During Startup Or Shutdown Patents (Class 429/429)
  • Patent number: 9428077
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Scott M. Staley, William F. Sanderson, Milos Milacic, Hasdi R. Hashim, Daniel William Forthoffer, Craig Michael Mathie
  • Patent number: 9422862
    Abstract: The combined cycle power system includes a fuel cell, a gas turbine, a fuel gas supply line, a compressed air supply line, a discharged fuel recirculation line, a discharged air supply line, a gas turbine fuel supply line, a discharged fuel atmospheric release line, a discharged air atmospheric release line, and a discharged fuel release bypass line in which a bypass on-off valve is provided in a flow passage that connects the discharged fuel atmospheric release line and the discharged fuel recirculation line downstream of the discharged fuel release source valve and downstream of the discharged fuel circulation source valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Ozawa
  • Patent number: 9413021
    Abstract: Provided is a fuel cell system capable of achieving both of improving purge efficiency and preventing deterioration of the fuel cell, and a control method of the fuel cell system. The fuel cell system includes a circulation rate adjusting unit that adjusts a circulation rate of a circulation gas, a first startup purge unit that performs the first startup purge by opening a purge valve in a state where the circulation rate of the circulation gas is increased to be a mixing promotion rate capable of promoting mixing of the fuel gas with the circulation gas at system startup of the fuel cell system, and a second startup purge unit that performs the second startup purge by opening the purge valve in a state where the gas circulation rate is reduced to be less than the mixing promotion rate after the first startup purge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Osamu Ohgami, Akiji Ando, Koichiro Miyata
  • Patent number: 9406964
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack is formed from a plurality of stacked fuel cell units and at least one stack end element. The stacked fuel cell units being surrounded by a housing. A frame element is situated on the at least one stack end element and the housing on the end-face side. At least one seal is situated at least between the stack end element and the housing in the area of the frame element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Holger Stark, Ulf-Michael Mex
  • Patent number: 9406954
    Abstract: A method for depolluting and regenerating a catalytic fuel-cell electrode, the reaction of the fuel of the cell and capture of at least one polluting species occurring on the catalytic electrode, comprises: a decrease, at a constant first reference current density, in fuel flow, relative to a nominal fuel flow, for a first length of time, leading to a value for the stoichiometric coefficient of fuel lower than 1, to increase oxidation potential on the catalytic electrode and reach oxidation potential of the polluting species, to eliminate it; a cut-off of current for a cut-off time; an increase in flow above nominal flow, leading to a value of stoichiometric coefficient higher than or equal to 1; and an increase in current density until a second current density chosen by operator and possibly identical to or different from the initial reference current density, is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignees: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES, L'AIR LIQUIDE
    Inventors: Sylvain Passot, Christel Faure, Alejandro Franco, Olivier Lemaire
  • Patent number: 9385384
    Abstract: A power generation system includes: an air intake passage; a fuel cell system that includes a fuel cell; a case configured to house the fuel cell, a ventilator (air supply unit), and an air intake temperature detector configured to detect a temperature of the intake air supplied to the case; a combustion device that includes a combustor; an exhaust gas passage configured to discharge a flue gas generated in the combustion device to the outside; and a controller. The air intake passage and the exhaust gas passage are configured to allow heat exchange to occur between media flowing through the passages. The controller causes the combustion device to operate when the fuel cell system is activated and the temperature detected by the air intake temperature detector is equal to or lower than a first predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tatsui, Junji Morita, Akinori Yukimasa, Hidetoshi Wakamatsu, Atsutaka Inoue
  • Patent number: 9379396
    Abstract: A method for shutting down a fuel cell system including operating a fuel cell stack. the method includes providing an increased cathode air flow so as to dry fuel cell membranes in the stack until a first desired level of high frequency resistance is achieved, rehydrating the cell membranes of the stack until a second desired level of high frequency resistance is achieved, and operating the stack with a decreased cathode input relative humidity until a third desired level of high frequency resistance is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Bruce J. Clingerman, Aaron Rogahn, Jun Cai, Joseph C. Gerzseny, Manish Sinha, Steven D. Burch, Abdullah B. Alp
  • Patent number: 9325020
    Abstract: A method of operating a fuel cell system includes calculating voltages that are generated in each cell of a stack. It is determined whether the voltages satisfy a voltage stability condition. When it is determined that the voltages satisfy the voltage stability condition, it is determined whether a moisture balance condition and a hydrogen supply condition are satisfied. When it is determined that the moisture balance condition and the hydrogen supply condition are satisfied, the voltage stability condition is relieved and reset. It is determined whether the voltages that are generated in each cell of the stack satisfy the reset voltage stability condition. When it is determined that the voltages that are generated in each cell of the stack satisfy the reset voltage stability condition, the stack is normally operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Ik Jae Son
  • Patent number: 9299998
    Abstract: A fuel cell management method includes removing droplets remaining in a fuel cell stack using air supplied to a cathode and hydrogen supplied to an anode. Hydrogen and oxygen remaining are removed in the fuel cell stack by stopping the supply of the hydrogen and the air, and the hydrogen and the oxygen in the fuel cell stack are chemically reacted to remove residual hydrogen and oxygen. Hydrogen is generated in the cathode of the fuel cell stack after removing the residual hydrogen and oxygen. The residual oxygen is additionally removed using the generated hydrogen, the generated hydrogen is absorbed on a surface of a catalyst layer formed on the anode and cathode and accelerating the chemical reaction of hydrogen and air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Dae Keun Chun, Hwan Soo Shin, Hyun Suk Choo, Sung Keun Lee, Jae Hyuk Lee
  • Patent number: 9276279
    Abstract: An auxiliary power unit (APU), a method of operating an APU and a vehicle comprising the APU are provided. The APU includes a fuel processor and a fuel cell, the fuel processor being provided with steam, air and dimethyl ether (DME). In order to avoid decreased functionality of the fuel cell caused by lubricants in the DME, a heat exchanger is provided for separating lubricant from the DME.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventors: Lennart Andersson, Peter Jozsa
  • Patent number: 9160018
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a secondary cell; a voltage converter provided between the secondary cell and a load; a fuel cell; an FC relay that turns on and off electrical connection between the fuel cell and the shared electrical path; an electrical leakage detector that detects electrical leakage in an electrical system; and a control portion that performs determination regarding electrical leakage. The control portion has: start means for starting the fuel cell by raising voltage of the fuel cell from a starting voltage to an operation voltage that is lower than an open-circuit voltage; and electrical leakage determination means for performing the determination regarding electrical leakage after a predetermined time elapses, when the FC relay is closed while a voltage difference between the voltage of the fuel cell and voltage supplied from the voltage converter to the load is greater than a predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Michio Yoshida, Tadaichi Matsumoto, Atsushi Imai, Tomoya Ogawa
  • Patent number: 9130202
    Abstract: A method includes an in-stop-mode power generating process and a first startup process. In the a first startup process, if an operation start instruction to start a fuel cell system is detected after the in-stop-mode power generating process, supply of a fuel gas from a fuel-gas supply apparatus is started, and supply of an oxide gas from an oxide-gas supply apparatus is started after a predetermined time has elapsed from the starting of supply of the fuel gas, when a pressure of an anode side is equal to or lower than a first threshold pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuji Matsumoto, Chihiro Wake
  • Patent number: 9130205
    Abstract: The controller (185) of a fuel cell stack (151) in a vehicle (150) responds to lower demand to cause a diverter (172) to direct all air from the cathodes (19) except as required to generate sufficient power to limit cell voltage to a safe idle voltage threshold, cause storage in an energy storage system (201) sufficient to limit cell voltage to the idle voltage threshold unless SOC is too high, connects a voltage limiting load (220) to the stack sized to consume all power not consumed by auxiliary BOP, or, for longer idles, air-starves the stack and powers BOP from storage. In response to increase in a demand signal, the controller causes flow of all air to the cathodes. In response to an off signal (223) or a start signal (193) the controller causes a shutdown routine or a startup routine in each of which all generated power is stored to maintain fuel cell voltage below a threshold, or is consumed in the voltage limiting load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventor: Carl A. Reiser
  • Patent number: 9099700
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a warming up status detector, a warming up completion threshold setter, an informing device, an estimator, and a threshold changer. The warming up status detector is configured to detect a warming up status of the fuel cell stack. The informing device is configured to inform of completion of warming up when a value corresponding to a warming up status detected by the warming up status detector is equal to or higher than a threshold value set by the warming up completion threshold setter. The estimator is configured to estimate whether generated water is frozen in the fuel cell stack. The threshold changer is configured to change the threshold value set by the warming up completion threshold setter in accordance with a freezing state of the generated water in the fuel cell stack estimated by the estimator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koichiro Miyata, Chihiro Wake
  • Patent number: 9070916
    Abstract: A method includes: determining whether or not an elapsed time since stopping of power generation of a fuel cell until an operation start instruction to start a fuel cell system is detected is shorter than a specified time, if the operation start instruction to start the fuel cell system is detected after the power generation of the fuel cell is stopped; setting, as a first amount, an amount of replacement of a fuel gas on an anode side, if it is determined that the elapsed time is shorter than the specified time; and setting, as a second amount, an amount of replacement of the fuel gas on the anode side, if it is determined that the elapsed time is longer than the specified time. The first amount is larger than the second amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Go Kikuchi, Koichiro Miyata
  • Patent number: 9065100
    Abstract: A performance recovery operation for a fuel cell system effectively restores a fuel electrode such that, upon starting or stopping of operation of the fuel cell, both fuel and oxidizing electrodes are disposed in a hydrogen atmosphere and then the fuel electrode is maintained at a higher potential level than in a normal operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Iden, Ryoichi Shimoi
  • Patent number: 9048472
    Abstract: A shut-down procedure for an electricity delivery system comprising a fuel cell, the cell being fed with pure oxygen as oxidant and delivering an electrical voltage to an electrical power line. The electricity delivery system comprises a fuel gas circuit on the anode side, and a pure oxygen circuit on the cathode side. The shut-down procedure comprises the steps of an initial step during which the oxygen gas feed is interrupted, and an electrical consumption phase during which a hold current is drawn from the fuel cell until the pressure in the oxygen circuit reaches the water vapor pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventor: Gino Paganelli
  • Patent number: 9040207
    Abstract: In a method for operating a high-temperature fuel cell, which in normal mode of generating electrical power is supplied with liquid fuel, preferably diesel oil, and is preceded on the anode side by a reformer for liquid fuel, where at least part of the hot anode exhaust gas is recirculated into the anode circuit via a recirculation line. Upstream of a compressor preceding the reformer the liquid fuel is sprayed or injected into the hot anode exhaust gas, the quantity of air needed for reforming the liquid fuel being added to the mixture of anode exhaust gas and fuel. On change-over from normal operational mode to standby mode without power generation, the supply of liquid fuel and air is stopped and the gas mixture present in the anode circuit be permanently circulated. A defined amount of air being introduced into the anode circuit in order to remove deposits and contaminations in the high-temperature fuel cell following standby operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: AVL LIST GMBH
    Inventors: Peter Prenninger, Juergen Rechberger
  • Publication number: 20150140461
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating a heater including a heater housing extending along a heater axis; a plurality of fuel cell stack assemblies disposed within the heater housing along the heater axis and having a plurality of fuel cells which convert chemical energy from a fuel cell fuel into heat and electricity through a chemical reaction with a fuel cell oxidizing agent; and a plurality of combustors disposed within the heater housing along the heater axis. The method includes supplying a combustor fuel to the plurality of combustors, combusting the combustor fuel to produce a heated combustor exhaust when the fuel cell stack assemblies are substantially electrochemically inactive, and using the heated combustor exhaust to elevate the temperature of the fuel cell stack assemblies to be electrochemically active.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: BERNHARD A. FISCHER, JR., JAMES D. RICHARDS
  • Publication number: 20150140365
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a compressor provided in a cathode gas supply passage configured to feed the cathode gas under pressure to the fuel cell, a bypass passage configured to discharge the cathode gas fed under pressure by the compressor to a cathode gas discharge passage while bypassing the fuel cell, a bypass valve provided in the bypass passage and configured to adjust a flow rate of the cathode gas flowing in the bypass passage, a system stopping unit configured to stop the fuel cell system by performing a predetermined stop sequence process when a request to stop the fuel cell system is made, and a stop-time bypass valve control unit configured to control a valve body of the bypass valve to a predetermined initialization position in parallel with the sequence process during the stop sequence process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Kazuhide Shimada, Hayato Chikugo
  • Patent number: 9034529
    Abstract: A method of operating a fuel cell system in a vehicle that is switchable to a temporary stop mode and restarted from the stop mode. When, in certain driving situations, it is required to switch to the stop mode, it is then checked whether the operating conditions of the fuel cell system allow a switch to the stop mode. If the switch is allowed it takes place. When a restart of the fuel cell system is required on the basis of the vehicle the settings of the stop mode are cancelled again. The switch to the stop mode involves, with further existing electric contacting of the fuel cell, the air mass flow conveyed by the air conveying device being switched off or reduced to a predefined value and the pressure of the combustion gas supplied being reduced to a predefined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Helmut Mueller, Sven Schmalzriedt, Klaus Weigele
  • Patent number: 9034530
    Abstract: A system and method for increasing the temperature of a fuel cell stack quickly, especially at cold stack start-up. The method includes determining whether the fuel cell stack is below a first predetermined temperature threshold, and, if so, starting a cooling fluid flow through the stack and engaging a shorting circuit across the stack to short circuit the stack and cause the stack to operate inefficiently. The method then determines a desired heating rate of the fuel cell stack and calculates a cathode airflow to the fuel cell stack based on the desired heating rate. The method reduces the flow of cathode air to the stack if a minimum cell voltage is below a predetermined minimum cell voltage threshold and disengages the shorting circuit and applies vehicle loads to the stack when the stack temperature reaches a predetermined second temperature threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Derek R Lebzelter, Balasubramanian Lakshmanan, Frederick T. Wagner
  • Patent number: 9034532
    Abstract: A method is provided for cold starting a fuel cell vehicle, the method preferably including supplying reactant gases for generating electricity to a fuel cell stack, and simultaneously performing a motoring process for operating the fuel cell vehicle by applying a portion of stack current generated in the fuel cell stack to a drive motor and a heating process for warming up the fuel cell stack by applying the remaining available stack current to a heater for heating coolant. Preferred methods of the invention can provide a more rapid and efficient cold start to the fuel cell vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Woo Suk Sung, Sung Gone Yoon, Yo In Song
  • Patent number: 9030665
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for monitoring and/or regulating fuel cells, in particular comprising determining the composition of the operating gases of the fuel cells. The method comprises the following steps: introducing the gas mixture to be analyzed into a measuring cell (1); producing an arc in the measuring cell (1); absorbing the radiation emitted by the arc; optical filtering of the emitted radiation and/or spectral decomposition of the emitted radiation; converting the emitted radiation into an electric signal; evaluating the electric signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Heinrich-Heine Universität Düsseldorf
    Inventors: Hans Bettermann, Peter Fischer, Arno Goedecke Reichelt, Irmgard Buder, Volker Peinecke
  • Patent number: 9029034
    Abstract: A PEM fuel system includes a fuel cell stack comprising one or more PEM fuel cells and fan configured to provide process air to supply oxidizer to and cool the fuel cell stack. The system has an air duct coupled to the fan and the fuel cell stack, and an electrical service load coupled to the fuel cell stack for receiving electrical power generated from reactions within the fuel cell stack. The system further includes as auxiliary electrical load coupled to the fuel cell stack and located within the air duct to reduce potentials across the fuel cell stack. The air duct is configured to direct the flow of air to the fuel cell stack and auxiliary electrical load to provide cooling air to the fuel cell stack and auxiliary electrical load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Altergy Systems
    Inventors: Glen A. Garrettson, David Grupp, Jeremy Dabel
  • Patent number: 9023545
    Abstract: Methods of operating a fuel cell system, wherein the fuel cell system is purged at system start-up, are disclosed. The purging automatically stops when the anode plenum is fully purged and replaced with fuel. Also discussed are purge valves that are manually turned ON but are automatically turned OFF as the fuel cell's production of electricity reaches a predetermined level, e.g., steady state or thereabout. The purge valve may be opened at system start-up, or may be opened at system shut-down so that the purge valve is armed and the fuel cell system is purged at the next start-up. Also disclosed is integrated fluidic interface module that contains various fluidic components including one of these purge valves. The integrated fluidic interface module can operate passively or without being actively controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Societe Bic
    Inventor: Jean-Louis Iaconis
  • Publication number: 20150118590
    Abstract: Methods of operating a fuel cell system, wherein the fuel cell system is purged at system start-up, are disclosed. The purging automatically stops when the anode plenum is fully purged and replaced with fuel. Also discussed are purge valves that are manually turned ON but are automatically turned OFF as the fuel cell's production of electricity reaches a predetermined level, e.g., steady state or thereabout. The purge valve may be opened at system start-up, or may be opened at system shut-down so that the purge valve is armed and the fuel cell system is purged at the next start-up. Also disclosed is integrated fluidic interface module that contains various fluidic components including one of these purge valves. The integrated fluidic interface module can operate passively or without being actively controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventor: Jean-Louis Iaconis
  • Patent number: 9017887
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes an exhaust pipe through which anode purge gas is discharged into the atmosphere, a heat medium passage through which heat medium is flowed, a circulation pump for circulating the heat medium through the heat medium passage, a heat exchanger provided in the heat medium passage, a heat exchanger fan for generating airflow through the heat exchanger, and a guide by which the airflow is guided so as to diffuse the anode purge gas. The circulation pump and the heat exchanger fan are operated during anode purge in such a way that the heat exchanger fan is operated regardless of the heat medium temperature, and a flow rate of the heat medium flowing through the heat medium passage is zero or lower than a flow rate when output of a fuel cell is maximum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideyuki Tanaka, Toru Bisaka
  • Patent number: 9017886
    Abstract: A fuel cell system is disclosed with a fuel cell stack having a plurality of fuel cells, the fuel cell stack including an anode supply manifold and an anode exhaust manifold, a sensor for measuring at least one of an environmental condition affecting the fuel cell stack and a characteristic of the fuel cell stack, wherein the sensor generates a sensor signal representing the measurement of the sensor; and a processor for receiving the sensor signal, analyzing the sensor signal, and controlling a flow rate of a fluid flowing into the anode supply manifold based upon the analysis of the sensor signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Daniel I. Harris, Joseph Nicholas Lovria, Patrick Frost
  • Patent number: 9017888
    Abstract: The invention prevents a fuel cell from going into a high-voltage state upon activation. In a fuel cell system having a fuel cell, a control unit comprises: a high-voltage-prevention unit that prevents, under a condition permitting high-voltage prevention, a high-voltage state by reducing the output voltage of the fuel cell to less than or equal to a predetermined high-voltage-prevention voltage; an output-limitation unit that limits the fuel cell output by reducing the amount of power generation by the fuel cell to less than or equal to a predetermined power generation limit, so that the oxidizing gas stoichiometric ratio is maintained within a predetermined allowable range; and a prohibition unit that prohibits the limitation by the output limitation unit for a predetermined period of time immediately after the fuel cell is activated and where the condition permitting high-voltage prevention is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Michio Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20150111070
    Abstract: A starting apparatus of a fuel cell vehicle includes: a fuel cell stack that supplies a driving voltage to a motor; a low voltage battery that supplies a starting voltage to an air blower; and a high voltage DC converter that boosts at least one of the driving voltage and the starting voltage and selectively transmits the boosted voltage to the motor and the air blower. A method of starting the fuel cell vehicle includes transmitting the starting voltage to the high voltage DC converter and boosting the starting voltage when entering a starting mode; driving the air blower with the boosted starting voltage; generating the driving voltage according to starting of the fuel cell stack; blocking the starting voltage to the high voltage DC converter if the driving voltage is equal to or larger than a predetermined voltage value; and supplying the driving voltage to the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Boung Ho Min, Ho Sung Kang, Ji Tae Kim
  • Publication number: 20150104722
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey A. Rock
  • Patent number: 9005785
    Abstract: A fuel cell system is provided that includes a fuel cell stack and an air compressor in communication with a cathode inlet, a hydrogen source in communication with an anode inlet, and a start-up battery adapted to power the air compressor. The start-up battery is at least one of a low-voltage battery and a high-voltage battery. A power conversion module is in electrical communication with the start-up battery and the air compressor. The power conversion module is adapted to boost a voltage of the start-up battery as desired and power the air compressor at start-up. A controller is in communication with the power conversion module and is adapted to set an air compressor speed based on an available electrical energy. An open-loop method of operating the fuel cell system at start-up is also provided, wherein an anode purge is scheduled based on the available electrical energy from the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Abdullah B. Alp, Akbar Chowdhury, Kristian M. Whitehouse, Matthew K. Hortop, Matthew C. Kirklin
  • Patent number: 9005830
    Abstract: Methods for starting a fuel cell system are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes providing hydrogen to an inlet of an anode of the fuel cell pressurizing the anode to a pressure; determining whether a blocked cell condition exists; if a blocked cell condition exists, if no blocked cell condition exists, initiating a normal start sequence, alternately reducing the pressure of the anode and increasing the pressure of the anode until an exit condition exists, the exit condition selected from a voltage of the fuel cell being stable, or a temperature of the fuel cell being greater than about 0° C., or both, and when the exit condition exists, initiating the normal start sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Steven G. Goebel, Matthew K. Hortop
  • Patent number: 9005831
    Abstract: An offset control arrangement is disclosed for controlling voltage values in a fuel cell system including an anode side, a cathode side and an electrolyte between the anode side and the cathode side. The fuel cell system can include at least one fuel cell array of at least two fuel cells, and at least one load for performing load function. The offset control arrangement can include voltage monitoring for monitoring an input voltage of the load, a control processor for processing the monitoring information, and at least one offsetting source in serial connection to the at least one fuel cell array, with a power level of the offsetting source being substantially low compared to the power level of the fuel cell array, and the offsetting source being arranged to perform at least unidirectional shifting of fuel cell array output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Convion Oy
    Inventor: Kim Åström
  • Publication number: 20150099203
    Abstract: Immediately after a main switch is turned ON, a battery check is performed based on a second inhibit voltage LVL2 higher than a first reference voltage LVL1 which is an inhibit voltage level a predetermined time period after the main switch is turned ON, and therefore, even when the voltage is in a low state immediately after the main switch is turned ON, it is possible to activate a camera without an erroneous detection. Further, when the elapsed time from a time when the main switch is turned OFF to a time when tuned ON next time is relatively long, a solid high polymer film inside the fuel cell is assumed to be further dried, then the second reference voltage LVL2 is changed, and therefore, even when the voltage fluctuates depending on the humidifying state immediately after the main switch is turned ON, an appropriate battery check can be performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventor: Shingo Nakano
  • Publication number: 20150093667
    Abstract: A hydrogen cartridge with a dispensing end, said cartridge having unique identification associated therewith is disclosed, said cartridge providing a supply of hydrogen and being removably fitted to a host device. Prior to use in said host device, the unique identifier is input into a communications device which, through a network, contacts a secure database with records of authentic unique identifiers. Said secure database may require verification of a user and/or a communication device prior to granting access. The host device also has a communications link whereby one of the database and the communications device may provide authorization to a host device, including but not limited to a controller, to utilize the hydrogen in the canister associated with a specific unique identifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Philip Mitchell, Anand Chellappa
  • Patent number: 8993183
    Abstract: Loss of flow battery electrode catalyst layers during self-discharge or charge reversal may be prevented by establishing and maintaining a negative electrolyte imbalance during at least parts of a flow battery's operation. Negative imbalance may be established and/or maintained actively, passively or both. Actively establishing a negative imbalance may involve detecting an imbalance that is less negative than a desired threshold, and processing one or both electrolytes until the imbalance reaches a desired negative level. Negative imbalance may be effectively established and maintained passively within a cell by constructing a cell with a negative electrode chamber that is larger than the cell's positive electrode chamber, thereby providing a larger quantity of negative electrolyte for reaction with positive electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: EnerVault Corporation
    Inventors: Quoc Pham, On Chang, Sumitha Durairaj
  • Publication number: 20150086891
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for starting a fuel cell vehicle in an emergency by using the blower of an air conditioning system of the vehicle are disclosed. Thus, upon failure of a high voltage system including a high voltage DC-DC converter or a high voltage battery used as a power source of an air blower during start-up of a fuel cell, air is supplied to the fuel cell so as to be started in the emergency, thereby ensuring starting efficiency of the vehicle and security to the driver in the emergency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Seon Hak KIM, Kyu-Il LEE, Kyung Won SUH, Sung Gone YOON
  • Patent number: 8986901
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes an air supply flow path configured to supply the air to a fuel cell, a reed valve provided in the air supply flow path, an air exhaust flow path configured to allow the air discharged from the fuel cell to flow therethrough, a pressure regulating valve provided in the air exhaust flow path and configured to adjust back pressure of the air supplied to the fuel cell, a bypass flow path configured to connect an upstream section of the air supply flow path upstream of the reed valve with the air exhaust flow path, and a bypass valve provided in the bypass flow path and configured to open and close the bypass flow path. The fuel cell system reduces the opening of the pressure regulating valve with supplying the air to the fuel cell in the closed position of the bypass valve, so as to increase the pressure of the air upstream of the pressure regulating valve, and subsequently opens the bypass valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koji Katano
  • Patent number: 8986899
    Abstract: Methods and systems for enhancing the performance of fuel cells in fuel cell vehicles. Some embodiments comprise a current control module for controlling the application of a load to the fuel cell and a voltage monitoring module for monitoring one or more voltages within the fuel cell. The current control module may be configured to apply a delay period before applying a load to the fuel cell after the fuel cell has reached an open circuit voltage. In other embodiments, a fixed delay period may be applied before applying a load to the fuel cell after the fuel cell has reached an open circuit voltage or, for example, an incremental set of delay periods that increase as measured temperature decreases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel I. Harris, Sriram Ganapathy, Michael Cartwright, Pinkhas A. Rapaport
  • Patent number: 8980486
    Abstract: A fuel cell system 10 removes water retaining in a cathode catalyst layer 217 in a fuel cell 20, after a start-up of the fuel cell 20 and before feed of coolant to the fuel cell 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Sho Usami, Yasushi Araki, Kazunori Shibata, Shuya Kawahara, Tomohiro Ogawa
  • Patent number: 8980490
    Abstract: A fuel cell system of the present invention includes: a fuel cell supplied with fuel gas and oxidizing gas to generate electricity; a fuel gas supply unit supplying the fuel gas to the fuel cell; an oxidizing gas supply unit supplying the oxidizing gas to the fuel cell; an aftercooler cooling the oxidizing gas supplied to the fuel cell by heat exchange with a coolant; an oxidizing gas temperature detector detecting temperature of the oxidizing gas; and a coolant circulation controller starting circulation of the coolant when the detected temperature of the oxidizing gas exceeds a predetermined value. The predetermined value is set to a value of not higher than a minimum electricity generation temperature of the fuel cell, and a circulation timing and flow rate of the coolant for the aftercooler are controlled such that the supplied oxidizing gas does not become cold. This enables the fuel cell to generate electricity at cold start-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ikuhiro Taniguchi, Hiromasa Sakai, Kotaro Akashi, Nobutaka Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8980489
    Abstract: A fuel cell type power generation device including: a fuel cell extracting electric power by an electrochemical reaction of a fuel; a first combustor burning an unreacted fuel exhausted from the fuel cell; and a second combustor burning an unburned fuel exhausted from the first combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshihito Terada
  • Patent number: 8980487
    Abstract: The progress of activation of a fuel cell is appropriately transmitted in accordance with the rise of the temperature of the fuel cell, and an estimated time till the completion of the activation is displayed with higher accuracy. To realize this, the current percentage of a fuel cell temperature is displayed on a gauge (G) which displays, as a starting point, the temperature of the fuel cell at the start of the activation and which displays, as an end point, the temperature of the fuel cell at the completion of the activation. The percentage of the temperature is displayed as the estimated time till the completion of the activation, whereby an adverse effect due to a low accuracy in the case of the estimation of the time is eliminated. When the fuel cell is activated for a failure check, the percentage of an actually elapsed time with respect to a time required to complete the failure check may be displayed on the gauge (G).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Umayahara, Atsushi Imai
  • Patent number: 8974978
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a fuel cell assembly, a reformer, a fuel flow rate regulator unit for supplying fuel gas to the reformer, a reforming air supply device, a power generating air supply device, and a control unit for igniting fuel gas using an ignition device and conducting a combustion operation causing the fuel gas to combust using power generating air, then sequentially implementing a POX operation, ATR operation, and SR operation; whereby the control section starts the supply of fuel gas, reforming air, and power generating air, then controls the fuel gas supply device, the reforming air supply device, and the power generating air supply device to hold constant the respective supply flow rates of fuel gas, reforming air, and power generating air, without variation, in the combustion operating region in which fuel gas is ignited by the ignition device and combusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Toto Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiharu Ooe, Tsukasa Shigezumi, Katsuhisa Tsuchiya, Kiyotaka Nakano, Yoshiyuki Kawamura
  • Publication number: 20150064582
    Abstract: A fuel cell startup apparatus and method reduces high-voltage generation and corrosion of a cathode electrode that may occur because the density of oxygen is locally high in a cell near a central flow distributor after long-term parking of a fuel-cell vehicle. To this end, density control gas is selectably injected into a fuel supply line prior to supply of reaction gas of hydrogen and air in a fuel cell startup process after long-term parking to forcedly mix anode-side gas in the fuel supply line and the cell with the density control gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Dong Jo Oh, Jong Hyun Lee
  • Patent number: 8968950
    Abstract: A method of starting operation of a fuel cell stack includes the steps of performing gas replacement by supplying a fuel gas to a fuel gas flow field from a downstream side of the fuel gas flow field through a fuel gas discharge passage, and supplying an oxygen-containing gas to an oxygen-containing gas flow field from an upstream side of the oxygen-containing gas flow field through an oxygen-containing gas supply passage. After the step of performing gas replacement, normal power generation is carried out by supplying the fuel gas to the fuel gas flow field from an upstream side of the fuel gas flow field through a fuel gas supply passage, and supplying the oxygen-containing gas to the oxygen-containing gas flow field from the upstream side of the oxygen-containing gas flow field through the oxygen-containing gas supply passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Mohri, Yasunori Kotani, Chikara Iwasawa, Junji Uehara, Hiroto Chiba, Osamu Ohgami, Hiroaki Ohta
  • Patent number: 8957622
    Abstract: The present invention provides a small fuel cell system including a secondary battery, in which deterioration in the secondary battery is suppressed regardless of a temperature condition. A control unit adjusts the supply amount of a liquid fluid of a fuel pump so that charging current I2 to a secondary battery becomes smaller than a predetermined maximum charging current value Imax. Consequently, for example, even in the case of using a small secondary battery, the charging current I2 is limited to be smaller than a predetermined upper limit value (maximum charging current value Imax). In addition, a temperature detecting unit detects temperature T1 of the secondary battery and the control unit controls the maximum charging current value Imax in accordance with the detected temperature T1 of the secondary battery. In such a manner, the operation of limiting the charging current I2 in accordance with the temperature T1 of the secondary battery at that time is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Jusuke Shimura, Yuji Uchida
  • Patent number: 8956775
    Abstract: A fuel cell system and an abnormality detecting method therefore is provided. The fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell that includes at least one fuel-cell cell having an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte membrane, an anode-side passage supplying and exhausting fuel gas to and from the anode, a cathode-side passage supplying and exhausting oxidation gas to and from the cathode, a voltage detecting unit detecting a fuel cell voltage, a suppressing unit setting a suppression state where, after terminating normal power generation, introduction of the fuel and oxidation gas to the anode-side and cathode-side passages and emission of the fuel and oxidation gas from the anode-side and cathode-side passages to outsides are suppressed as compared with those during the normal power generation; and an abnormality detecting unit, after setting the suppression state, detecting abnormality of the fuel cell system based on the detected voltage or a variation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Manabu Kato