Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel cell stack using a separator in which two or more reaction areas are connected in an insulated manner. Further, a gas diffusion layer, a membrane electrode assembly and the like are sequentially stacked on each reaction area of the separator, and the reaction areas are connected in series to configure a single stack module thereby increasing the voltage generated in the fuel cell stack and maintain the current at a low level.

Abstract: A method for controlling a cold start of a fuel cell vehicle includes detecting and storing temperatures at an inlet and an exit of fuel cell cooling water a plurality of times after turning-off of the fuel cell vehicle. A start sequence is controlled based on the lowest temperature of the stored temperatures and temperatures at the inlet and exit of the cooling water at a restart of the vehicle. Accordingly, it is possible to enhance start-up stability and driving stability by controlling a cold start sequence according to an internal state of the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: The present invention provides a membrane reaction apparatus for recovering heat of reaction, which includes a membrane reactor. The said membrane reactor includes a reaction pipeline, a membrane and a sweep pipeline. The reaction pipeline has a reaction space, and an exothermic reaction occurs therein, which generates product gas and heat of reaction. Part of the product gas penetrates through the membrane around the reaction space and enters into the sweep pipeline. Sweeping gas enters into the sweep pipeline and carries the product gas and the heat of reaction away. It is feasible to wrap the product gas around the sweep pipeline, for enhancing the heat transfer from the product gas to the sweeping gas. The heat of reaction brought by the sweeping gas can be further released in a heat exchanger, so that the heat of reaction is available to be recovered and used for other endothermic processes.

Abstract: During an intermittent operation of the fuel cell, a demanded FC voltage calculation portion calculates a predetermined voltage that is below a heightened potential avoidance threshold voltage as a demanded FC voltage, and outputs the voltage to a converter. When during the intermittent operation of the fuel cell, a deviation obtained by subtracting a generated power of the fuel cell from a system's allowable power that is allowable in the fuel cell system becomes less than or equal to a value 0, the demanded FC voltage correction portion corrects a command value provided for the converter so that the deviation becomes equal to the value 0.

Abstract: A PEM-fuel-cell-stack backup electric generator comprising: a fuel-cell stack, formed by a plurality of stacked PEM fuel cells electrically connected in series for supplying electrical energy to an electrical load; a cell-voltage monitor for measuring the voltage supplied by each fuel cell; an electrical-energy management and conditioning unit, connected between the fuel-cell stack and the electrical load; a blower for supplying the amount of air necessary for the chemical reactions that occur in the fuel cells; a hydrogen recirculator for recirculating hydrogen between the outlet and the inlet of the fuel-cell stack; a hydrogen-purging device for carrying out a primary purging of hydrogen at a lower flow rate, and a secondary purging of hydrogen at a higher flow rate; and a controller, programmed for managing operation of the electric generator differently at start-up, at shut-down, and during normal operation thereof.

Abstract: In a method for stopping an operation of a fuel cell system, supply of a fuel gas to an anode side of a fuel cell provided in the fuel cell system is stopped. A fuel exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell is recirculated to the anode side of the fuel cell. An oxidant-exhaust-gas discharge path through which an oxidant exhaust gas is to be discharged from the fuel cell is sealed at a downstream position of a connecting portion at which the oxidant-exhaust-gas discharge path is connected to an oxidant-exhaust-gas recirculation path. The oxidant exhaust gas is recirculated to a cathode side of the fuel cell through the oxidant-exhaust-gas recirculation path. Recirculation of the fuel exhaust gas is stopped. Recirculation of the oxidant exhaust gas is stopped. An oxidant-gas supply path through which an oxidant gas is to be supplied to the fuel cell is sealed.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a separator having a circular disk. On one surface of the circular disk, a fuel gas channel for supplying a fuel gas to an anode is provided, and on the other surface of the circular disk, an oxygen-containing gas channel for supplying air to a cathode is provided. The fuel gas channel has an end point disposed at the outer circumferential end of the anode. A fuel gas discharge channel is connected to the end point of the fuel gas channel, such that the consumed fuel gas is emitted from a position spaced outwardly from an outer circumferential portion of the electrolyte electrode assembly.

Abstract: The object is to suppress degradation of the durability of an electrolyte membrane caused by deformation by expansion and contraction of the electrolyte membrane. A controller 150 calculates a humidity P of an electrolyte membrane 112 based on a cell resistance value (step S11) and determines whether the humidity P of the electrolyte membrane 112 is less than a humidity threshold A (step S12). When the humidity P is less than the humidity threshold A, the controller 150 determines that a dimensional change rate of the electrolyte membrane is not greater than a predetermined value and performs a process of increasing the humidity of the electrolyte membrane 112 (step S13). The predetermined value is a dimensional change rate that is unlikely to have damage by drying stress.

Abstract: A fuel cell system is disclosed comprising a plurality of fuel cell modules including a sealed planar fuel cell stack, the stack including internal manifold channels for transport of fuel and air to fuel cells within the stack and transport of tail gas and spent air away from fuel cells within the stack. Each of the fuel cell stacks is mounted on a stack footprint area of a top member of a base manifold. The base manifolds are configured to allow for interconnection of a number of fuel cell stack modules to provide a fuel cell system capable of producing power outputs that otherwise would have required large surface area cells or stack with a large number of cells.

Abstract: A fuel cell assembly in which one or more dual cell modules is created by “sandwiching” a first reactant chamber between two electrolyte assemblies and enclosing the result within a surrounding vessel containing the second reactant. Each dual cell module thereby contains two operating electrolyte assemblies. In such a configuration separate electrical conductors must be provided to create the proper connections. In order to avoid the resistance losses inherent in the use of edge connections, the present invention preferably includes conductors that actually pass through the electrolytes. These conductors are contained within an assembly that electrically insulates the conductor where needed and provides a gas-tight seal where needed.

Abstract: In a method of operating a fuel cell, a voltage difference between voltages of a first unit cell and a second unit cell is detected. Whether the voltage difference is out of a predetermined range is determined. If the voltage difference is determined to be out of the predetermined range, humidity of a first reactant gas before being supplied to a first reactant gas passage is adjusted or humidity of a second reactant gas before being supplied to a second reactant gas passage is adjusted. The first reactant gas passage is provided in a first separator. The first reactant gas is to be supplied to one of first electrodes through the first reactant gas passage. The second reactant gas is to be supplied to another of the first electrodes through the second reactant gas passage.

Abstract: A method for estimating cathode inlet and cathode outlet relative humidity (RH) of a fuel cell stack. The method uses a model to estimate the high frequency resistance (HFR) of the fuel cell stack based on water specie balance, and also measures stack HFR. The HFR values from the estimated HFR and the measured HFR are compared, and an error between the HFR values is determined. An online regression algorithm is then utilized to minimize the error and the solution of the regression is the RH profile in the stack including the cathode inlet and outlet relative humidities.

Abstract: A system for activating a fuel cell includes a flow meter for measuring the amount of water discharged from an outlet of the air electrode and an outlet of the fuel electrode; a pressure sensor for measuring the pressure at the respective outlets; and a back pressure regulator receiving flow values measured by the flow meters and pressure values measured by the pressure sensors, which are fed back from a controller, and regulating a pressure difference (?P=PCathode?PAnode) to be a value greater than 0. With the system, the activation time of a fuel cell and the amount of hydrogen used for the activation can be reduced, thus improving the productivity and manufacturing cost.

Abstract: A system and method for determining if an RH sensor that measures the relative humidity of cathode inlet air provided to a fuel cell stack or an HFR circuit that measures stack water content is operating properly. The method provides the cathode inlet air through a WVT unit that increases the water content of the cathode inlet air. The method uses a water buffer model for determining the water content of the fuel cell stack based on inputs from a plurality of system components and revises a water transfer model using the HFR humidification signal or the RH signal to correct for WVT unit degradation. The method determines whether the RH sensor or the HFR circuit is operating properly, such as by determining if the HFR humidification signal is increasing at a rate that is faster than what the stack water content is able to increase.

Abstract: The system (10) controls at least one of a pressure of the reactant streams (16A, 16B) within at least one of an anode flow field (28) and a cathode flow field (36), a flow rate of the reactant streams (16A, 16B) flowing through the anode and/or cathode flow fields (26, 28), a temperature of a coolant fluid passing through a sealed coolant flow field (44), and a flow rate of the coolant fluid; so that water (14) moves from a water reservoir (18A, 18B) into the reactant stream (16A, 16B) whenever power generated by the fuel cell (20) is between about 80% and about 100% of a maximum fuel cell power output, and so that water (14) moves from the reactant stream (16A, 16B) into the water reservoir (18A, 18B) whenever fuel cell power is less than about 75% of the maximum power output.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for extracting water. The apparatus comprises a first and second cooling device and a controller. The first cooling device has a first and second side. The first side heats materials located at the first side and generates a water vapor. The second side cools the water vapor and fluids collected from a source. The second cooling device transfers heat from the water vapor and the fluids flowing through the second cooling device to an environment around the second cooling device. A controller controls a first amount of power delivered to the first cooling device and a second amount of power delivered to the second cooling device based on a temperature for the fluids and the water vapor at an output. Water extracted from the fluids and the water vapor by cooling the fluids and the water vapor is collected at the output.

Abstract: A method for purging water from a fuel cell stack at fuel cell system shutdown. The method includes determining a stack water generation request to control the rate of drying of membranes in the stack and determining a cathode catalytic heating water generation request. A maximum charge a battery in the fuel cell system can accept is also determined. An ancillary power request for powering components of the fuel cell system during shutdown is determined. The method allocates how much of the water generation request will be fulfilled by operating the fuel cell stack to charge the battery and to provide the power needed for the ancillary power request, and how much of the water generation request will be fulfilled by cathode catalytic heating that produces water and heat in a cathode side of the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: Disclosed is a humidifier for fuel cell, which facilitates to maximize humidifying performance and reducing the maintenance cost through the uniform humidification among all the hollow fiber membranes by preventing high-humidity unreacted gas introduced to the inside of membrane housing from flowing concentratedly toward a specific region in the membrane housing, wherein the humidifier comprises a membrane housing; a partition plate for dividing an inner space of the membrane housing into plural unit spaces; plural hollow fiber membranes in each of the unit spaces; and a cover mounted on an end of the membrane housing, the cover including an inlet for introducing unreacted gas of high-humidity discharged from a stack into the membrane housing, wherein plural distribution holes are provided in the membrane housing, the distribution holes corresponding to the unit spaces respectively.

Abstract: Disclosed is a membrane humidifier for a fuel cell, which uniformly humidifies entire hollow fiber membranes from an outer side to a central portion of an interior of the membrane humidifier to improve the distribution of wet air and dry air, thereby improving a humidification performance. The membrane humidifier for the fuel cell includes a hollow upper case including first wet air inlet apertures and first wet air outlet apertures and a membrane module assembly including a plurality of unit membrane modules received lengthwise within the upper case along the flow direction of dry air.

Abstract: A fuel cell assembly comprising a plurality of fuel cell plates in a stack. The stack defines an air inlet face and/or an air outlet face; and two opposing engagement faces. The fuel cell assembly also comprises a detachable cover configured to releasably engage the two engagement faces in order to define an air chamber with the air inlet or outlet face.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a water vapor transfer unit and a fluid flow distribution feature, the water vapor transfer unit including a first plate having a plurality of first flow channels for receiving a flow of a first fluid therein, and a second plate having a plurality of second flow channels for receiving a flow of a second fluid therein. The fluid flow distribution feature is configured to control at least one of a volume of flow of the first fluid through the first flow channels and a volume of flow of the second fluid through the second flow channels, wherein at least one of a flow distribution of the first fluid across the first plate and a flow distribution of the second fluid across the second plate is varied.

Abstract: A casing of a fuel cell system is divided into a fluid supply section, a module section, and an electrical equipment section. A back plate of the casing includes a cable outlet adjacent to a left side plate. A cable outlet panel of the cable outlet includes an attachment plate. A first outlet surface and a second outlet surface are formed integrally with the attachment plate, and surrounded by the attachment plate. The first outlet surface and the second outlet surface allow a power cable to be taken out of the casing, and have a V-shape in a plan view of the casing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of determining the net water drag coefficient (rd) in a fuel cell. By measuring the velocity of the fluid stream at the outlet of the anode, rd can be determined. Real time monitoring and adjustments of the water balance of a fuel cell may be therefore achieved.

Abstract: Provided is a fuel cell system including: a wetness detecting section for detecting a wetness of a fuel cell stack; a target SR setting section for setting a target SR of the fuel cell stack based on the wetness; a smallest SR setting section for setting, based on a load, a smallest SR necessary to prevent flooding of the fuel cell stack; and an SR control section for performing control so that an actual SR becomes temporarily larger than the smallest SR when the target SR is smaller than the smallest SR.

Abstract: A valve for reducing the likelihood of ice-related blockage in a fuel cell and methods for starting a fuel cell system. The valve includes a valve plate and coupling plate that are cooperative with one another within a valve body such that flexural forces imparted to the valve plate from a pressurized fluid are transferred to localized contact surfaces between the valve plate and coupling plate. By concentrating these forces to such a localized area, improvements in the ability of the fluid to initiate and propagate a crack in built-up ice around the valve's seating region is improved. In this way, fuel cell starting in cold conditions—such as those associated with temperatures at or below the freezing point of water—is also improved.

Abstract: An exemplary manifold assembly includes a gas inlet manifold configured to introduce a gas to a fuel cell. A gas outlet manifold is configured to direct gas away from the fuel cell. A drain channel connects the inlet manifold to the outlet manifold. The drain channel is configured to carry liquid from the gas inlet manifold to the gas outlet manifold.

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 casing of a fuel cell system is divided into a fluid supply section, a module section, and an electrical equipment section by a first vertical partition plate and a second vertical partition plate. The first vertical partition plate extends from a front plate of the casing toward a back plate of the casing. The first vertical partition plate has a recess formed by bending a marginal end portion of the first vertical partition plate on the back plate side toward the module section at a predetermined angle. At least a raw fuel pipe of the fuel gas supply apparatus as a passage of a raw fuel is provided in the recess.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a fuel gas passage, and an oxidant gas passage. The fuel cell includes a solid polymer membrane, a fuel electrode, and an oxidant electrode. A coolant flows into the fuel cell via a coolant passage to adjust a temperature of the fuel cell. An oxidant gas outlet temperature detector is configured to detect an outlet temperature of an oxidant gas discharged from an outlet of the oxidant gas passage. A coolant temperature detector is configured to detect a temperature of the coolant passing through an inlet or an outlet of the coolant passage. A dry-up controller is configured to decide that the solid polymer membrane is in a dry-up state when a temperature difference between the temperature of the coolant and the outlet temperature of the oxidant gas exceeds a first threshold value.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack arrangement includes a fuel cells arranged between a first and a second end plate. At least one of the end plates is designed as a channel end plate with at least one channel. The channel has a stack opening, which is opened in the direction of the stack, and a second opening. The stack opening and the second opening are connected to each other via a channel section and are arranged at a distance to each other in a top view looking down on the channel end plate.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed at a method and apparatus for controlling fuel cell operating conditions. The apparatus includes a set of sensors for monitoring the fuel cell operating conditions and a processing unit, in communication with the set of sensors for determining when the fuel cell operating conditions are outside of an acceptable range. When it is determined that the fuel cell operating conditions are outside of the acceptable range, an electrolyzer is activated to electrolyze waste liquid water or water vapor to assist in controlling the fuel cell operating conditions.

Abstract: A glass fiber-based paper diffusion medium, as well as a membrane humidifier for a fuel cell and method for humidifying a fuel cell using the provided glass fiber-based paper diffusion medium. The diffusion medium is a flexible, resin-bonded glass fiber paper impregnated with 26-55% cured liquid phenolic resin and having a thickness of 100-110 ?m and a Gurley permeability of at least 100 cfm.

Abstract: A fuel cell system that employs a split fuel cell stack, where fresh anode gas is humidified by water trap humidifiers. The fuel cell system includes a plurality of valves that are opened and closed to provide stack order switching between the split stacks so that the flow of hydrogen through the stacks is always in the same direction. A water trap humidifier is provided at the anode inlet to both split stacks, possibly in the anode inlet manifold or fuel cell non-active region, to provide the humidification. The valves are selectively opened and closed to provide fresh hydrogen to one stack, and humidified hydrogen to the other stack.

Abstract: A humidifier for a fuel cell has a stacked unit of several water-permeable membranes which are parallel to each other and are arranged spaced apart form each other. On the edges of the membranes, a sealant is applied which closes a flow space between neighboring membranes fluid-tightly and serves as a spacer.

Abstract: Various hot box fuel cell system components are provided, such as heat exchangers, steam generator and other components.

Abstract: A humidifier device for humidifying a fluid in a fuel cell system of a motor vehicle is provided. The humidifier device has a housing, in which is arranged at least one membrane, and a bypass channel for bypassing the at least one membrane. The bypass channel has a non-circular cross-section.

Abstract: A humidity measuring device is disclosed. The humidity measuring device includes a housing having a housing interior, a temperature controller thermally engaging the housing, a humidity sensor provided in the housing interior and an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit disposed in fluid communication with the housing interior. A fuel cell system and a method of measuring humidity in a gas stream are also disclosed.

Abstract: A fuel cell system of the present invention includes: a reformer (1) configured to generate a hydrogen-containing fuel gas from a material gas and steam; a fuel cell (101) configured to generate electric power by using a fuel gas supplied from the reformer (1); a water tank (3) configured to store water; a water utilizing device configured to utilize the water supplied from the water tank (3); a first water supply unit (5) disposed on a water passage (30) extending from the water tank (3) to the water utilizing device and configured to supply the water in the water tank (3) to the water utilizing device; and a purifier (4) disposed on the water passage (30) and configured to purify the water flowing through the water passage (30), and the purifier (4) is provided such that when a water level of the water tank (3) is a full water level, the purifier (4) is filled with the water by the weight of the water.

Abstract: A water recovery device that allows a first gas to flow inside hollow fiber membranes and a second gas to flow outside the hollow fiber membranes, and that exchanges moisture between the first gas and the second gas.

Abstract: A method for shutting down a fuel cell system includes: determining whether an outside air temperature is below a first predetermined reference temperature when a shutdown of a fuel cell system is detected; warming up the fuel cell stack by operating balance of plant components of the fuel cell system and a stack load using the power of the fuel cell stack, while the supply of hydrogen to the fuel cell stack is normally maintained, when the outside air temperature is below the first reference temperature; removing water in the fuel cell stack by passing air supplied by an air supply system through the stack load to supply heated air to a cathode of the fuel cell stack; and shutting down the fuel cell system by cutting off the supply of air after the removal of water. The method can eliminate or reduce cold start failure.

Abstract: Assemblies and methods for measuring in-situ membrane fluid crossover are provided. One embodiment of an in-situ fuel cell membrane crossover measurement assembly as disclosed herein comprises an anode fluid supply configured to supply anode fluid to an anode side of a proton exchange membrane; a cathode fluid supply configured to supply cathode fluid to a cathode side of the proton exchange membrane; a collection chamber configured to receive an exhaust from one of the anode side and the cathode side of the proton exchange membrane; and means for detecting a crossover fluid in the exhaust. The crossover fluid is from the cathode fluid if the exhaust is collected from the anode side and the crossover fluid is from the anode fluid if the exhaust is collected from the cathode side.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a microporous layer configured to be disposed between a catalyst layer and a gas diffusion layer of a fuel cell electrode assembly is provided. The microporous layer may have defined therein a plurality of hydrophilic pores, a plurality of hydrophobic pores with a diameter of 0.02 to 0.5 ?m, and a plurality of bores with a diameter of 0.5 to 100 ?m. The microporous layer structures and gas diffusion layer assemblies disclosed herein may be defined by a number of various designs and arrangements for use in proton exchange membrane fuel cell systems.

Abstract: A method of controlling humidification of a fuel cell includes the steps of measuring impedance of the fuel cell, and adjusting humidification quantity of the fuel cell based on an imaginary axis value Xi and a real axis value Xr on a complex number plane of the measured impedance after the measurement step. In the measurement step, impedance is measured based on supply of alternating current having one frequency of 10 Hz or less during power generation of the fuel cell.

Abstract: An oxygen/hydrogen fuel cell including a package having, on the side of the cell intended to be exposed to air, an enclosure provided with a mobile cap; an element made of a material which deforms according to the humidity ratio in the package; circuitry for controlling the opening and the closing of the mobile cap; and a switch which opens and closes according to the deformation of said material, said switch being associated with control means.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a controller, a resistance sensor, and a regulator. The fuel cell has a cathode plate, an anode plate, and an ion-exchange membrane interposed between the cathode plate and the anode plate. The controller is for controlling a gas flow rate to the anode plate. The resistance sensor is coupled to the fuel cell for measuring a resistance of the fuel cell. The regulator is coupled to the controller and coupled to the anode plate for regulating the gas flow to the anode plate. The controller receives a signal from the resistance sensor and is configured to control the regulator to adjust the gas flow to the anode plate based on the signal from the resistance sensor.

Abstract: An air cell system provided with emergency air port and an emergency air port is provided. In particular, an emergency port plate is provided between a suction block valve and a blower along air suction line of a fuel cell system or between a humidifier along an air suction line and a discharge block valve along an air discharge line and a wire is connected to the emergency port plate accordingly. Additionally, an operating assembly which enables the air suction line or the air discharge line to be in fluid communication with an external environment by pulling a wire to brake the emergency port plate when the suction block valve or the discharge block valve is not operating properly is also provided to provide a failsafe system for valve failure.

Abstract: A method for controlling relative humidity (RH) of a cathode side of a fuel cell stack in a fuel cell system that includes an RH sensor on a cathode inlet line for providing an RH signal indicative of the RH of cathode inlet air. If the RH sensor is providing a valid RH signal, the RH signal is calculated as an RH average of the cathode inlet air. When the RH sensor is not providing a valid RH signal, the calculated RH average is utilized to control the cathode inlet air RH. If the RH sensor is not providing a valid signal during start-up, then the stack power is temporarily set at an optimum level for a known cathode inlet air RH.

Abstract: An integrated gas management device (GMD) for a fuel cell comprises a gas-to-gas humidifier for transferring water from a second gas to a first gas; a heat exchanger attached to a first end of the humidifier core for cooling the first gas; and/or a water separator attached to a second end of the humidifier core for removing liquid water from the second gas. The GMD may optionally comprise a thermal isolation plate between the heat exchanger and the first end of the humidifier core. The GMD further comprises a bypass line to allow the first gas to bypass the humidifier. The first gas may comprise cathode charge air and the second gas may comprise cathode exhaust.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel cell system, which reduces the temperature of exhaust gas discharged from a fuel cell stack to a humidifier to increase the humidity thereof when the fuel cell stack operates at high temperature and high power, and thus improves the humidification performance for air as an oxidant in the humidifier and improves the performance of the fuel cell stack. For this purpose, the present invention provides a fuel cell system in which an intercooler is installed in an exhaust gas pipe, which connects a cathode outlet of the fuel cell stack and the humidifier, to cool the exhaust gas as a water supply source of the humidifier such that the intercooler reduces the temperature of the exhaust gas and, at the same time, increase the humidity thereof, thus improving humidification performance for air as an oxidant in the humidifier.

Abstract: A fuel cell including a stack in which a plurality of cells are stacked includes an air manifold and a hydrogen manifold on a first side and a second side of the stack, respectively, a jet array including a tubular body inserted in the air manifold or the hydrogen manifold and a plurality of orifices formed in the tubular body and arranged in a longitudinal direction of the tubular body, a pump or a valve for supplying air or hydrogen to the jet array; and a controller that operates the pump or the valve.