Abstract: A battery management system is provided. The battery management system includes a controller comprising at least one processor and at least one memory. The at least one memory comprising instructions executed by the at least one processor to receive load information about a load from a load sensor, receive battery operating information from a battery sensor, determine a number of battery modules needed to supply the load and operate each battery module at or below a preferred discharge rate based on the load information and the battery operating information, select a group of battery modules included in the battery based on the number of battery modules and the battery operating information, each battery module included in the group of batteries having a current depth of discharge within the preferred depth of discharge range, and instruct the battery to supply the load using the group of battery modules.

Abstract: A battery management system is provided. The battery management system includes a controller comprising at least one processor and at least one memory. The at least one memory comprising instructions executed by the at least one processor to receive load information about a load from a load sensor, receive battery operating information from a battery sensor, determine a number of battery modules needed to supply the load and operate each battery module at or below a preferred discharge rate based on the load information and the battery operating information, select a group of battery modules included in the battery based on the number of battery modules and the battery operating information, each battery module included in the group of batteries having a current depth of discharge within the preferred depth of discharge range, and instruct the battery to supply the load using the group of battery modules.

Abstract: A fuel cell charging system includes a fuel cell stack having a first operating direct current (DC) voltage between fuel check stack terminals, a high voltage system operating at a first DC operating voltage different than and generally higher than the first operating voltage of the fuel cell stack, a boost converter in electrical connection with the fuel cell stack and the high voltage system, and a stack charging component that applies a second DC operating voltage, generally of lower value than that of the first normal operating voltage, to the fuel cell stack. The boost converter transfer electrical power from the fuel cell stack to the high voltage system during fuel cell operation. Characteristically, the second DC operating voltage applied to the fuel cell stack terminals is typically lower in value than that of the first DC operating voltage of both the fuel cell stack and the HV electrical system and is stepped down from the first DC operating voltage of the HV electrical system.

Abstract: System and methods for detecting anode contamination in a fuel cell system are presented. In certain embodiments, a high frequency resistance response of a fuel cell system may be measured at a plurality of frequencies. In some embodiments, the rate of change of high frequency resistance response over time may differ at varied frequencies based on an amount of anode contamination in the fuel cell system. Accordingly, systems and methods disclosed herein may compare high frequency resistance responses taken at a plurality of measured frequencies to detect anode contamination and initiate associated recovery procedures in the fuel cell system.

Abstract: A fuel cell charging system includes a fuel cell stack having a first operating direct current (DC) voltage between fuel check stack terminals, a high voltage system operating at a first DC operating voltage different than and generally higher than the first operating voltage of the fuel cell stack, a boost converter in electrical connection with the fuel cell stack and the high voltage system, and a stack charging component that applies a second DC operating voltage, generally of lower value than that of the first normal operating voltage, to the fuel cell stack. The boost converter transfer electrical power from the fuel cell stack to the high voltage system during fuel cell operation. Characteristically, the second DC operating voltage applied to the fuel cell stack terminals is typically lower in value than that of the first DC operating voltage of both the fuel cell stack and the HV electrical system and is stepped down from the first DC operating voltage of the HV electrical system.

Abstract: Methods and systems for identification of slave elements and/or cells in a communication system within a vehicle. In some implementations, such methods may comprise measuring a first voltage of a first slave device of a plurality of slave devices within the communication system, and measuring a second voltage of a second slave device of the plurality of slave devices within the communication system. A location of at least the first and second slave devices, which may be linked with respective cells, such as battery cells or fuel cells, may then be identified by comparing at least the first voltage with the second voltage.

Abstract: System and methods for detecting anode contamination in a fuel cell system are presented. In certain embodiments, a high frequency resistance response of a fuel cell system may be measured at a plurality of frequencies. In some embodiments, the rate of change of high frequency resistance response over time may differ at varied frequencies based on an amount of anode contamination in the fuel cell system. Accordingly, systems and methods disclosed herein may compare high frequency resistance responses taken at a plurality of measured frequencies to detect anode contamination and initiate associated recovery procedures in the fuel cell system.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring fuel cells in a fuel cell group. The system includes a sensor circuit, such as a voltage sensor circuit, that monitors a condition of the fuel cells. If the sensor circuit detects a low performing cell, then it sends a signal to a tone generator that generates a frequency signal that switches a load into and out of the cell group. A voltage sensor detects the voltage of the cell group including the frequency signal, and sends the detected voltage signal to a tone decoder that decodes the frequency signal to determine that the fuel cells are low performing.

Abstract: Methods and systems for identification of slave elements and/or cells in a communication system within a vehicle. In some implementations, such methods may comprise measuring a first voltage of a first slave device of a plurality of slave devices within the communication system, and measuring a second voltage of a second slave device of the plurality of slave devices within the communication system. A location of at least the first and second slave devices, which may be linked with respective cells, such as battery cells or fuel cells, may then be identified by comparing at least the first voltage with the second voltage.

Abstract: System and methods for measuring operating parameters of a fuel cell system are presented. In certain embodiments, the systems and methods may be configured to measure a high frequency resistance of a fuel cell system. A method for measuring a high frequency resistance of a fuel cell system may include inducing a current signal and a voltage signal through the FC system at a center frequency using a switched load. The current signal and the voltage signal may then be measured and filtered to isolate the current signal and the voltage signal from noise signals occurring in the FC system. A high frequency resistance of the FC may then be calculated based on the filtered current and voltage signals.

Abstract: An integrated environmental barrier for protecting the receiver portion of a fuel cell stack health monitoring system. The stack health monitoring system includes a transmitting measurement module and an optical communication module having a receiver. Measurements indicating the health of the fuel cell stack are optically communicated between the transmitter and receiver through the environmentally protective barrier. The environmentally protective barrier is disposed between the measurement module and the optical communication module such that the environmental barrier isolates the optical communication module from the environment contained within the fuel cell stack. The environmental barrier comprises light blocking and light transmitting portions enabling system variation while ensuring signal integrity.

Abstract: A method for providing calibration synchronization pulses in a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal including fuel cell voltage measurement pulses. The method includes providing a sequence of voltage signals representative of the voltage of the fuel cells in a fuel cell group, where the sequence of voltage signals are provided in the order of the position of the fuel cells in the group. The method also includes providing a sequence of calibration pulses and combining the sequence of voltage signals and the sequence of calibration pulses so that the calibration pulses are provided before a voltage signal of a first cell in the group. The method modulates the combined sequence of the voltage signals and the calibration pulses using an inverted saw tooth wave to provide the PWM signal, where a width of the pulses representing the voltage signals are proportional to a width of the pulses representing the calibration pulses.

Abstract: A method for providing calibration and synchronization pulses in a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal including cell voltage measurement pulses, where the calibration pulses are four calibration pulses having a pattern of a narrow width high voltage pulse followed by a wide width low voltage pulse followed by a narrow width high voltage pulse followed by a wide width low voltage pulse that has a very low probability of occurring in a practical fuel cell system. The method modulates a combined sequence of the voltage measurement signals and the calibration pulses using an inverted saw tooth wave to provide the PWM signal, where a width of the pulses representing the voltage signals are proportional to a width of the pulses representing the calibration pulses.

Abstract: A health monitoring system for a fuel cell stack using current fuel cell architecture to enable the electronic control unit (ECU) to continue to monitor the health of the fuel cell stack despite a component failure. The system uses an embedded measurement module (EMM) connected to a group of fuel cells in the fuel cell stack to monitor the health of that group of fuel cells. The EMM produces a pulse width modulation signal that is sent to the ECU. A total voltage value for the group of fuel cells is embedded into the calibration signal or end of frame sequence. The ECU uses an algorithm to determine a missing voltage of at least one fuel cell in the event of the component failure of that fuel cell by adding up the cumulative value for each fuel cell reporting their voltage and subtracting that value from the total voltage value found in the end of frame sequence.

Abstract: System and methods for measuring operating parameters of a fuel cell system are presented. In certain embodiments, the systems and methods may be configured to measure a high frequency resistance of a fuel cell system. A method for measuring a high frequency resistance of a fuel cell system may include inducing a current signal and a voltage signal through the FC system at a center frequency using a switched load. The current signal and the voltage signal may then be measured and filtered to isolate the current signal and the voltage signal from noise signals occurring in the FC system. A high frequency resistance of the FC may then be calculated based on the filtered current and voltage signals.

Abstract: An integrated environmental barrier for protecting the receiver portion of a fuel cell stack health monitoring system. The stack health monitoring system includes a transmitting measurement module and an optical communication module having a receiver. Measurements indicating the health of the fuel cell stack are optically communicated between the transmitter and receiver through the environmentally protective barrier. The environmentally protective barrier is disposed between the measurement module and the optical communication module such that the environmental barrier isolates the optical communication module from the environment contained within the fuel cell stack. The environmental barrier comprises light blocking and light transmitting portions enabling system variation while ensuring signal integrity.

Abstract: A health monitoring system for a fuel cell stack using current fuel cell architecture to enable the electronic control unit (ECU) to continue to monitor the health of the fuel cell stack despite a component failure. The system uses an embedded measurement module (EMM) connected to a group of fuel cells in the fuel cell stack to monitor the health of that group of fuel cells. The EMM produces a pulse width modulation signal that is sent to the ECU. A total voltage value for the group of fuel cells is embedded into the calibration signal or end of frame sequence. The ECU uses an algorithm to determine a missing voltage of at least one fuel cell in the event of the component failure of that fuel cell by adding up the cumulative value for each fuel cell reporting their voltage and subtracting that value from the total voltage value found in the end of frame sequence.

Abstract: A system that monitors fuel cells in a fuel cell group. The system includes a plurality of voltage sensors coupled to the fuel cells in the fuel cell group, where each sensor monitors a different voltage of the fuel cells and where lower priority voltage sensors monitor higher voltages and higher priority sensors monitor lower voltages. The system also includes a plurality of oscillators where a separate oscillator is coupled to each of the sensors. Each oscillator operates at a different frequency where higher frequency oscillators are coupled to lower priority sensors and lower frequency oscillators are coupled to higher priority sensors. A light source that receives frequency signals from the oscillators and switches on and off in response to the frequency signals. A light pipe receives the switched light signals from the light source and provides light signals at a certain frequency at an end of the light pipe.

Abstract: A method for providing calibration synchronization pulses in a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal including fuel cell voltage measurement pulses. The method includes providing a sequence of voltage signals representative of the voltage of the fuel cells in a fuel cell group, where the sequence of voltage signals are provided in the order of the position of the fuel cells in the group. The method also includes providing a sequence of calibration pulses and combining the sequence of voltage signals and the sequence of calibration pulses so that the calibration pulses are provided before a voltage signal of a first cell in the group. The method modulates the combined sequence of the voltage signals and the calibration pulses using an inverted saw tooth wave to provide the PWM signal, where a width of the pulses representing the voltage signals are proportional to a width of the pulses representing the calibration pulses.

Abstract: A method for providing calibration and synchronization pulses in a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal including cell voltage measurement pulses, where the calibration pulses are four calibration pulses having a pattern of a narrow width high voltage pulse followed by a wide width low voltage pulse followed by a narrow width high voltage pulse followed by a wide width low voltage pulse that has a very low probability of occurring in a practical fuel cell system. The method modulates a combined sequence of the voltage measurement signals and the calibration pulses using an inverted saw tooth wave to provide the PWM signal, where a width of the pulses representing the voltage signals are proportional to a width of the pulses representing the calibration pulses.