Abstract: A vehicle includes a fuel cell stack arranged to generate power for propulsion, an auxiliary fuel cell stack component, and a processor. The processor, responsive to a crowdsourced average value of an operating parameter of an auxiliary fuel cell stack component of other fuel cell vehicles being different, for a pre-defined power level, than an average value of a same operating parameter of the auxiliary fuel cell stack component by a pre-determined amount, purge the fuel cell stack of nitrogen.

Abstract: A system, such as for a fuel cell electric vehicle, includes a fuel cell stack (FCS) and a controller. The FCS is configured to provide, such as for vehicle propulsion, a stack power commensurate with a stack power request. The stack power is a product of a stack current of the FCS and a stack voltage of the FCS. The controller is configured to, upon the stack voltage meeting a predetermined threshold, control the FCS to increase the stack current to cause the FCS to provide an increased stack power commensurate with an increased stack power request.

Abstract: A fuel cell system including a fuel cell stack, separator and a scavenging reservoir. The fuel cell stack is configured to generate water and reusable fuel. The separator is downstream of and in fluid communication with the fuel cell stack. The separator is configured to separate the water from the reusable fuel. The scavenging reservoir is downstream of and in fluid communication with the separator. The scavenging reservoir is configured to receive the water from the separator. The scavenging reservoir includes an inlet portion, an outlet portion, and a middle portion positioned between the inlet and outlet portions. The middle portion includes a reservoir and a passageway extending there between. The passageway is configured to allow a fluid stream to flow there through when the reservoir is occupied by a frozen fluid.

Abstract: A fuel cell assembly includes a fuel cell arrangement having first and second plates sandwiching a membrane electrode assembly. The arrangement defines first and second header regions that each include supply and return headers. The first plate defines coolant channels that extend between the header regions and connect to the return header in the first region. The second plate defines coolant channels that extend between the header regions and connect to the supply header in the first region.

Abstract: A fuel cell anode purge line includes an elongated water-scavenging body having a single inlet portion, a single outlet portion having an outlet valve, and a scavenged reservoir configured to accumulate water and fluidly connect the inlet and outlet portions so as to direct a flow of purge gas from the inlet portion through the reservoir such that the purge gas entrains the water in the flow and transfers the water towards the outlet valve.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack in fluid communication with a separator. The separator has a first portion and a second portion forming a chamber. The first portion has a continuous inner wall and an end wall, with an inlet conduit connected to the inner wall and a liquid drain connected to the end wall. The second portion has an end wall and an outlet conduit extending into the chamber to form a channel with the inner wall of the first portion. A fuel cell separator includes a first end and a second end connected by a side wall to define a separation chamber. An inlet conduit is tangentially connected to the wall. An outlet conduit is connected to the first end and extending into the chamber to form a channel with the wall. A liquid drain is connected to the second end.

Abstract: A humidification system for a fuel cell may include a condenser configured to receive fluid output from a cathode of the fuel cell and cool the fluid to extract water from it. A heat exchanger operable to transfer heat from a heat source to an airflow flowing through the heat exchanger may also be included. When the heated airflow is brought into contact with at least some of the extracted water, the airflow is humidified prior to its entering the cathode.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, an ejector in fluid communication with the fuel cell stack and having a converging-diverging (CD) nozzle with a hydrogen feed nozzle and a recirculation conduit upstream of a throat of the CD nozzle, and a thermal source configured to heat the ejector. A hydrogen supply assembly for a fuel cell system includes an ejector having a converging-diverging (CD) nozzle and a mixing chamber upstream of the CD nozzle. The mixing chamber has a recirculation conduit and a hydrogen feed nozzle. A thermal source is configured to heat the ejector. A method of controlling a hydrogen supply device for a fuel cell includes, in response to detecting a heating condition at fuel cell start up, controlling a thermal source to heat an ejector upstream of an anode stack to prevent ice formation in the ejector.

Abstract: A fuel cell system including a fuel cell stack, separator and a scavenging reservoir. The fuel cell stack is configured to generate water and reusable fuel. The separator is downstream of and in fluid communication with the fuel cell stack. The separator is configured to separate the water from the reusable fuel. The scavenging reservoir is downstream of and in fluid communication with the separator. The scavenging reservoir is configured to receive the water from the separator. The scavenging reservoir includes an inlet portion, an outlet portion, and a middle portion positioned between the inlet and outlet portions. The middle portion includes a reservoir and a passageway extending there between. The passageway is configured to allow a fluid stream to flow there through when the reservoir is occupied by a frozen fluid.

Abstract: A humidification system for a fuel cell may include a condenser configured to receive fluid output from a cathode of the fuel cell and cool the fluid to extract water from it. A heat exchanger operable to transfer heat from a heat source to an airflow flowing through the heat exchanger may also be included. When the heated airflow is brought into contact with at least some of the extracted water, the airflow is humidified prior to its entering the cathode.

Abstract: A fuel cell anode purge line includes an elongated water-scavenging body having a single inlet portion, a single outlet portion having an outlet valve, and a scavenged reservoir configured to accumulate water and fluidly connect the inlet and outlet portions so as to direct a flow of purge gas from the inlet portion through the reservoir such that the purge gas entrains the water in the flow and transfers the water towards the outlet valve.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a fuel cell system, and a controller configured to receive a first signal indicative of a predicted ambient temperature at a specified location, and command the fuel cell system to operate at a reduced relative humidity when the predicted ambient temperature is below a threshold value. A method for controlling a fuel cell system includes receiving a first signal at a controller indicative of a predicted ambient temperature for a specified location, and operating the fuel cell system at a reduced relative humidity when the predicted ambient temperature is below a threshold value. A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, and a controller configured to, in response to receiving a predicted freezing condition, command the fuel cell stack to operate at a lower relative humidity level for a time period preceding a predicted time for system shut down.

Abstract: A fuel cell assembly includes a fuel cell arrangement having first and second plates sandwiching a membrane electrode assembly. The arrangement defines first and second header regions that each include supply and return headers. The first plate defines coolant channels that extend between the header regions and connect to the return header in the first region. The second plate defines coolant channels that extend between the header regions and connect to the supply header in the first region.

Abstract: A separator for a fuel cell includes first and second ends connected by a side wall to define a separation chamber. The first end has a protrusion extending into the chamber to form a channel with the wall. An inlet conduit is tangentially connected to the wall. An outlet conduit connected to the wall between the inlet conduit and the first end. A liquid drain is connected to the second end. A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack and a separator. The separator has first and second portions forming a chamber and a divider. The first portion has a continuous inner wall, an end wall forming a central convex projection, an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit. The second portion has a continuous inner wall, an end wall, and a liquid drain.

Abstract: A fuel cell system is includes a fuel cell stack with a cooling line arrangement configured to pass coolant through the stack, a pump configured to move the coolant through the arrangement, and at least one controller. The controller is programmed to, in response to a start-up event for the stack at an ambient temperature less than a first threshold value, initiate operation of the stack and to prevent activation of the pump in order to promote static flow conditions within the arrangement.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a fuel cell system, and a controller configured to receive a first signal indicative of a predicted ambient temperature at a specified location, and command the fuel cell system to operate at a reduced relative humidity when the predicted ambient temperature is below a threshold value. A method for controlling a fuel cell system includes receiving a first signal at a controller indicative of a predicted ambient temperature for a specified location, and operating the fuel cell system at a reduced relative humidity when the predicted ambient temperature is below a threshold value. A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, and a controller configured to, in response to receiving a predicted freezing condition, command the fuel cell stack to operate at a lower relative humidity level for a time period preceding a predicted time for system shut down.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack in fluid communication with a separator. The separator has a first portion and a second portion forming a chamber. The first portion has a continuous inner wall and an end wall, with an inlet conduit connected to the inner wall and a liquid drain connected to the end wall. The second portion has an end wall and an outlet conduit extending into the chamber to form a channel with the inner wall of the first portion. A fuel cell separator includes a first end and a second end connected by a side wall to define a separation chamber. An inlet conduit is tangentially connected to the wall. An outlet conduit is connected to the first end and extending into the chamber to form a channel with the wall. A liquid drain is connected to the second end.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, an ejector in fluid communication with the fuel cell stack and having a converging-diverging (CD) nozzle with a hydrogen feed nozzle and a recirculation conduit upstream of a throat of the CD nozzle, and a thermal source configured to heat the ejector. A hydrogen supply assembly for a fuel cell system includes an ejector having a converging-diverging (CD) nozzle and a mixing chamber upstream of the CD nozzle. The mixing chamber has a recirculation conduit and a hydrogen feed nozzle. A thermal source is configured to heat the ejector. A method of controlling a hydrogen supply device for a fuel cell includes, in response to detecting a heating condition at fuel cell start up, controlling a thermal source to heat an ejector upstream of an anode stack to prevent ice formation in the ejector.

Abstract: A separator for a fuel cell includes first and second ends connected by a side wall to define a separation chamber. The first end has a protrusion extending into the chamber to form a channel with the wall. An inlet conduit is tangentially connected to the wall. An outlet conduit connected to the wall between the inlet conduit and the first end. A liquid drain is connected to the second end. A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack and a separator. The separator has first and second portions forming a chamber and a divider. The first portion has a continuous inner wall, an end wall forming a central convex projection, an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit. The second portion has a continuous inner wall, an end wall, and a liquid drain.

Abstract: A combined water and anode knock-out purge line for a fuel cell including an inlet portion having an inlet portion lower surface, an outlet portion having an outlet portion lower surface, a middle portion having a lower surface and extending between the inlet portion and the outlet portion. Each lower surface of the inlet portion and outlet portion is raised relative to the lower surface of the middle portion in a generally longitudinal direction.