Systems and methods for operating an electric energy storage device are described. The systems and methods may generate a state of charge estimate that is based on negative electrode plating. An overall state of charge may be determined from the state of charge estimate that is based on negative electrode plating and a state of charge estimate that is not based on negative electrode plating.

A bipolar plate structure having optimized gas flow channels is disclosed herein. It mainly comprises an anode electrode plate having a gas flow path plane molded by stamping processing and a plurality of zigzag meandering grooves formed on the gas flow path plane for a flow of hydrogen; and a cathode electrode plate having a gas flow path plane molded by stamping processing and a plurality of zigzag meandering grooves formed on the gas flow path plane for a flow of oxygen.

In a method for regulating a fuel cell stack (1), a current-voltage characteristic of the fuel cell stack is detected and evaluated to determine an operating point of the fuel cell stack, wherein a current-voltage characteristic of the fuel cell stack (1) is detected at time intervals in operation whose gradient has a minimum, a characteristic value (R.sub.min) for the minimum of the gradient is respectively determined from the detected current-voltage characteristic and a desired value for the operating point is determined by addition of a predefined offset value (R.sub.offset) to the characteristic value, and wherein the fuel cell stack (1) is regulated by the desired value determined in this manner.

An anode poison reduction system and method for a fuel cell vehicle. The system includes a monitoring device configured to monitor a state and performance of a fuel cell, and a controller configured to perform first control of controlling output of the fuel cell or air supply when an anode poisoning possibility condition is satisfied as a monitoring result by the monitoring device, and configured to perform second control of supplying air in the air line to the anode through the connection line when an anode poisoning generation condition is satisfied.

Fuel cell arrangement having an improved efficiency. The arrangement comprises one or more fuel cell units 110 and a methanation unit 200 and a control unit 300. The fuel cell unit comprises a water inlet 111, a hydrogen outlet 112 and an oxygen outlet 113. The methanation unit comprises a catalyst 222, a hydrogen inlet 213, a carbon oxide inlet 214 having a first controllable valve 215 and a methane outlet 216, wherein the hydrogen outlet of the first fuel cell unit is coupled to the hydrogen inlet of the methanation unit, and the methanation unit is adapted to convert hydrogen and carbon oxide into methane, wherein the control unit is adapted to control the first controllable valve so as to obtain an optimum converting process to convert hydrogen and carbon oxide into methane.

The present disclosure is directed to a fuel cell system for generating oxygen depleted air. The fuel cell system may include a fuel cell having an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte positioned between the anode and the cathode. The cathode may be configured to receive an air flow and discharge an oxygen depleted air flow. The fuel cell system may further include a sensor configured to generate a first signal indicative of a presence of hydrogen in the oxygen depleted air flow and a controller in communication with the sensor and the fuel cell. The controller may be configured to detect the presence of hydrogen in the oxygen depleted air flow based on the first signal, and in response to detecting the presence of hydrogen in the oxygen depleted air flow, selectively cause a current density of the fuel cell to decrease and/or increase a flow rate of the air flow to the cathode.

The fuel cell system is a fuel cell system wherein, when the amount of power generated by a fuel cell is determined to be equal to or less than a predetermined threshold, a controller issues an intermittent supply command to intermittently supply fuel gas to the fuel cell; wherein the intermittent supply command includes a first intermittent supply command and a second intermittent supply command; wherein the first intermittent supply command increases the flow rate of the fuel gas by setting the opening degree during pressure rise of a linear solenoid valve to relatively more than the second intermittent supply command; and wherein, after the first intermittent supply command, the second intermittent supply command decreases the flow rate of the fuel gas for a predetermined time by setting the opening degree during pressure rise of the linear solenoid valve to relatively less than the first intermittent supply command.

A method for maintaining a target electrochemical impedance (ECI) for a fuel cell, which corresponds to a target hydration state for the fuel cell. The method includes determining a target electrochemical impedance (ECI) for the fuel cell based on current operating conditions. The method further includes determining actual ECI for the fuel cell and comparing actual ECI to the target ECI. The method further includes adjusting a cathode flow to the fuel cell based on a deviation of the actual ECI from the target ECI.

A fuel cell unit includes a fuel cell and a converter. A fuel cell has single cells laminated in a given direction. A converter has a plurality of combinations of a reactor electrically connected with the fuel cell and a power module electrically connected with the reactor. At least either a direction in which first reactors among the reactors are arrayed or a direction in which first power modules among the power modules are arrayed is parallel with a laminating direction of the single cells.

An apparatus for determining state information relating to inertization of a fuel provision system configured to supply a fuel cell unit with fuel and including a vessel for storing fuel and a fuel line between the vessel and/or between a refueling access for refueling the vessel and the fuel cell unit, where the inertization replaces fuel in the fuel line and/or in the fuel cell unit with inert gas. The apparatus includes a device that is configured to cause the fuel cell unit to be supplied with gas from the fuel line while the vessel is closed and/or without fuel being taken from the vessel, to determine measurement information relating to an electric current and/or an electric voltage caused by the fuel cell unit being supplied with gas, and to determine the state information relating to the inertization of the fuel provision system on a basis of the measurement information.