Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20100136444 | Electrical bridge for fuel cell plates - An electrical bridge is provided for a fuel cell plate which allows for electrical signals to pass in and out of the fuel cell without creating an additional leak path. The electrical bridge provides a mechanism for determining internal conditions of a fuel cell stack using external monitoring devices. The electrical bridge may also provide a mechanism for supplying power to internal sensing and control devices. | 06-03-2010 |
20100136445 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system of the present invention includes: a fuel cell ( | 06-03-2010 |
20100143812 | POWER SUPPLY DEVICE - A clean power supply unit with a high fuel utilization rate using a fuel cell is provided. The power supply unit of the present invention comprises a fuel cell using methanol as fuel; a secondary battery for supplying power to a load; a fuel cell control part for controlling the amount of fuel and/or air supplied to the above-mentioned fuel cell; and a power converter for converting the power output from the above-mentioned fuel cell to a predetermined voltage or current, supplying power to the load and/or the above-mentioned secondary battery and controlling the supplied power so as to fall within a predetermined range including the value at which the amount of methanol discharged from the above-mentioned fuel cell becomes minimized. | 06-10-2010 |
20100167140 | Response to Ingestion of Gas Into Fuel Cell Coolant - A fuel cell power plant ( | 07-01-2010 |
20100173209 | FUEL CELL TWO-PHASE COOLANT EXIT MANIFOLD - A liquid electrolyte fuel cell stack ( | 07-08-2010 |
20100183931 | On board hydrogen producing fuel cell technology(elements) coil and plate system used separately or in combination to disassociate (fracture) water into its base components of hydrogen and oxygen by use of electrolytic fission to augment (boost) and or fuel an internal combustion (gas or diesel) engines while lessening emission pollutants - A hydrogen fuel cell, producing hydrogen on demand using aqueous solutions containing de-ionized water and a buffer. This fuel cell technology works using either a plate and or coil cell technology, with or without modern day electronics like a Pulse Width Modulator, and or Coil Balancing Technology. The plates in these systems are solely dependent on the surface area and charge difference for Hydrogen gas production as well as additive concentration of buffer reagent in the cell. The cell or reactor core elements can be made using overlapping coils with a spacer layer or alternating plate arrays using spacers also, or many other shapes or dimensions and sizes just as long as you have alternating plates that provides reaction zones. This system demonstrates that hydrogen fuel can be produced and used to catalyze fuel in an internal combustion engine to increase full fuel burn while lessening pollutants. The purpose here was to construct a hydrogen cell that could accommodate either a plate based cell or a coiled based cell to produce Hydrogen gas on demand using a buffer reactor mixture and de-ionized water as the feed stock. We have tested these elements, both this new coil structure and the new plate structure and find that both of these designs are more productive then traditional plate cells since they are a more thought out design. These systems also can integrate neutral plates to fine tune the cell, however we did not find much of a benefit adding neutral plates in our experimentation. We have accomplished many of our goals with these new coil and plate technology systems, one which was to increase hydrogen gas production while packaging size of the apparatus was decreased. These elements are considerably more versatile and can be adjusted to provide custom sizes for custom applications of this technology with or without using Pulse Width Modulation or Coil Balancing electronics with predictable results. We also have perfected separating the gas molecules with another apparatus, and have experimented with a system to store amounts of the hydrogen gas that can be used on demand for future applications. The produced hydrogen gas can be pumped down into a gas cylinder for storage and future use. We have also experimented with adding more then one alternator and charging system into our test vehicle, this seems to be beneficial as well. Overall it looks like this technology offers a lot of benefit to yielding more power from fossil fuel, or from renewable forms of energy like ethanol or diesel fuel. We have also looked at harnessing kinetic motion of the vehicle while using hydrogen, all of these will lessen the negative effects that burning fossil fuel has on the environment and its inhabitants. | 07-22-2010 |
20100183932 | HUMIDITY REGULATION FUEL CELL - A hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell including a main cell and an auxiliary cell sharing a common electrolyte and having at least one separate electrode, circuitry for measuring the humidity ratio of the electrolyte, and control and switching circuitry for operating the main and auxiliary cells in parallel on a same load or separately on two different loads. | 07-22-2010 |
20100190069 | EXHAUST STATE CONTROL DEVICE FOR FUEL CELL FOR MOBILE UNIT - An exhaust state control device for a fuel cell for a mobile unit includes an exhaust gas temperature sensor ( | 07-29-2010 |
20100190070 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system of the present invention includes: a fuel cell configured to generate electric power using a fuel; a fuel processor configured to generate the fuel from a power generation material and supply the fuel to the fuel cell; composition-related information acquiring means ( | 07-29-2010 |
20100196771 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system has a purge valve that adjusts the amount of nitrogen in a hydrogen circulation channel and a fuel electrode to be discharged through a discharge channel. A purge rate correcting unit variably sets a target control value of the nitrogen content in the hydrogen circulation channel and the fuel electrode by taking into account whether a driving mode is set in a normal power generation mode or an idle mode. An opening of the purge valve is controlled on the basis of the target control value. | 08-05-2010 |
20100221623 | Method and Apparatus for Operation of a Fuel Cell Arrangement - A method and an apparatus for operation of a fuel cell arrangement having a plurality of fuel cells which are combined to form a stack and have a common cathode input and cathode output, as well as a common anode input and anode output, and having first components which supply the fuel cells with reactants and second components which process the reaction products of the fuel cells. First and second components are surrounded by separate housings or by a common housing. Exhaust air containing hydrogen is passed directly from all of the housings into a combined exhaust air line in which the hydrogen content of the combined exhaust air is determined. | 09-02-2010 |
20100227236 | INTELLIGENT SYSTEM FOR THE DYNAMIC MODELING AND OPERATION OF FUEL CELLS - A system and method for controlling an output of a dynamic fuel cell is provided. A dynamic fuel cell has a membrane wherein a dimension of the membrane is variable during operation of the dynamic fuel cell in response to a control signal from an intelligent controller. By varying the dimension of the membrane, the output voltage of the dynamic fuel cell can be altered. An intelligent controller is provided that can measure a number of outputs and input parameters of the dynamic fuel cell and approximate input parameters using the measured values to adjust the input of the dynamic fuel cell to the approximated values. | 09-09-2010 |
20100227237 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM, CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR, AND MOVABLE OBJECT - The oxidizing gas supply is stopped during the catalyst activation treatment, and the output voltage of the fuel cell is linearly decreased toward the reduction target voltage. Once the interruption condition of the activation treatment has been satisfied, a voltage command value of the converter is returned to a standby voltage and, after waiting till the output voltage of the fuel cell returns to the vicinity of the standby voltage, the compressor is operated to start the supply of the oxidizing gas, and the catalyst activation treatment is completed. As a result, overcharging of the battery caused by rapid increase in the output power of the fuel cell is avoided. | 09-09-2010 |
20100233554 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND OPERATING METHOD THEREOF - A fuel cell system of the present invention includes: a polymer electrolyte fuel cell ( | 09-16-2010 |
20100233555 | CLOSED-LOOP CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A CONTROLLED SYSTEM - The invention relates to a closed-loop control system for a controlled system for specifying at least one controlling variable to the controlled system, having a primary controller, for generating the controlling variable within an interval between a maximum controlling variable barrier and a minimum controlling variable barrier. At least one measuring means for determining a controlled variable of the controlled system is provided. At least one measurement system for ascertaining at least one state variable of the controlled system, and at least one secondary controller, for varying the maximum controlling variable barrier and the minimum controlling variable barrier as a function of the state variable are provided. | 09-16-2010 |
20100233556 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - There is provided a fuel cell system capable of suppressing the increase of a control error of a motor. The system includes a fuel cell which generates a power by an electrochemical reaction between a fuel gas and an oxidizing gas, a motor driven by the generated power of the fuel cell, and a control unit which controls the generation state of the fuel cell. The control unit performs high-potential avoiding control to prevent the total voltage of the fuel cell from exceeding a predetermined high-potential avoiding voltage threshold value. In a vehicle velocity region where the control switching of the traction motor is caused, the high-potential avoiding volume is inhibited. | 09-16-2010 |
20100248049 | Fuel cell system with interruption control - A method for operating a fuel cell system during an interruption includes identifying a load interruption in which an external load is partially or fully unable to draw electrical power from the fuel cell system. At least a first fuel cell column of the fuel cell system is operated in an electrolysis mode such that the first fuel cell column generates fuel during the load interruption. Power is provided to the first fuel cell column in the electrolysis mode from at least a second fuel cell column of the fuel cell system. The second fuel cell column is operating in a normal power generation operating mode. | 09-30-2010 |
20100248050 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING OPERATION OF A PLURALITY OF FUEL CELLS - A fuel cell system, and a method of controlling an operation of a plurality of fuel cells. The fuel cell system controls the operation of the plurality of fuel cells according to a power consumed in a load and the performance of the plurality of fuel cells, thereby increasing a power conversion efficiency of the plurality of fuel cells while preventing considerable performance degradation of the plurality of fuel cells. The fuel cell system includes: a plurality of fuel cells; a control unit controlling an operation of the plurality of fuel cells according to a power consumed in a load and the performance of the plurality of fuel cells; and a converter converting a power output by at least one of the plurality of fuel cells into a power according to the control of the control unit. | 09-30-2010 |
20100248051 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING OUTPUT OF FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND VEHICLE WITH FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system has different allowable changes per unit time in an operation range of a fuel cell, in both a first output range of the fuel cell and a second output range of the fuel cell, the second output range being lower than the first output range. The allowable change per unit time in the output of the fuel cell in the second output range is smaller than the allowable change per unit time in the output of the fuel cell in the first output range. | 09-30-2010 |
20100255393 | FUEL CELL OUTPUT CONTROL DEVICE - It is possible to suppress over-discharge of an accumulator even when the accumulator is in charge-limited state in a fuel cell output control device. A vehicle drive control system including a fuel cell and an accumulator uses a control unit having: an FC output instruction value calculation module which calculates an output instruction value of a fuel cell according to a power required by a rotary machine; a regeneration limit judgment module which judges whether regeneration is limited for the rotary machine; a battery limit judgment module which judges whether charge of the accumulator is limited; and a required power correction module which corrects the required power of the fuel cell when the charge of the accumulator is limited and neither of the fuel cell or the rotary machine generates power, so as to limit discharge from the accumulator. | 10-07-2010 |
20100261075 | FUEL SENSOR-LESS CONTROL METHOD FOR SUPPLYING FUEL TO FUEL CELL - The present invention provides a fuel sensor-less control method for supplying fuel to a fuel cell, in which a fixed control amount is determined for controlling the fuel supply of fuel cell, and then a feeding timing of the fixed fuel quantity is determined by integrating characteristic values generated from the fuel cell within the limit of fixed control amount. In another embodiment, it is further comprising a step of determining the variation profile associated with the characteristic values during the period so as to judge whether it is necessary to feed the fuel into the fuel cell or not. By means of the present invention, the supplying of fuel to the fuel cell under dynamic loadings can be effectively controlled for optimizing the performance of the fuel cell as well as reducing the cost without installing any fuel concentration sensor. | 10-14-2010 |
20100261076 | FUEL CARTRIDGE, FUEL CELL, AND POWER GENERATION METHOD - A fuel cartridge with which liquid leakage through an air induction hole from a fuel tank is able to be prevented and safety is able to be improved is provided. Switching drive for opening and closing an air induction hole | 10-14-2010 |
20100261077 | FREEING A FROZEN FUEL CELL COMPONENT - An example fuel cell component includes an energizeable coating on at least a portion of a surface of the fuel cell component. A controller is configured to energize the energizeable coating to break a bond between any ice and the surface of the fuel cell component. | 10-14-2010 |
20100291445 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND BOOST CONVERTER FOR FUEL CELL - Provided is a fuel cell system including a fuel cell which is a DC power source and boosting unit which boosts the output voltage of the fuel cell for supply to a load. The boosting unit has: a main boosting unit which has a switch and a coil and boosts the output voltage of the fuel cell by a back electromotive force of the coil generated by a switching operation of the switch with respect to the coil; and a sub boosting unit having a snubber capacitor which adjusts a potential difference between the both electrodes of the switch by an accumulation amount and reduces the switching loss of the switch by adjusting the accumulation amount of the snubber capacitor upon a switching operation. The electricity of the snubber capacitor discharged when reducing the accumulation amount of the snubber capacitor is made to flow into processing unit other than the fuel cell by the sub boosting unit. | 11-18-2010 |
20100297514 | MOVING BODY EQUIPPED WITH FUEL CELLS | 11-25-2010 |
20100304248 | MOBILE TERMINAL AND METHOD FOR CONFIRMING REMAINING CAPACITY OF FUEL CELL - A mobile terminal includes a fuel accommodation section that accommodates a fuel within a body, at least one face of the fuel accommodation section being formed by a transparent or translucent member, a fuel cell section that generates electricity on the basis of the fuel accommodated in the fuel accommodation section, a body orientation detection section that detects an orientation of the body, a storage section that stores scale display information concerning a plurality of orientations of the fuel accommodation section, a display section disposed on the face of the fuel accommodation section formed by the transparent or translucent member, and a control section that obtains the scale display information corresponding to the orientation detected by the body orientation detection section from the scale display information stored in the storage section, and displays the obtained scale display information on the display section. | 12-02-2010 |
20100323258 | ELECTRIC-FIELD ENHANCED PERFORMANCE IN CATALYSIS AND SOLID-STATE DEVICES INVOLVING GASES - Electrode configurations for electric-field enhanced performance in catalysis and solid-state devices involving gases are provided. According to an embodiment, electric-field electrodes can be incorporated in devices such as gas sensors and fuel cells to shape an electric field provided with respect to sensing electrodes for the gas sensors and surfaces of the fuel cells. The shaped electric fields can alter surface dynamics, system thermodynamics, reaction kinetics, and adsorption/desorption processes. In one embodiment, ring-shaped electric-field electrodes can be provided around sensing electrodes of a planar gas sensor. | 12-23-2010 |
20110003219 | SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL INCLUDING BYPASS CIRCUIT - In one aspect there is disclosed a solid oxide fuel cell including an insulating housing. A plurality of interconnected cells defining a stack are disposed within the housing. Each of the fuel cells includes an anode and a cathode. A bypass circuit is positioned outside of the housing and is coupled between the anode and the cathode of at least a portion of the plurality of cells allowing modification of an interconnection between the cells. | 01-06-2011 |
20110014533 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR POWER CONTROL IN AN AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE - A method for controlling a vehicle including a fuel cell system and an energy storage unit includes, if the fuel cell system is charging the energy storage unit, determining an average ratio of (i) a change in energy stored in the energy storage unit and (ii) a mass of hydrogen consumed by the fuel cell system to generate the change in energy stored in the energy storage unit. The method also includes, if the fuel cell system is not charging the energy storage unit, selecting a target operating power for the fuel cell system based on vehicle power demand and the determined ratio that sufficiently minimizes drive cycle hydrogen consumption by the fuel cell system. | 01-20-2011 |
20110027677 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - To provide a fuel cell system provided with a polymer electrolyte fuel cell which is excellent in the power generation characteristics under high temperature and low or no humidity conditions. | 02-03-2011 |
20110027678 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A FUEL CELL SYSTEM - The invention relates to a fuel cell apparatus ( | 02-03-2011 |
20110033760 | Micro Gap Flow Through Electrochemical Devices With Self Adjusting Reactive Surfaces - Contemplated electrochemical devices and methods include an electrolyte flow path in which substantially all of the electrolyte has laminar flow. A segmented electrode contacts the electrolyte, and each of the segments in the segmented electrode is preferably coupled to a control device to provide control over the flow of current to and/or from the electrolyte. Thus, it should be appreciated that the redox state of the electrolyte can be changed in a single-pass through the flow path, which effectively eliminates problems associated with mass transport phenomena and reduced current efficiency. | 02-10-2011 |
20110033761 | Fuel Cell System With at Least One Fuel Cell - In a fuel cell system with at least one fuel cell connected to electrical connection lines, the fuel cell can be short-circuited in the event of an emergency cut-out being required. | 02-10-2011 |
20110033762 | FUEL BATTERY SYSTEM - A fuel battery system which can suppress unexpected variation of a target power during execution of a high potential avoidance control operation. The fuel battery system sets a high potential avoidance target voltage value, converts the high potential avoidance target voltage value into a target power value on the basis of the voltage-power property map of a fuel battery, limits the target power value within a range between a predetermined upper limit value and a predetermined lower limit value, and controls the operation of the fuel battery on the basis of the target power value while limiting the output voltage of the fuel battery to a value which is not larger than the high potential avoidance target voltage. This can suppress the unexpected variation of the target power value resulting from the erroneous estimation of output properties caused by the momentary drop of the high potential avoidance target voltage. | 02-10-2011 |
20110039176 | DIRECT LIQUID FUEL CELL HAVING AMMONIA BORANE OR DERIVATIVES THEREOF AS FUEL - Fuel cell systems comprising ammonia borane or derivatives thereof as fuel and an anode and/or cathode which comprises a non-noble metal (e.g., copper) or a non-metallic substance (e.g., an iron electron-transfer mediating complex) as a catalyst are disclosed. Fuel cell systems comprising ammonia borane or derivatives thereof as fuel and a peroxide as an oxidant are also disclosed. Uses of the fuel devices are further disclosed. | 02-17-2011 |
20110045369 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A FUEL CELL SYSTEM - Fuel cell apparatus with at least one fuel cell ( | 02-24-2011 |
20110053022 | DIRECT LIQUID FUEL CELL HAVING HYDRAZINE OR DERIVATIVES THEREOF AS FUEL - A fueled cell system comprising: an anode compartment comprising a compound having the formula R1R2N—NR3R4, a salt, a hydrate or a solvate thereof, as fuel, and a catalyst layer which comprises copper or a copper alloy; | 03-03-2011 |
20110081587 | Apparatus for Detecting Leak in Fuel Cells - Provided is an apparatus for detecting leak in fuel cells. The apparatus includes: a detection gas intake unit connected to a detection gas storage; a supply unit supplying detection gas to supply manifolds of the fuel cells; a recovering unit connected to exhaust manifolds of the fuel cells; and a measuring unit measuring pressure of the detection gas supplied to the fuel cells, wherein in the fuel cells, a product and cooling fluid are exhausted through the exhaust manifolds after cathode/anode reaction gas and cooling fluid are supplied to the inside through the supply manifolds to generate an electrochemical reaction. Accordingly, presence of leak and leaked portions of the entire fuel cells are detected by using an inert detection gas. | 04-07-2011 |
20110097635 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL SYSTEM AND LEAK DETECTION AND INDICATION - An electrochemical cell system is provided having: at least one electrochemical cell stack, each stack having at least one reactant fluid inlet; a pressure transmitter arranged in the at least one reactant fluid inlet of each stack; and a control unit for regulating the electrochemical cell system, the control unit receiving at least one signal value from the pressure transmitter indicative of the reactant fluid pressure. The control unit may compare the at least one signal value with a stored values and generate a leak indication based on the rate of pressure decay within the electrochemical cell system. A method of detecting and indicating a leak is also disclosed. | 04-28-2011 |
20110117462 | Methods and apparatuses for distributed fuel cells with nanotechnology - An electrochemical cell which includes an anode half-cell, a cathode half-cell, an ion-host species formed within the reactant path between the two half-cells, an optional gate electrode influencing the electrical potential of the ions, and an optional mechanical interchange influencing the rate of charge transfer. Mechanical energy may be interchanged with chemical energy. The half-cells may be operated independently by accumulation and deployment of the ion-host intermediate species. | 05-19-2011 |
20110123882 | SURFACE PRESSURE CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR FUEL CELL STACK - The present invention provides a surface pressure controlling device for a fuel cell stack, in which an inflator capable of being expanded by pneumatic or hydraulic pressure is mounted in an end plate so as to control the surface pressure required for the assembly of the fuel cell stack to be maintained above a predetermined level. | 05-26-2011 |
20110123883 | METHOD FOR MANAGING FUEL CELL POWER INCREASES USING AIR FLOW FEEDBACK DELAY - A method for managing fuel cell power increases in a fuel cell system using an air flow feedback delay. The method comprises the steps of determining a required air mass flow rate at a predetermined point in the fuel cell system, determining an actual air mass flow at a predetermined point in the fuel cell system, calculating an air flow feedback delay as a function of the required air mass flow rate and the actual air mass flow, and delaying an external circuit from increasing current draw from the fuel cell stack by the magnitude of the air flow feedback delay. | 05-26-2011 |
20110143241 | FUEL CELL OPERATIONAL METHODS FOR OXYGEN DEPLETION AT SHUTDOWN - A method for creating an oxygen depleted gas in a fuel cell system, including operating a fuel cell stack at a desired cathode stoichiometry at fuel cell system shutdown to displace a cathode exhaust gas with an oxygen depleted gas. The method further includes closing a cathode flow valve and turning off a compressor to stop the flow of cathode air. | 06-16-2011 |
20110143242 | Electrochemical System Having Multiple Independent Circuits - The present teachings relate to an electrochemical system including an electrochemical device and multiple independent circuits which permit independent control of the reaction rates at different sections of the electrochemical device. The electrochemical device can be a fuel cell or an electrolyzer, and can include a common electrode in electrical communication with two or more independent circuits. The present teachings also relate to operating methods of the electrochemical system described. | 06-16-2011 |
20110159387 | Visualization Apparatus for Large Area PEMFC - Provided is a visualization apparatus for a PEMFC using a transparent window. More particularly, provided is a visualization apparatus for a large are PEMFC including: a plurality of visualization apparatuses for region cells including current collector plates each provided on both sides of a membrane electrode assembly of a PEMFC and formed with channels through which reaction gas and products flow and a transparent provided on the outer surface of the current collector plate. Further, provided is a visualization apparatus for a large area PEMFC electrically connecting the current collector plates of the visualization apparatus for region cells to each other in parallel. | 06-30-2011 |
20110159388 | Visualization Apparatus for PEMFC Stack - Provided is a visualization apparatus for a PEMFC stack using a transparent window. More particularly, provided is a visualization apparatus for a PEMFC stack including: a plurality of visualization apparatuses for unit cells including current collector plates each provided on both sides of a membrane electrode assembly of a PEMFC and formed with channels through which reaction gas and products flow and a transparent plate provided on the outer surface of the current collector plate. Provided is a visualization apparatus for a PEMFC stack electrically connecting the current collector plates of the visualization apparatus for unit cells to each other in series. | 06-30-2011 |
20110189568 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system has two fuel cell modules each arranged in a plane. In the fuel cell modules each including a plurality of membrane electrode assemblies arranged in a plane, hydrogen stored in a fuel cartridge is fed to anodes of the fuel cell modules. A control unit performs control of connecting the two fuel cell modules alternately to an external load, when the external load connected to a fuel cell system is within a prescribed threshold value and at least one of the temperature of one of the fuel cell modules and the temperature of the other of the fuel cell modules is at or below a prescribed threshold temperature. | 08-04-2011 |
20110200899 | Modularized Electrochemical Cell System - An electrochemical cell system including a plurality of electrochemical cells arranged in an electrochemical cell stack, the stack including a plurality of substacks configured such that fluid flows in series from substack to substack, a first electrical control device coupled to a first substack and a second electrical control device coupled to a second substack, wherein the first electrical control device is controllable independently of the second control device to selectively electrically configure the first and second substacks. | 08-18-2011 |
20110217608 | POWER GENERATION CONTROL DEVICE AND POWER GENERATION CONTROL METHOD FOR FUEL CELL - A power generation control device | 09-08-2011 |
20110262821 | DELIVERY HEAD FOR A FUEL CELL - The invention relates to a fluid delivery head for an electrochemical cell, for example a fuel cell. The delivery head combines the inlets and outlets of the lines for delivering the fluids, notably hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen delivery line feeds an active part of the fuel cell and includes a cavity in communication with a discharge pipe via a solenoid valve. The invention performs several functions with a minimum of elements and with reduced bulk. | 10-27-2011 |
20110269039 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING VARIABLE POWER CONDITIONS IN A FUEL CELL - A fuel cell comprises an anode having an inner face and an outer face fluidly communicable with a fuel; a cathode having an inner face ionically communicable with and physically separated from the anode inner face, and having an outer face fluidly communicable with an oxidant; and at least one movable guard movable over at least one of the anode outer face, cathode outer face, anode inner face, and cathode inner face. The guard has a structure sufficient to block at least part of one or more of the anode's communication with the fuel, the cathode's communication with the oxidant, and the ionic communication between the anode and cathode thereby reducing a maximum potential active area of the fuel cell to an effective active area of the fuel cell. | 11-03-2011 |
20110300461 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - There is provided a fuel cell system in which a constantly accurate impedance measurement is made possible regardless of a response characteristic of the voltage converting device. A superimposed signal analysis section analyzes an impedance measuring signal after passing through a DC/DC converter to thereby notify a superimposed signal amplitude control section of an analysis result. A superimposed signal amplitude control section controls an amplitude value of the impedance measuring signal generated by a superimposed signal generating section based on the result notified from the superimposed signal analysis section. | 12-08-2011 |
20110305963 | PROTON-CONDUCTING STRUCTURE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME - A proton-conducting structure that exhibits favorable proton conductivity in the temperature range of not lower than 100° C., and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. After a pyrophosphate salt containing Sn, Zr, Ti or Si is mixed with phosphoric acid, the mixture is maintained at a temperature of not less than 80° C. and not more than 150° C., and thereafter maintained at a temperature of not less than 200° C. and not more than 400° C. to manufacture a proton-conducting structure. The proton-conducting structure of the present invention has a core made of tin pyrophosphate, and a coating layer formed on the surface of the core, the coating layer containing Sn and O, and having a coordination number of O with respect to Sn of grater than 6. | 12-15-2011 |
20110318661 | MEMBRANE ELECTRODE UNITS - A membrane electrode assembly, comprising at least one phosphoric acid-containing polymer electrolyte membrane and at least one gas diffusion electrode, said gas diffusion electrode comprising:
| 12-29-2011 |
20110318662 | PLATINUM PHOSPHIDE AS A CATHODE CATALYST FOR PEMFCS AND PHOSPHOROUS TREATMENT OF CATALYSTS FOR FUEL CELL - The present disclosure relates to a catalyst including platinum phosphide having a cubic structure, a method of making the catalyst, and a fuel cell utilizing the catalyst. The present disclosure also relates to method of making electrical power utilizing a PEMFC incorporating the catalyst. Also disclosed herein is a catalyst including a platinum complex wherein platinum is complexed with a nonmetal or metalloid. The catalyst with the platinum complex can exhibit good electro-chemically active properties. | 12-29-2011 |
20120003555 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS - A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell; a power storage unit for storing power generated by the fuel cell; a tank for storing a fuel to be supplied to the fuel cell; a remaining fuel sensor for detecting the amount of fuel remaining in the tank; an SOC detector for detecting the state of charge of the power storage unit; and a control unit for controlling the operation of the fuel cell. (i) When the remaining amount of fuel is larger than a predetermined value A, the control unit is configured to perform: (a) an operation for stopping the power generation of the fuel cell or an operation for decreasing the amount of power generated if the state of charge is equal to or more than a predetermined value X; and (b) an operation for starting the power generation of the fuel cell or an operation for increasing the amount of power generated if the state of charge is equal to or less than a predetermined value Y where Y01-05-2012 | |
20120003556 | FUEL CELL DEVICE AND SYSTEM - The invention relates to fuel cell devices and systems, and methods of using and making fuel cell devices and systems. The fuel cell devices include an elongate ceramic substrate, such as a rectangular or tubular substrate, the length of which is the greatest dimension such that thermal expansion is exhibited along a dominant axis that is coextensive with the length. A reaction zone is positioned along a first portion of the length for heating to an operating reaction temperature, and at least one cold zone is positioned along a second portion of the length for operating at a temperature below the operating reaction temperature. There are one or more fuel passages and one or more oxidizer passages extending within an interior solid support structure of the elongate substrate, each having an associated anode and cathode, respectively, which are separated by an electrolyte. The passages include a neck-down point. | 01-05-2012 |
20120045704 | DURABLE IONOMERIC POLYMER FOR PROTON EXCHANGE MEMBRANE AND MEMBRANE ELECTRODE ASSEMBLIES FOR ELECTROCHEMICAL FUEL CELL APPLICATIONS - The present invention provides a proton exchange membrane and a membrane electrode assembly for an electrochemical fuel cell. A catalytically active component is disposed within the membrane electrode assembly. The catalytically active component comprises particles of cobalt cations and boron stabilized silicon oxide. The present invention also provides for a process for increasing peroxide radical resistance in a membrane electrode that includes the introduction of the catalytically active component described into a membrane electrode assembly. | 02-23-2012 |
20120070754 | Fuel Cell with Rapid Pressure Balancing - A fuel cell provides for rapid pressure equalization across the proton exchange membrane by means of an expansion chamber on one side of the proton exchange membrane, the expansion chamber communicating with the gas on the other side of the membrane. Changes in size of the expansion chamber adjust pressure more rapidly than external control of flow rates. | 03-22-2012 |
20120082911 | System and method for maintaining and establishing operational readiness in a fuel cell backup system of a nuclear reactor system - A method and apparatus for maintaining or establishing a readiness state in a fuel cell backup system of a nuclear reactor system are disclosed. A method includes maintaining a readiness state of a fuel cell system within a set of readiness parameters, the readiness parameters a function of a characteristic of the nuclear reactor system. Another method includes monitoring a nuclear reactor system characteristic and, responsive to the monitored nuclear reactor system characteristic, establishing a readiness state of a fuel cell system. An apparatus includes a fuel cell system associated with a nuclear reactor system and a fuel cell control system configured to maintain a readiness state of the fuel cell system. Another apparatus includes a fuel cell system associated with a nuclear reactor system, a nuclear reactor characteristic monitoring system, and a fuel cell control system configured to establish a readiness state of the fuel cell system. | 04-05-2012 |
20120082912 | System and method for maintaining and establishing operational readiness in a fuel cell backup system of a nuclear reactor system - A method and apparatus for maintaining or establishing a readiness state in a fuel cell backup system of a nuclear reactor system are disclosed. A method includes maintaining a readiness state of a fuel cell system within a set of readiness parameters, the readiness parameters a function of a characteristic of the nuclear reactor system. Another method includes monitoring a nuclear reactor system characteristic and, responsive to the monitored nuclear reactor system characteristic, establishing a readiness state of a fuel cell system. An apparatus includes a fuel cell system associated with a nuclear reactor system and a fuel cell control system configured to maintain a readiness state of the fuel cell system. Another apparatus includes a fuel cell system associated with a nuclear reactor system, a nuclear reactor characteristic monitoring system, and a fuel cell control system configured to establish a readiness state of the fuel cell system. | 04-05-2012 |
20120082913 | System and method for determining a state of operational readiness of a fuel cell backup system of a nuclear reactor system - A method for determining a state of operational readiness of a fuel cell backup system of a nuclear reactor system includes monitoring a readiness state of a fuel cell system associated with a nuclear reactor system, and providing a readiness determination of the fuel cell system by comparing the monitored state of readiness of the fuel cell system to an established operating readiness state, the established operating readiness state a function of at least one characteristic of the nuclear reactor system. An apparatus includes a fuel cell monitoring system configured to monitor a readiness state of a fuel cell system associated with a nuclear reactor system, and a readiness determination system configured to provide a readiness determination of the fuel cell system by comparing the monitored state of readiness of the fuel cell system to an established operating readiness state. | 04-05-2012 |
20120088170 | Fuel cell system and method of operating the same - A fuel cell system for supplying output power of at least one of a fuel cell and a battery to a load selects one of various operation modes of the fuel cell system based on a change of an output state of the fuel cell and controls the supply of the output power of each of the fuel cell and the battery to the load according to the selected operation mode. | 04-12-2012 |
20120094199 | CATALYST FOR ELECTROCHEMICAL APPLICATIONS - The invention relates to a catalyst for electro-chemical applications comprising an alloy of platinum and a transition metal, wherein the transition metal has an absorption edge similar to the absorption edge of the transition metal in oxidic state, measured with x-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES) wherein the measurements are performed in concentrated H | 04-19-2012 |
20120107709 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A fuel cell system including a fuel cell, and a converter which is connected between the fuel cell and a high voltage system and which sets an output ceiling voltage of the fuel cell, the fuel cell system comprising fuel gas supply stopping means for stopping the supply of fuel gas to the fuel cell in an intermittent operation mode, remaining fuel gas amount determination means for determining whether fuel gas in at least an amount capable of generating power remains in the fuel cell, converter driving means for driving the converter so that, when it is determined that fuel gas in at least the amount capable of generating power remains in the fuel cell, the output ceiling voltage of the fuel cell becomes a first voltage capable of preventing deterioration of the fuel cell, and converter stopping means for stopping the converter when it is determined that fuel gas in at least the amount capable of generating power does not remain in the fuel cell. | 05-03-2012 |
20120115056 | PROPORTIONAL VALVE FOR CONTROL AND INTAKE OF A GASEOUS MEDIUM - A proportional valve for controlling a gaseous medium, in particular hydrogen, including a valve housing, an ejector unit, which is situated on the valve housing, having an inflow area, to which a first gaseous medium is fed under pressure, having an intake area, at which a second gaseous medium is present, and having a mixing tube area, from which a mixture of the first and second gaseous medium emerges, the intake area being situated between the inflow area and the mixing tube area, having an actuator, and a closure element, which is connected to the actuator, and unblocks and closes a passage opening, the passage opening being situated between the inflow area and the intake area of the ejector unit. | 05-10-2012 |
20120156580 | Water Harvesting System - A method and apparatus for extracting water. The apparatus comprises a first and second cooling device and a controller. The first cooling device has a first and second side. The first side heats materials located at the first side and generates a water vapor. The second side cools the water vapor and fluids collected from a source. The second cooling device transfers heat from the water vapor and the fluids flowing through the second cooling device to an environment around the second cooling device. A controller controls a first amount of power delivered to the first cooling device and a second amount of power delivered to the second cooling device based on a temperature for the fluids and the water vapor at an output. Water extracted from the fluids and the water vapor by cooling the fluids and the water vapor is collected at the output. | 06-21-2012 |
20120196196 | ELECTRON-JUMP CHEMICAL ENERGY CONVERTER - A method and a device for converting energy uses chemical reactions in close proximity to or on a surface to convert a substantial fraction of the available chemical energy of the shorter lived energized products, such as vibrationally excited chemicals and hot electrons, directly into a useful form, such as longer lived charge carriers in a semiconductor. The carriers store the excitation energy in a form that may be converted into other useful forms, such as electricity, nearly monochromatic electromagnetic radiation or carriers for stimulating other surface reactions. | 08-02-2012 |
20120251908 | VOLTAGE RECOVERY AND CONTAMINANT REMOVAL BY EX-SITU WATER FLUSH - A system and method for removing contaminants from a fuel cell stack. The method includes exposing the cathode and anode of the stack to an air purge, then exposing the cathode and anode of the stack to a water flush and then again exposing the cathode and anode of the stack to an air purge to dry the stack. In one technique, the stack is removed from the vehicle at a maintenance facility to perform the air purge and water flush, and in another technique, the stack remains in the vehicle and appropriate hoses are connected to the stack for the air purges and water flush. | 10-04-2012 |
20120270125 | Fuel Cell Supply Including Information Storage Device and Control System - The present invention is directed to a fuel cell system with various features for optimal operations of an electronic device, a battery charger or a fuel refilling device. The fuel cell system includes an information storage device associated with the fuel supply, pump and/or refilling device. The information storage device can be any electronic storage device including, but not limited to, an EEPROM or a PLA. The information storage device can include encrypted information. The information storage device can include software code for confirming the identification of the cartridge before operation of the electronic device and/or refilling device. The present invention is also directed to system architecture for a fuel cell system that utilizes information storage devices. | 10-25-2012 |
20120295174 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM INCLUDING SOFT SWITCHING BOOST CONVERTER - A voltage boost converter includes: a main voltage boost portion that has a first switch and a first coil, and that raises output voltage of a direct-current power source by using counter electromotive force of the coil caused by the switch performing a switching action on the coil; and a subsidiary voltage boost portion which has a capacitor that adjusts potential difference between two poles of the switch by amount of electricity stored, and which reduces switching loss of the switch by adjusting the amount of electricity in the capacitor during the switching action, and which has a second switch and a second coil. The second coil is formed by winding a wire around at least a portion of a core formed of a magnetic body. The core is provided with a gap formed of a non-magnetic body. A core region formed of a magnetic body is adjacent to the gap. | 11-22-2012 |
20120295175 | MANAGEMENT OF THE OPERATION OF A SYSTEM FOR PRODUCING ELECTRIC POWER FROM HYDROGEN AND HYDROGEN FROM ELECTRIC POWER - A system for producing electric power from hydrogen and hydrogen from electric power, comprising:
| 11-22-2012 |
20120321975 | Method of Optimizing Operating Efficiency of Fuel Cells - A method of operating a fuel cell electrochemical system includes receiving at least one of a cost of electricity and a cost of fuel and adjusting at least one of an operating efficiency and throughput of the fuel cell based on the at least one of the received cost of electricity and the received cost of fuel. | 12-20-2012 |
20130084511 | SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL STACK - A solid oxide fuel cell stack is disclosed. The solid oxide fuel cell stack may include a first fuel chamber, flow passage pipes, a unit cell, a second fuel chamber, a first oxidizer chamber, a second oxidizer chamber, and a stabilization chamber. The flow passage pipes are fluidly connected to a bottom end of the first fuel chamber. The unit cell, in which a bottom thereof is shielded, is formed to surround the flow passage pipes and forms the flow passage between the flow passage pipes and the unit cell. The second fuel chamber is fluidly connected to a top end of the unit cell and configured to discharge non-reaction gas from the unit cell. The stabilization chamber is formed between the second fuel chamber and the second oxidizer chamber. | 04-04-2013 |
20130149622 | ANODE INJECTOR CONTROL ALGORITHM FOR A LOW FREQUENCY DISCRETE OUTPUT - A system and method for controlling an injector in a fuel cell system. The method provides a variety of injector pulse widths for at least one predetermined duty cycle and determines an injector close time for each of the variety of injector pulse widths. The method also determines an error for the at least one predetermined duty cycle based on each of the provided injector pulse widths and uses the injector pulse width with the lowest error for the at least one predetermined duty cycle. | 06-13-2013 |
20130157157 | FUEL CELL-VEHICLE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A method for operating a fuel cell system includes electrically coupling a fuel cell stack to an energy storage device and an electrical demand by a load device. A controller is coupled to the fuel cell stack, the energy storage device, and the load device via a communications connection. The controller obtains information relative to an operation of at least one of the fuel cell stack and the energy storage device and the controller controls an operation of the load device based on the information. | 06-20-2013 |
20130164643 | SILENCER FOR REDUCING ACOUSTIC NOISE OF FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A silencer installed in a fuel cell system includes a plurality of expansion chambers connected to a predetermined apparatus of the fuel cell system, wherein the plurality of expansion chambers serially reduces acoustic noise of air discharged from the predetermined apparatus and a resonator connected to an expansion chamber of the plurality of expansion chambers, wherein the resonator reduces acoustic noise received from the expansion chamber in another frequency band, which is different from a frequency band of the acoustic noise reduced by the plurality of expansion chambers, where one of the plurality of expansion chambers comprises an inlet pipe which receives air from the predetermined apparatus, another of the plurality of expansion chambers comprises an outlet pipe which discharges air flowed into the plurality of expansion chambers, and an intermediate pipe is disposed between the plurality of expansion chambers. | 06-27-2013 |
20130177826 | ADAPTIVE LIMITATION OF STANDBY MODE TO ENHANCE FUEL CELL SYSTEM LIFE - A system and method for reducing the frequency of stack stand-by mode events, if necessary, as a fuel cell stack ages and experiences lower performance. The method determines an irreversible voltage loss of the fuel cell stack at predetermined time intervals and determines a stack voltage degradation variable based on the irreversible voltage loss. The method also determines if the stack voltage degradation variable indicates that the fuel cell stack will not meet predetermined stack end-of-life voltage requirements and calculates a maximum allowed voltage degradation rate of the fuel cell stack. The method calculates a maximum number of stand-by mode events per unit time that can be allowed to prevent the stack from exceeding the maximum allowed degradation rate and controls the number of stand-by mode events based on the calculated maximum number of stand-by mode events. | 07-11-2013 |
20130295478 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DETECTING COOLANT LEVEL IN THERMAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR FUEL CELL VEHICLE - Disclosed are a device and method for detecting the coolant level in a thermal management system for a fuel cell vehicle, which can accurately and rapidly detect the lack of coolant using a detection value of a pressure sensor. That is, the present invention provides a device and method for detecting the coolant level in a thermal management system for a fuel cell vehicle, which can accurately and rapidly monitor the lack of coolant by calculating in real time the lack of coolant based on a change in slope value and a change in amplitude of a detection value of a pressure sensor according to the flow of coolant while the pressure sensor is mounted in a coolant line connected to an inlet of a fuel cell stack and a reservoir is connected to a pressure cap of a radiator. | 11-07-2013 |
20130337353 | Fuel Cell Stacks - The patent relates to fuel cell systems and controlling fuel cell systems. One fuel cell system includes at least one fuel cell stack that includes multiple different serially arranged cells. The system also includes at least one component configured to effect an operating environment of the at least one fuel cell stack. The system further includes a controller configured to operate the at least one component at a primary control point relating to one or more parameters of the operating environment. The controller is further configured to temporarily adjust the at least one component to a secondary control point relating to the one or more parameters. The controller can then re-adjust the at least one component to the primary control point. The fuel cell system can achieve greater overall performance than can be obtained without the adjusting and re-adjusting. | 12-19-2013 |
20140030621 | METHODS OF OPERATING FUEL CELLS - A fuel cell is disclosed which is formed on a semiconductor wafer by etching channel in the wafer and forming electronics on the substrate electronically coupled to the fuel cell that controls generation of power by the fuel cell through electrical communication with the fuel cell. A hydrogen fuel is admitted into one of the divided channels and an oxidant into the other. The hydrogen reacts with a catalyst formed on an anode electrode at the hydrogen side of the channel to release hydrogen ions (protons) which are absorbed into the PEM. The protons migrate through the PEM and recombine with return hydrogen electrons on a cathode electrode on the oxygen side of the PEM and the oxygen to form water. | 01-30-2014 |
20140038072 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DETECTING COOLANT LEVEL IN THERMAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR FUEL CELL VEHICLE - Disclosed are a device and method for detecting the coolant level in a thermal management system for a fuel cell vehicle, which can accurately and rapidly detect the lack of coolant using a detection value of a pressure sensor. That is, the present invention provides a device and method for detecting the coolant level in a thermal management system for a fuel cell vehicle, which can accurately and rapidly monitor the lack of coolant by calculating in real time the lack of coolant based on a change in slope value and a change in amplitude of a detection value of a pressure sensor according to the flow of coolant while the pressure sensor is mounted in a coolant line connected to an inlet of a fuel cell stack and a reservoir is connected to a pressure cap of a radiator. | 02-06-2014 |
20140087282 | SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL - Provided is a solid oxide fuel cell comprising the following: a fuel gas flow path, a fuel electrode layer provided around the fuel gas flow path and containing an iron group element and a ceramic, a solid electrolyte layer provided around the fuel electrode layer, and an air electrode layer provided around the solid electrolyte layer. In a high-temperature state where the temperature of the solid oxide fuel cell, in which a fuel gas is supplied from one side of the fuel gas flow path and exhausted through an opening provided on the other side of the fuel gas flow path, is close to a power generation temperature, the solid oxide fuel cell is subjected to a process for regulating oxidation expansion rate of the fuel electrode layer, the oxidation expansion occurring when an oxidant gas flows in through the opening. As a result, it has become possible to provide a solid oxide fuel cell in which cracks in the electrolyte and cell breakage are prevented even when air flows into the fuel electrode side at the suspension of operations of the fuel cell. | 03-27-2014 |
20140170512 | METHOD FOR MITIGATING RECOVERABLE VOLTAGE LOSS THROUGH HUMIDIFICATION CONTROL - A system and method for recovering fuel cell stack voltage loss through humidification control. The method includes determining a rate of contamination addition to a surface of a fuel cell electrode in the fuel cell stack and determining a rate of contamination removal from the surface of the fuel cell electrode. The method compares the rate of contamination addition to the rate of the contamination removal to determine whether contaminant surface coverage of the electrode is increasing or decreasing and, if increasing, determines whether the amount of contamination of the electrode is above a predetermined value, where, if so, stack reconditioning through wet stack operation may be performed. | 06-19-2014 |
20140242486 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR GENERATING VIRTUAL SOUND SOURCE FOR MONITORING THE OPERATING STATE OF A FUEL CELL STACK - The present invention provides an apparatus and method for generating a virtual sound source for monitoring the operating state of a fuel cell stack, which monitors in real time the deviation and deterioration of a plurality of cells in a fuel cell stack during operation, and expresses the results as a chord or different sounds, thus allowing a driver to easily recognize the operating state of the fuel cell stack | 08-28-2014 |
20140272644 | FCS OVERALL EFFICIENCY BY USING STORED CATHODE OXYGEN DURING DOWN-TRANSIENTS - A system and method for utilizing a pressurized volume of oxygen in a cathode plumbing of a fuel cell system. The system and method includes calculating an air/oxygen balance that is based on an air balance and an oxygen balance in the cathode plumbing. The system and method further include determining the number of moles of oxygen available for fuel cell chemical reactions using the calculated air/oxygen balance and drawing current from a fuel cell stack using the moles of oxygen available for fuel cell chemical reactions. | 09-18-2014 |
20140272645 | FUEL CELL DC-DC CONVERTER - A method and system for supplying power to a portable electronic device includes supplying current from one or more fuel cells to a DC-DC converter and regulating a current limit of the DC-DC converter as a function of a measured temperature of at least one of the power supply system and the portable electronic device. The current limit can vary as an inverse function of the measured temperature. The current limit can be an input current limit of the DC-DC converter or an output current limit of the DC-DC converter. Current produced by the one or more fuel cells can decrease proportionally to a decrease of the current limit of the DC-DC converter, reducing the heat produced by the one or more fuel cells and thereby reducing the measured temperature. A temperature sensor can be located on or near the one or more fuel cells. A temperature sensor can be located on an internal housing of the portable electronic device. | 09-18-2014 |
20140315113 | FLOW BATTERY WITH ENHANCED DURABILITY - A flow battery includes at least one electrochemical cell that has a first electrode, a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode and a separator arranged between the first electrode and the second electrode. A first storage portion and a second storage portion are respectively fluidly connected with the at least one electrochemical cell. A first liquid electrolyte and a second liquid electrolyte are located in the respective first storage portion and second storage portion. The first electrode has an area over which it is catalytically active with regard to the first liquid electrolyte and the second electrode has an area over which it is catalytically active with regard to the second liquid electrolyte such that the area of the first electrode is greater than the area of the second electrode. | 10-23-2014 |
20140335430 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND OPERATING METHOD THEREFOR - A fuel cell system and method that enables warm-up power generation corresponding to the residual water volume in the fuel cell stack without using auxiliary devices for measuring the residual water volume in the fuel cell stack. A controller computes total generated electrical energy Q by integrating of the generated current detected by current sensor during the period from start-up to shutting down of the fuel cell system, and stores the result in total generated electrical energy storage part. Also, controller measures fuel cell temperature Ts at the last shutting down cycle with temperature sensor, and stores it in power generation shutting down temperature storage part. When the fuel cell system is started, controller estimates residual water volume WR that remains in fuel cell stack | 11-13-2014 |
20140335431 | FUEL CELL SEAL RETAINER ASSEMBLY - An exemplary fuel cell manifold seal retainer assembly includes a bracket and a retainer. The bracket is mountable to a manifold of the fuel cell stack. The retainer extends closer to a fuel cell stack then the manifold when the retainer is mounted to the bracket and when the bracket is mounted to the manifold. The retainer limits movement of a seal away from an installed position. | 11-13-2014 |
20150010838 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME - A fuel cell system and a method of operating the same. The fuel cell system in particular includes an air discharge part provided on the anode of a fuel cell, and a controller that is configured to measure a purging period of recirculated hydrogen and an operating temperature of the fuel cell, and operate the air discharge part based on the measured values to prevent the anode from becoming poisoned due to the emission of CO gases. | 01-08-2015 |
20150056529 | Forklift Fuel Cell Supply System - This invention provides an improved forklift fuel cell supply system consists of enclosure | 02-26-2015 |
20150064587 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING FUEL CELL SYSTEM USING SUB-POWER CONDITIONING SYSTEM - Disclosed herein is an apparatus and method for controlling a fuel cell system. The apparatus includes a main power conditioning system which supplies output of normal stacks among a plurality of fuel cell stacks to a load, a sub-power conditioning system which supplies output of one or more deteriorated stacks among the fuel cell stacks to a load, a switching unit which changes a target to which output of each of the fuel cell stacks is connected, and a control unit which senses conditions of each of the fuel cell stacks and controls the switching unit. The apparatus prevents deterioration in performance of some stacks from affecting the other normal stacks. Furthermore, the deteriorated fuel cell stacks are separately controlled to provide power to a sub-load through a sub-power conditioning system. | 03-05-2015 |
20150072257 | Modularized Electrochemical Cell System - A method for assembling an electrochemical cell stack may include arranging a plurality of electrochemical cells into an electrochemical cell stack, the electrochemical cell stack including at least a first substack and a second substack; connecting the first substack and second substack such that reactant fluid flows in series from the first substack to the second substack; and coupling the first substack to a first electrical control device such that the first electrical control device selectively electrically reconfigures the first substack to operate in series and in parallel with the second substack. | 03-12-2015 |
20150086890 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system according to the present invention comprises a control apparatus which performs performance restoration processing for a catalyst layer by decreasing the output voltage of a fuel cell to a predetermined voltage. When an oxide film formed on the catalyst layer during power generation of the fuel cell contains, in addition to a first oxide film that can be removed by decreasing the output voltage of the fuel cell to a first oxide film removal voltage, a second oxide film that can be removed by decreasing the output voltage of the fuel cell to a second oxide film removal voltage which is lower than the first oxide film removal voltage, the control apparatus estimates the amount of the second oxide film and performs performance restoration processing with a set voltage being equal to or lower than the second oxide film removal voltage only when it determines that the estimated amount exceeds a predetermined amount A. | 03-26-2015 |
20160190619 | CONTROL METHOD OF FUEL CELL SYSTEM, FUEL CELL AUTOMOBILE, AND FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A control method of a fuel cell system includes generating electricity in a fuel cell through reaction of an oxidant gas and a fuel gas so as to output a fuel cell voltage. An electric storage device voltage is outputted from an electric storage device. The electric storage device voltage serves as a primary side voltage. A motor driving voltage serves as a secondary side voltage and is to be applied to a motor driving device to drive a motor. The primary side voltage is applied to an air pump driving device to drive an air pump so as to supply the oxidant gas to the fuel cell. A required air pump voltage to apply to the air pump driving device is set. The electric storage device voltage is set so as to satisfy the required air pump voltage. | 06-30-2016 |
20220140366 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes a controller that controls an amount of air flow to be supplied from an air blower included in an oxygen-containing gas supply to a cell stack to cause a power level (in amperes) of a fuel cell controllable by a power level regulator (power conditioner) and an air utilization to have an increase-control section in which the air utilization increases in accordance with an increase in the power level of the fuel cell and a decrease-control section in which the air utilization decreases in accordance with an increase in the power level. The air utilization is a ratio of an air amount used by the fuel cell for power generation to an oxygen-containing gas (air) amount supplied to the fuel cell. | 05-05-2022 |