Patent classifications
H01M8/249
FUEL CELL STAGING FOR MOLTEN CARBONATE FUEL CELLS
Systems and methods are provided for using fuel cell staging to reduce or minimize variations in current density when operating molten carbonate fuel cells with elevated CO.sub.2 utilization. The fuel cell staging can mitigate the amount of alternative ion transport that occurs when operating molten carbonate fuel cells under conditions for elevated CO.sub.2 utilization.
FUEL CELL MODULE
A fuel cell module includes: a cell stack in which fuel cells are stacked; and a stack temperature controller through which the oxidant gas before being supplied to the cell stack flows. The fuel cell module includes a warm-up burner that produces combustion gas for warming the cell stack. The warm-up burner is arranged outside a housing space in which the cell stack is housed. The stack temperature controller is arranged to face the cell stack with a predetermined gap therebetween so as to exchange heat with the cell stack. The stack temperature controller is located adjacent to a combustion gas passage through which the combustion gas generated by the warm-up burner flows so as to allow heat exchange between the oxidant gas flowing through the stack temperature controller and the combustion gas generated by the warm-up burner.
FUEL CELL MODULE
A fuel cell module includes: a cell stack in which fuel cells are stacked; and a stack temperature controller through which the oxidant gas before being supplied to the cell stack flows. The fuel cell module includes a warm-up burner that produces combustion gas for warming the cell stack. The warm-up burner is arranged outside a housing space in which the cell stack is housed. The stack temperature controller is arranged to face the cell stack with a predetermined gap therebetween so as to exchange heat with the cell stack. The stack temperature controller is located adjacent to a combustion gas passage through which the combustion gas generated by the warm-up burner flows so as to allow heat exchange between the oxidant gas flowing through the stack temperature controller and the combustion gas generated by the warm-up burner.
SYSTEM FOR REGENERATING A FUEL CELL AND REGENERATION METHOD
A fuel cell and a method for regenerating this fuel cell, including a supply of the fuel cell by the main supply conduit by a fluid having a nominal flow rate and a nominal molar fraction of combustion agent, during a regeneration phase of a given group, a switching of the inlet, outlet and recirculation switches of the fluid circuit so as to supply the given group from the recirculation line of the given group and from a fluid discharge line of at least one other group, an application of a regeneration voltage Ve to the cells of the given group, Ve being less than or equal to 0.3V.
Fuel cell stack combining method
A fuel cell system includes fuel cell modules connected in parallel and each including fuel cell stacks connected in series. A tester includes: an output power acquirer that acquires an output power value for each fuel cell stack; a deterioration estimator that estimates a degree of future deterioration for each fuel cell stack; and a future output power estimator that estimates, for each fuel cell stack, a future output power value, which is a value of power that is likely to be outputted after a specific period of time has passed, based on the degree of future deterioration estimated by the deterioration estimator. The fuel cell stack combining method includes determining combinations of the fuel cell stacks based on differences in the output power value between the fuel cell stacks and differences in the future output power value between the fuel cell stacks.
Fuel cell stack combining method
A fuel cell system includes fuel cell modules connected in parallel and each including fuel cell stacks connected in series. A tester includes: an output power acquirer that acquires an output power value for each fuel cell stack; a deterioration estimator that estimates a degree of future deterioration for each fuel cell stack; and a future output power estimator that estimates, for each fuel cell stack, a future output power value, which is a value of power that is likely to be outputted after a specific period of time has passed, based on the degree of future deterioration estimated by the deterioration estimator. The fuel cell stack combining method includes determining combinations of the fuel cell stacks based on differences in the output power value between the fuel cell stacks and differences in the future output power value between the fuel cell stacks.
Systems and methods of using an energy storage device to assist an ejector
The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for using an energy storage device to assist a venturi or an ejector in a fuel cell or fuel stack system.
Systems and methods of using an energy storage device to assist an ejector
The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for using an energy storage device to assist a venturi or an ejector in a fuel cell or fuel stack system.
METHOD FOR OPERATING FUEL CELL POWER GENERATION SYSTEM
A method for operating a fuel cell power generation system is presented and includes sequentially resting fuel cell modules corresponding to a designated reference module number, from among all fuel cell modules of the fuel cell power generation system, during a designated number of cycles while operating remaining fuel cell modules, gradually reducing a number of the fuel cell modules sequentially rested during the cycles from the reference module number, whenever average performance of the fuel cell modules is sequentially reduced by exceeding designated reference levels configured to be sequentially set, and repairing or replacing the fuel cell modules when the average performance of the fuel cell modules is reduced by a designated lower limit or more.
DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DISTRIBUTING THE POWER OF FUEL CELL SYSTEMS IN A VEHICLE
An apparatus for splitting the power of fuel cell systems in a vehicle comprises: a first fuel cell system and at least one further fuel cell system, which are configured to convert hydrogen and oxygen into water in order to generate electrical energy therefrom, and a controller unit, which is configured to actuate the first fuel cell system and the further fuel cell system with an electrical signal. The apparatus is configured to actuate the first fuel cell system and the further fuel cell system with the electrical signal in time offset fashion.