount of hydrogen consumed in a reaction in the fuel cell stack or discharged therefrom. A fault detector then detects a hydrogen supply state.
Device for detecting current leakage and current leakage detection system including the same
A device for detecting a current leakage and a current leakage detection system including the same are provided. The device for detecting a current leakage includes a magnetic core having an internal space and both ends the core are separated from each other. An electric wiring extends to pass through the internal space of the magnetic core, and is connected between a power source and an electric load to supply power from the power source to the electric load. A hall sensor senses a magnetic field induced in the magnetic core.
FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME
A fuel cell system includes a fuel gas leakage sensor provided in a housing chamber to detect leakage of a fuel gas from a fuel cell to an inside of a housing chamber. Circuitry is configured to close at least one of a first valve and a second valve when the fuel gas leakage sensor detects the leakage of the fuel gas. The circuitry is configured to control the fuel cell to generate electric power using the fuel gas in the fuel cell while the at least one of the first valve device and the second valve device is closed when the fuel gas leakage sensor detects the leakage of the fuel gas.