H01M8/04776

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REDUCING EMISSIONS WITH A FUEL CELL
20230211884 · 2023-07-06 ·

A gas turbine engine includes a fuel cell assembly including a fuel cell stack and defining a fuel cell assembly operating parameter, a fuel source, and a turbomachine. The turbomachine includes a compressor section, a combustor, and a turbine section arranged in serial flow order. The combustor is configured to receive a flow of fuel from the fuel source and further configured to receive output products from the fuel cell stack. A controller is configured to perform operations including receiving data indicative of system operation conditions, determining a set of fuel cell operating conditions to move the system emission output into or maintain the system emission output within an emissions range, and controlling the fuel cell assembly operating parameter according to the determined set of fuel cell operating conditions.

Method for controlling air flow in a fuel cell power system
11695132 · 2023-07-04 · ·

One aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a fuel cell power system. The system may include one or more fuel cells configured to generate electric power and a compressor configured to supply compressed air to the one or more fuel cells. The system may further include one or more sensors. The sensors may be configured to generate a signal indicative of at least one measured parameter of air flow across the one or more fuel cells. The system may also include a controller in communication with the one or more fuel cells, the compressor, and the sensors. The controller may be configured to determine a desired pressure drop based on at least one calculated parameter, determine a control command for the compressor based on the desired pressure drop, and adjust the control command based on a feedback gain parameter and a feed forward gain parameter.

Fuel cell system and fuel cell system control method

A fuel cell system is provided and the fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell; a fuel processing unit configured to process a raw fuel to produce a fuel gas for the fuel cell; an oxidant gas heating unit configured to heat an oxidant gas for the fuel cell; a combustor configured to combust the raw fuel to produce a combustion gas for use in heating the fuel processing unit and the oxidant gas heating unit; a supply control unit configured to, during a warm-up of the fuel cell, control supply of the raw fuel to the fuel processing unit and the combustor; and a power generation control unit configured to control a power generation state during the warm-up of the fuel cell. When the fuel cell has reached a power generation available temperature, the power generation control unit is configured to cause the fuel cell to perform power generation, and the supply control unit is configured to supply the raw fuel to both the fuel processing unit and the combustor.

Water discharge optimization for fuel cell vehicles

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.

FUEL CELL SYSTEM WITH A VIBRATION GENERATOR, AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A FUEL CELL SYSTEM WITH A VIBRATION GENERATOR
20220416270 · 2022-12-29 ·

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).

FUEL CELL CONTROL SYSTEM FOR VEHICLES
20220399554 · 2022-12-15 ·

A vehicle includes a fuel cell having an air inlet port and an air outlet port and an air supply system having a compressor connected in fluid communication with the inlet port and a throttle valve connected in fluid communication with the outlet port. A controller is programmed to change a position of the throttle valve based on a target mass air flow, a measured mass air flow, a measured pressure, and the position of the throttle valve.

Fuel cell system and tail gas burner assembly and method

The present invention is concerned with improved swirl burners, particularly, but not limited to, swirl burners used in fuel cell systems.

SYSTEM FOR SUPPLYING COMPRESSED AIR TO A FUEL CELL SYSTEM
20220393206 · 2022-12-08 ·

System for supplying compressed air to a fuel cell of a vehicle, comprising a first compressor having an inlet for receiving air and an outlet for delivering compressed air to the fuel cell; an air storage tank arranged upstream and in series with the first compressor and configured to store compressed air of high pressure; an air selection control assembly comprising a selection valve and a switch actuator configured to operate the selection valve, wherein said selection valve is arranged in between air storage tank and inlet of the first compressor, and further in fluid communication with an inlet conduit for receiving fresh air, said switch actuator being configured to operate the selection valve to selectively control flow of air to the first compressor such that air can be supplied from the air storage tank to the first compressor or from the fresh air inlet conduit to the first compressor.

FUEL CELL CATHODE AIR PRESSURE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
20220393204 · 2022-12-08 · ·

A method of operating an aircraft includes providing a fuel cell system to power the aircraft, providing an airflow path through the fuel cell system, sensing a change mass air flow rate supplied to a compressor of the fuel cell system, and at least one of adjusting a restriction of airflow entering the airflow path in response to the sensed change in mass air flow rate, adjusting a restriction of airflow exiting the airflow path in response to the sensed change in mass air flow rate, and adjusting an air scoop to gather a different amount of air into the airflow path. A method of operating an aircraft includes sensing a change in ambient pressure supplied to an airflow path and adjusting a restriction of airflow exiting the airflow path in response to a sensed change in ambient pressure.

COOLING ARCHITECTURE FOR HYDROGEN FUEL CELL-POWERED AIRCRAFT
20220371741 · 2022-11-24 · ·

A cooling architecture for an integrated hydrogen-electric engine having a radiator and a hydrogen fuel cell includes a t and a manifold. The turbine is disposed in fluid communication with the hydrogen fuel cell. The turbine is configured to compress a predetermined amount of air and direct a first portion of the predetermined amount of the compressed air to the fuel cell for generating electricity that powers the integrated hydrogen-electric engine. The manifold is disposed in fluid communication with the turbine and positioned to direct a second portion of the predetermined amount of compressed air to the radiator for removing heat from the radiator.