Abstract: A fuel cell assembly in combination with an electrochemical battery, having an electrical connection therebetween, the electrical connection including a current blocking element to prevent current stored in the battery from flowing into the fuel cell assembly and wherein the electrical connection is absent of a current control component for current generated by the fuel cell assembly flowing to the battery.

Abstract: To restrain deterioration of fuel cells while preventing a battery from being overcharged, a fuel cell vehicle includes a motor for providing torque to wheels, a battery for storing electric power to provide the stored electric power to the motor, and a FC stack for generating electric power to provide the generated electric power to the motor and the battery. A battery charge level determining module determines a battery charge level of the battery, and a FET is configured to connect or disconnect the FC stack to the motor and the battery. A controller is configured to cause the FET to disconnect the FC stack from the motor and the battery and allow power generation by the FC stack when the determined battery charge level by the battery charge level determining module is greater than or equal to a first predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A fuel cell assembly in combination with an electrochemical battery, having an electrical connection therebetween, the electrical connection including a current blocking element to prevent current stored in the battery from flowing into the fuel cell assembly and wherein the electrical connection is absent of a current control component for current generated by the fuel cell assembly flowing to the battery.

Abstract: A fuel cell assembly comprising at least two fuel cells, each fuel cell in the fuel cell assembly having an anode and a cathode to provide for electrical interconnections with other fuel cells of the assembly or assembly output terminals wherein the electrical interconnections between a plurality of the fuel cells of the fuel cell assembly are configurable such that said plurality of fuel cells or a subset thereof are connectable without changing the spatial relationship between the fuel cells in at least two of; i) in series with one another; ii) in parallel with one another; or iii) disconnected from the assembly.

Abstract: A vehicle fuel cell apparatus includes a fuel cell stack configured to take in air as a reaction gas and a coolant through an air intake aperture area, and discharge temperature-raised air through air discharging aperture areas. An air suction duct, air discharge ducts, and air discharge fans take in air to the air suction duct. The air discharge ducts have air discharge ports in the vicinity of the air suction duct. The air suction duct is formed with first air intake ports opening at its upstream end portion, and second air intake ports opening at locations nearer to the air discharge ports of the air discharge ducts than the first air intake ports. The second air intake ports are provided with shutters. The arrangement provides a vehicle fuel cell apparatus having enhanced operability in situations involving low-temperature outside air, and allows for enhanced mountability to vehicles.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack assembly (30) comprises a fuel cell stack (31); an air flow plenum chamber (33) disposed on a face (4) of the stack (31) for delivering air to or receiving air from flow channels in the fuel cell stack (31), at least a part of the plenum chamber wall being defined by a printed circuit board, the printed circuit board having at least one aperture (37) therein; and a fan (36) mounted to the board adjacent the aperture (37) and configured to force air through the aperture into or out of the plenum chamber. The assembly provides integration of circuit boards essential or supportive to operation of the fuel cell assembly with the air flow plenum for forced ventilation of the fuel cells in the stack.

Abstract: Provided is a cooling structure for vehicle electrical components that is capable of solving problems due to water contained in intake air. Air used in an electricity generation reaction and air necessary for self-cooling is supplied to a fuel cell stack (11) via an intake duct (2). Dust and chemical substances in the air are removed by a dust/chemical substance filter (3) provided on the fuel cell stack (11) side within the intake duct (2). Furthermore, air and water are primarily separated by a water filter (4) provided in the intake duct (2) upstream by a prescribed distance in the air flow direction from the dust/chemical substance filter (3). Therefore, water in the intake air does not reach the dust/chemical substance filter (3) and the fuel cell stack (11), and various problems due to water contained in the intake air can be solved.

Abstract: A vehicle fuel cell apparatus includes a fuel cell stack configured to take in air as a reaction gas and a coolant through an air intake aperture area, and discharge temperature-raised air through air discharging aperture areas. An air suction duct, air discharge ducts, and air discharge fans take in air to the air suction duct. The air discharge ducts have air discharge ports in the vicinity of the air suction duct. The air suction duct is formed with first air intake ports opening at its upstream end portion, and second air intake ports opening at locations nearer to the air discharge ports of the air discharge ducts than the first air intake ports. The second air intake ports are provided with shutters. The arrangement provides a vehicle fuel cell apparatus having enhanced operability in situations involving low-temperature outside air, and allows for enhanced mountability to vehicles.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack assembly (30) comprises a fuel cell stack (31); an air flow plenum chamber (33) disposed on a face (4) of the stack (31) for delivering air to or receiving air from flow channels in the fuel cell stack (31), at least a part of the plenum chamber wall being defined by a printed circuit board, the printed circuit board having at least one aperture (37) therein; and a fan (36) mounted to the board adjacent the aperture (37) and configured to force air through the aperture into or out of the plenum chamber. The assembly provides integration of circuit boards essential or supportive to operation of the fuel cell assembly with the air flow plenum for forced ventilation of the fuel cells in the stack.

Abstract: To restrain deterioration of fuel cells while preventing a battery from being overcharged, a fuel cell vehicle includes a motor for providing torque to wheels, a battery for storing electric power to provide the stored electric power to the motor, and a FC stack for generating electric power to provide the generated electric power to the motor and the battery. A battery charge level determining module determines a battery charge level of the battery, and a FET is configured to connect or disconnect the FC stack to the motor and the battery. A controller is configured to cause the FET to disconnect the FC stack from the motor and the battery and allow power generation by the FC stack when the determined battery charge level by the battery charge level determining module is greater than or equal to a first predetermined threshold.

Abstract: Provided is a cooling structure for vehicle electrical components that is capable of solving problems due to water contained in intake air. Air used in an electricity generation reaction and air necessary for self-cooling is supplied to a fuel cell stack (11) via an intake duct (2). Dust and chemical substances in the air are removed by a dust/chemical substance filter (3) provided on the fuel cell stack (11) side within the intake duct (2). Furthermore, air and water are primarily separated by a water filter (4) provided in the intake duct (2) upstream by a prescribed distance in the air flow direction from the dust/chemical substance filter (3). Therefore, water in the intake air does not reach the dust/chemical substance filter (3) and the fuel cell stack (11), and various problems due to water contained in the intake air can be solved.

Abstract: An electrochemical fuel cell having an anode, an ion transfer membrane and a cathode has liquid water delivered to the fluid flow channels within the cathode so as to maintain a relative humidity of 100% throughout the fluid flow channels. A calibration method and apparatus is described for determining an optimum quantity or range of quantities of liquid water to be delivered to the cathode fluid flow channels under varying operating conditions. An operating method and apparatus is described that ensures an optimum quantity of liquid water is delivered to the cathode fluid flow channels under varying operating conditions.

Abstract: An electrochemical fuel cell having an anode, an ion transfer membrane and a cathode has liquid water delivered to the fluid flow channels within the cathode so as to maintain a relative humidity of 100% throughout the fluid flow channels. A calibration method and apparatus is described for determining an optimum quantity or range of quantities of liquid water to be delivered to the cathode fluid flow channels under varying operating conditions. An operating method and apparatus is described that ensures an optimum quantity of liquid water is delivered to the cathode fluid flow channels under varying operating conditions.

Abstract: An electrochemical fuel cell having an anode, an ion transfer membrane and a cathode has liquid water delivered to the fluid flow channels within the cathode so as to maintain a relative humidity of 100% throughout the fluid flow channels. A calibration method and apparatus is described for determining an optimum quantity or range of quantities of liquid water to be delivered to the cathode fluid flow channels under varying operating conditions. An operating method and apparatus is described that ensures an optimum quantity of liquid water is delivered to the cathode fluid flow channels under varying operating conditions.

Abstract: One or more operating parameters, such as electrical current flow from and air flow to, a fuel cell stack within a fuel cell assembly is periodically modulated during rehydration intervals to intermittently increase hydration levels of the fuel cell stack independently of the electrical current demand on the fuel cell assembly from an external load, while maintaining electrical current delivery to that external load.

Abstract: One or more operating parameters, such as electrical current flow from and air flow to, a fuel cell stack within a fuel cell assembly is periodically modulated during rehydration intervals to intermittently increase hydration levels of the fuel cell stack independently of the electrical current demand on the fuel cell assembly from an external load, while maintaining electrical current delivery to that external load.

Abstract: An electrochemical fuel cell having an anode, an ion transfer membrane and a cathode has liquid water delivered to the fluid flow channels within the cathode so as to maintain a relative humidity of 100% throughout the fluid flow channels. A calibration method and apparatus is described for determining an optimum quantity or range of quantities of liquid water to be delivered to the cathode fluid flow channels under varying operating conditions. An operating method and apparatus is described that ensures an optimum quantity of liquid water is delivered to the cathode fluid flow channels under varying operating conditions.