Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090035618 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RECIRCULATING UNUSED FUEL IN FUEL CELL APPLICATION - A system and method for delivering an input fluid stream through a fuel cell stack and discharge an unused fluid stream is provided. An inlet of the fuel cell stack is adapted to receive the fluid stream. An ejector is configured to combine the supply fluid stream and the unused fluid stream to generate the input fluid stream and control the flow of the input fluid stream to the fuel cell stack. A blower is configured to control the flow of the unused fluid stream to the ejector. A bypass valve is configured to control the flow of the unused fluid stream to the blower and to the ejector. | 02-05-2009 |
20090208789 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PURGING WATER FROM A FUEL CELL STACK - A system for delivering an input fuel stream to a fuel cell stack to generate electrical current and to discharge an unused fuel stream is provided. A supply produces a supply fuel stream. An ejector combines a purged fuel stream and the supply fuel stream and controls the flow of the input fuel stream to the fuel cell stack. A purging arrangement receives the unused fuel stream which includes impurities and purges the impurities from the unused fuel stream to generate the purged fuel stream. A bypass valve is capable of delivering the purged fuel stream to the ejector. A blower is capable of delivering the purged fuel stream to the ejector. A controller controls one of the bypass valve and the blower for delivering the purged fuel stream to the ejector based on the amount of electrical current generated by the fuel cell stack. | 08-20-2009 |
20090255326 | ANODE LEAK TEST IMPLEMENTATION - A system and method is provided for detecting an anode leak of an anode stream in a fuel cell stack. The system comprises a controller that stores at least one first predetermined control value that corresponds to a first pre-selected pressure level. The controller generates at least one first operational control value. The controller controls a pressure regulator device to adjust the pressure of the anode stream to reach the first pre-selected pressure level with the at least one first operational control value. The controller compares the at least one first operational control value to the at least one first predetermined control value. The controller determines the presence of an anode leak in the anode stream based on the comparison of the at least one first operational control value to the at least one first predetermined control value. | 10-15-2009 |
20100178578 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING A FUEL CELL ANODE GAS COMPOSITION - In at least one embodiment, a purge system for a fuel cell stack is provided. The system comprises a blower, a differential pressure sensor and a purge valve. The blower delivers a recirculated gas back to the stack at varying electrical power levels and blower speeds. The differential pressure sensor senses pressure of the recirculated gas across the blower. The purge valve purges the recirculated gas based on at least one of a blower power level, a blower speed, and the pressure of the recirculated gas. | 07-15-2010 |
20110008689 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HUMIDIFYING A MASTER FUEL CELL STACK WITH A SLAVE FUEL CELL STACK - A system and method for humidifying a fuel cell stack system is provided. The system includes a slave stack, a master stack and at least one valve. The slave stack generates power to drive a load in response to at least one fluid stream and discharges at least one recirculated fluid stream having water content therein. The master stack receives the at least recirculated fluid stream to humidify the master stack with the water content. The valve delivers the at least one recirculated fluid stream from the slave stack to the master stack based on a power request amount by the load. | 01-13-2011 |
20130022886 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING A FUEL CELL ANODE GAS COMPOSITION - In at least one embodiment, a purge system for a fuel cell stack is provided. The system comprises a blower, a differential pressure sensor and a purge valve. The blower delivers a recirculated gas back to the stack at varying electrical power levels and blower speeds. The differential pressure sensor senses pressure of the recirculated gas across the blower. The purge valve purges the recirculated gas based on at least one of a blower power level, a blower speed, and the pressure of the recirculated gas. | 01-24-2013 |
20130202978 | CATHODE CHANNEL SHUTOFF IN A FUEL CELL - In at least one embodiment, a fuel cell comprising a cathode flow field and a strip is provided. The cathode flow field plate defines a plurality of cathode channels for receiving a first fluid from a cathode source when the fuel cell is in an operational state. The strip includes a flexible first portion positioned about the plurality of cathode channels, the flexible first portion for moving toward the plurality of cathode channels to prevent a flow of the first fluid therein when the fuel cell is in an inoperative state. | 08-08-2013 |
20130252117 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HUMIDIFIED FLUID STREAM DELIVERY TO FUEL CELL STACK - An apparatus for providing a humidified cathode fluid stream to a fuel cell stack is disclosed. The apparatus comprising a first humidifier including membranes and a compressor. The first humidifier is configured to receive a cathode fluid stream and to humidify the cathode fluid stream with water from a recirculated fluid stream to provide a first humidified cathode stream. The compressor is configured to receive the first humidified cathode stream and to provide a first pressurized humidified cathode stream. The compressor is further configured to generate a pressure differential across the first humidifier such that the membranes are humidified with the water. | 09-26-2013 |
20140021915 | Vehicle recharging station and support devices - The present disclosure relates to an electric vehicle, including: a connector configured to receive a charging plug; and an ejection mechanism positioned with respect to the connecter, configured to eject the plug under predetermined conditions. | 01-23-2014 |
20140212774 | GAS RECLAIMING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A gas reclaiming system is disclosed. The gas reclaiming system includes a getter device adapted to receive mixed gases and separate the mixed gases into at least one gas of interest and constituent gases. A recirculation loop is disposed in fluid communication with the getter device and adapted to receive the at least one gas of interest from the getter device. A gas reclaiming method is also disclosed. | 07-31-2014 |
20140212776 | VARYING WALL GEOMETRY EJECTOR - An apparatus for delivering a primary fuel stream to a fuel cell stack is provided. The apparatus includes an ejector that is configured to receive the primary fuel stream from a fuel supply. The apparatus is further configured to receive the recirculated fuel stream from the fuel cell stack to provide a combined fluid stream for delivery to the fuel cell stack. The ejector includes an elastic conduit for varying a flow of the combined fluid stream based on a power level of the fuel cell stack. | 07-31-2014 |
20140272657 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FUEL CELL STANDBY - An apparatus for placing a fuel cell stack in a standby mode is provided. The apparatus comprises a compressor, a fuel cell stack, a cathode valve and a controller. The compressor is operably coupled to an air induction system for providing a cathode stream. The fuel cell stack provides electrical power to a load in response to the cathode stream. The cathode valve is operably coupled to an outlet of the fuel cell stack for controlling a flow of the cathode stream to the fuel cell stack. The controller is configured to receive a power request amount for the load and to compare the power request amount to a predetermined amount. The controller is further configured to control the compressor to operate at a minimum speed and the cathode valve to close in response to determining that the power request amount is similar to the predetermined amount | 09-18-2014 |
20140377671 | PURGE ASSEMBLY FOR A FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell purge apparatus for a fuel cell system has a separator defining a chamber for receiving a recirculated fuel stream including a fluid and impurities. The apparatus has a drain conduit with an outer passage connected to the chamber. The outer passage forms a fluid trap to collect the fluid. The drain conduit also has an inner passage nested within the outer passage through the fluid trap for delivering the impurities to a purge valve. The inner passage has a free end extending into the chamber of the separator. | 12-25-2014 |