| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 429427000 | Characterized by control or measuring means or method | 26 |
| 20100266911 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - Even in a fuel cell system which performs scavenging processing after the power generation of a fuel cell is stopped, the operation time for when a battery is being operated can be increased. When determining that the condition of running out of gas occurs based on a sensor value of a pressure sensor, a control unit stops the power generation of the fuel cell. The control unit, for example, shortens the time required for scavenging processing and then performs the scavenging processing. On the other hand, when determining that the condition of running out of gas does not occur and when the power generation of the fuel cell should be stopped, the control unit stops the power generation and then performs normal scavenging processing. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20110059379 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR LIMITING THE AGEING OF FUEL CELLS WITH PROTON EXCHANGE MEMBRANE - The invention relates to a method for extending the lifetime of a PEMFC fuel cell that includes the step of supplying, at anode | 03-10-2011 |
| 20110076579 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING A FUEL CELL SYSTEM - In a fuel cell system that includes a reformer adapted to reform a feedstock, and a fuel cell that uses fuel gas contained in the reformed gas produced by this reformer to generate electricity, aims to improve generation efficiency in the fuel cell through a relatively simple feature. The fuel cell system includes a feedstock supplying section such as a pressurizing pump for supplying the feedstock to the reformer; a burner adapted to combust the fuel gas that was not consumed by electricity generation in the fuel cell, and heat the reformer; a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the burner; and a control unit adapted to control on the basis of the sensed temperature the feed rate of the feedstock supplied from the feedstock supplying section to the reformer, so as to maintain the temperature of the reformer within a prescribed temperature range optimized for reforming the feedstock. | 03-31-2011 |
| 20110151344 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A method of controlling a fuel cell system, the method involving: controlling the power output of the fuel cell system and an amount of a fuel that is supplied to the fuel cell system, so as to increase a fuel utilization rate of a fuel cell, according to variations of the power output of the fuel cell system. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110171547 | Low Power Control of Fuel Cell Open Circuit Voltage - A fuel cell power plant ( | 07-14-2011 |
| 20110177412 | POWERING METHOD AND POWERING DEVICE OF FUEL CELL - A powering method of a fuel cell includes following steps. A fuel cartridge including a plurality of fuel units and an accumulator is provided. An under-load electric quantity of the accumulator is detected. If the under-load electric quantity is less than a threshold, power is supplied by the accumulator to a load. If the under-load electric quantity is greater than the threshold, a first fuel unit of the fuel units is selected and triggered to provide fuel which converted into the power. If the fuel of the first fuel unit is not enough to supply the power to the load, a second fuel unit of the fuel units is selected and triggered to provide the fuel. If the load is removed, the other fuel units which are not yet triggered are not triggered, and the accumulator is charged with the power converted from the fuel. | 07-21-2011 |
| 20110183223 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING FUEL CELL SYSTEM - At a start of a fuel cell, discharge of a generated water is ended at a proper timing. Supply of the reactive gas is started at a first flowrate. Then, in a case that the generated water retained by a reactive electrode is determined to outflow to an internal gas flow channel side among unit cells more than or equal to a preset determination cell number, the flowrate of the reactive gas is changed to a second flowrate that is smaller than the first flowrate. | 07-28-2011 |
| 20110236778 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISCHARGING USED OPERATING MEDIA OF A FUEL CELL SOME OF WHICH ARE EXPLOSIVE - The invention relates to a method and to a device for discharging used operating media of a fuel cell ( | 09-29-2011 |
| 20110300460 | FUEL CELL STACK FLOW HOOD AIR FLOW USING AN AIR DISTRIBUTION DEVICE - The present invention is concerned with improved fuel cell stack assemblies, and methods of operation of a fuel cell stack assembly, particularly with improved gas flow and thermal management. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110305962 | FUEL FLEXIBILITY CONFIGURATION IN HIGH TEMPERATURE FUEL CELL SYSTEMS - A method is disclosed for producing electricity in high temperature fuel cell systems. Gas is circulated at anode sides of the fuel cells. A gas composition at anode sides is determined for providing composition information, and desired temperature conditions are arranged for producing electricity with fuel cells. Rated power of the fuel cell system is controlled by an auxiliary water feed to the fuel cell system by utilizing the composition information, by performing controlled gas recirculation at anode sides by utilizing the composition information by changing the gas recirculation, when a desire arises, and by performing controlled gas feed in to the fuel cell system by utilizing the composition information by changing the gas feed, when a need arises, to change the rated power of the fuel cell system to keep electricity production conditions substantially optimal for the gas used as fuel in the high temperature fuel cell system. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20120028146 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM FOR VEHICLES AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - The present invention relates to a fuel cell system for vehicles and a method for controlling the same which stably maintains an output of a fuel cell by precisely estimating a recirculated hydrogen amount to a stack. A fuel cell system according to the present invention may include: a stack comprising a plurality of unit cells for generating electrical energy by electrochemical reaction of a fuel and an oxidizing agent; a blower for recirculating a gas exhausted from the stack so as to supply the gas back to the stack; an ejector for recirculating the gas exhausted from the stack, receiving hydrogen so as to mix the hydrogen to the recirculated gas, and supplying the mixture to the stack; a sensor module for detecting a driving condition of the vehicle; and a control portion for controlling operations of the blower and the ejector by using the driving condition of the vehicle and performance maps of the blower and the ejector. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120100448 | METHOD FOR LOAD FOLLOWING OPERATION OF FUEL CELL SYSTEM - Provided is a method for load following operation of a fuel cell system in which reliable reforming and the prevention of flow blockage and anode degradation are possible. Functions F=f(P) and P=f | 04-26-2012 |
| 20120214076 | METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR CONTROLLING ANODE RECIRCULATION - A fuel cell system arrangement is disclosed for controlling an Oxygen-to-Carbon (O/C) relationship by providing water to an anode side fuel recirculation, pumping the provided water to facilitate a water flow, and evaporating water from the facilitated water flow for generating pressurized steam having at least the motive pressure for a steam jet-ejector. The at least one steam jet-ejector can inject at least part of the steam to the fuel cell system, and entrain part of an essentially low pressure anode exhaust gas stream in the anode side gas recirculation and compress the gas mixture to an intermediate pressure of the fuel feed-in stream for controlling the Oxygen-to-Carbon (O/C) relationship in the fuel side of the fuel cell system. | 08-23-2012 |
| 20120251907 | METHOD FOR MANAGING A FUEL CELL DURING SULFUR COMPOUND POLLUTION, AND POWER SUPPLY DEVICE - The method for managing a fuel cell having an active gas flowing in contact with an electrode includes a step of comparing the concentration of a sulfur compound in the active gas with a threshold indicative of a sulfur compound pollution phase and a step of temporary introducing an oxygenated and non-sulfur polluting gas into the active gas if the concentration is higher than the threshold. The polluting gas can be introduced during or after the pollution phase. | 10-04-2012 |
| 20120264027 | FUEL-CELL BIPOLAR PLATE AND FUEL CELL USING THE SAME - Disclosed is a bipolar plate for a fuel cell including a bipolar plate substrate; and a byproduct-decomposing layer covering the bipolar plate substrate, the bipolar plate has channels for transport of a reactant gas, the channels being arranged on a surface of the bipolar plate substrate, and the bipolar plate has a first side to face an anode catalyst layer of the fuel cell and a second side to face a cathode catalyst layer of the fuel cell. The byproduct-decomposing layer is arranged on at least one of the first side and the second side, includes a catalyst, and is capable of decomposing a byproduct formed as a result of a reaction of the fuel cell. The bipolar plate enables long-term control of discharge of formic acid and other byproducts without deterioration in system efficiency of the fuel cell. | 10-18-2012 |
| 20120282536 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system has a fuel cell generating power using a fuel gas and an oxidizing agent gas serving as materials of the system and a material supply section supplying the materials to the fuel cell. The power generated by the fuel cell is extracted to a load. A device for controlling the fuel cell system has: a material flow calculation section calculating a material flow supplied to the fuel cell so as to cause the fuel cell to generate the power of a required power generation amount; a material reduction limit detection section calculating a limit for reducing the material flow, based on a power generation state of the fuel cell; and a material flow change section controlling the material supply section so as to change the material flow calculated by the material flow calculation section to the limit calculated by the material reduction limit detection section. | 11-08-2012 |
| 20130040217 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD FOR THE SAME - An ECU estimates a dispersion among wet states of cells arranged in a lamination direction of a fuel cell. When it is determined that the dispersion among the wet states is equal to or exceed a threshold, the ECU controls a flow rate of a coolant, flow rates of gases, and pressures of gases to suppress the dispersion among the wet states below the threshold. The ECU controls the flow rate of the coolant with higher priority than the other parameters. | 02-14-2013 |
| 20130052552 | DEVICE FORMING A MANOMETER INTENDED FOR MEASURING BIPHASIC FLUID PRESSURE, ASSOCIATED METHOD OF MANUFACTURE AND FLUIDIC NETWORK - A device forming a manometer, configured to measure pressure of a biphasic fluid in a fluidic network, including: a first channel inside which a biphasic fluid is able to flow; a second channel emerging into the first channel, wherein the second channel is blind, with each of its dimensions less than capillary length of the fluid's liquid phase, and with at least one of its lengthways wall having a surface energy gradient that decreases from its inlet to the end. The surface energy gradient enables the wetting angle of the meniscus of the fluid's liquid phase to be increased in the blind channel from its inlet to the end. Such a device may find application to measurement of pressure of a biphasic fluid in a heat exchanger or in a fuel cell. | 02-28-2013 |
| 20130065146 | ELECTRIC POWER GENERATION SYSTEM AND GAS MEASURING SYSTEM - A gas measuring system includes a measuring element being in contact with a gas and a heating element producing heat, a measuring unit measuring a value for an electric signal from the temperature measuring element and a value for an electric signal from the heating element. The system also includes an equation storage device storing an equation including independent variables that represent electric signals from the temperature measuring element and the heating element, and a dependent variable that represents the sum of the products of the respective numbers of atoms forming the molecules in the gas, the atomic weights, and the volumetric ratios of the respective molecules. The system further includes a calculator calculating a value that represents the sum of the products of the respective numbers of the atoms, the atomic weights, and the volumetric ratios of the respective molecules. | 03-14-2013 |
| 20130095402 | FUEL CELL AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE FUEL CELL - A method of operating a fuel cell includes the steps of detecting hydrogen peroxide concentration during power generation by a hydrogen peroxide concentration sensor provided directly on a membrane electrode assembly and determining an operating condition of the fuel cell based on the detected hydrogen peroxide concentration. | 04-18-2013 |
| 20130122385 | LIQUID WATER PROTECTED IMPLEMENTATION OF A GAS QUALITY HYDROGEN SENSOR INTO A FUEL CELL EXHAUST SYSTEM - A hydrogen sensor assembly is disclosed. A sensor is disposed within a slotted sleeve and a spiral shaped sensor housing surrounds the sensor within the sleeve. The spiral shape applies a centrifugal force to the fluid stream. This results in separation of liquid water from the fluid stream. The sleeve forms an internal inner perimeter of the spiral housing. The sensor housing includes a first opening to facilitate a fluid communication between the sensing element and a fluid stream through the slotted sleeve. | 05-16-2013 |
| 20130122386 | METHOD TO GENERATE H2-EXHAUST SENSOR TEST PULSE USING ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED PRESSURE REGULATOR - A fuel cell system for generating a hydrogen test pulse includes a fuel cell stack having an anode inlet in fluid communication with a hydrogen source via a fuel spending line, a cathode inlet in fluid communication with an oxidant source, and an anode outlet and a cathode outlet in fluid communication with an exhaust line. An electric pressure regulator is in fluid communication with the fuel spending line. An overpressure valve is in fluid communication with an overpressure line, which is in fluid communication with the fuel spending line between the electric pressure regulator and the fuel cell stack. A hydrogen sensor is in communication with the exhaust line, and is configured to measure the hydrogen test pulse. | 05-16-2013 |
| 20130149621 | FUEL-CELL SYSTEMS OPERABLE IN MULTIPLE MODES FOR VARIABLE PROCESSING OF FEEDSTOCK MATERIALS AND ASSOCIATED DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS - Fuel cells for selectively reacting a feedstock material with or without generating electricity, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A fuel cell system in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a first electrode positioned in a first region, a second electrode positioned in a second region, an ion-transport medium between the first and second regions, and an electrical circuit connected between the first and second electrodes. The system is operable in a first mode to react the feedstock material by a non-electricity-generating reaction to produce a product and in a second mode to react the feedstock material by an electricity-generating reaction to produce electricity. A controller receives an input (e.g., corresponding to a change in demand for electricity) and causes the system to switch between operating in the first mode and operating in the second mode in response to the input. | 06-13-2013 |
| 20130288146 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes: a hydrogen generating unit that generates hydrogen-containing gas using fuel that contains hydrogen-containing fuel; a cell stack that performs power generation using the hydrogen-containing gas; a supply amount acquiring unit that acquires a supply amount of the fuel supplied to the hydrogen generating unit; a detecting unit that is disposed on an upstream side of the hydrogen generating unit so as to detect oxygen or nitrogen in the fuel; a correcting unit that corrects an error included in a value from the supply amount acquiring unit based on detection results of the detecting unit, and acquires the supply amount of the fuel including air; and a calculating unit that calculates an amount of the air contained in the fuel based on detection results of the detecting unit. | 10-31-2013 |
| 20140322623 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD OF FUEL CELL SYSTEM - Provided is a fuel cell system capable of achieving both of improving purge efficiency and preventing deterioration of the fuel cell, and a control method of the fuel cell system. The fuel cell system includes a circulation rate adjusting unit that adjusts a circulation rate of a circulation gas, a first startup purge unit that performs the first startup purge by opening a purge valve in a state where the circulation rate of the circulation gas is increased to be a mixing promotion rate capable of promoting mixing of the fuel gas with the circulation gas at system startup of the fuel cell system, and a second startup purge unit that performs the second startup purge by opening the purge valve in a state where the gas circulation rate is reduced to be less than the mixing promotion rate after the first startup purge. | 10-30-2014 |
| 20150086889 | METHOD FOR RECOVERING PERFORMANCE OF FUEL-CELL STACK - A method for recovering performance of a fuel-cell stack is provided. When hydrogen used as fuel of the fuel-cell stack is contaminated, air is supplied to an anode instead of hydrogen to remove impurities and recover the performance of the fuel-cell stack. The method includes supplying air to an anode of the fuel-cell stack in an operation stop state of the fuel-cell stack to decrease a stack voltage. | 03-26-2015 |
