| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 429432000 | Voltage | 74 |
| 20120183874 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR INCREASING THE SERVICE LIFE OF A PROTON EXCHANGE MEMBRANE FUEL CELL - The method of using a fuel cell ( | 07-19-2012 |
| 20130059221 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND HEATING METHOD BY USING HEAT FROM FUEL CELL - A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell configured to have a cell stack obtained by stacking a plurality of cells; a heat exchanger located in a middle position in a stacking direction of the cell stack and configured to have a flow channel that allows passage of a fluid for heat exchange; and a heating system configured to use the fluid that passes through the flow channel for heating. | 03-07-2013 |
| 20130130142 | FLOWING ELECTROLYTE BATTERY WITH ELECTRIC POTENTIAL NEUTRALIZATION - Flowing electrolyte batteries capable of being selectively neutralized chemically; processes of selectively neutralizing flowing electrolyte batteries chemically; and processes of selectively restoring the electrical potential of flowing electrolyte batteries are disclosed herein. | 05-23-2013 |
| 20110129748 | OPERATIONAL METHOD OF FUEL CELL - According to embodiments of the invention, an operational method of a fuel cell is provided. The method includes providing a fuel cell used to provide output power to a load, measuring an initial average voltage of the output power provided by the fuel cell, measuring a first average voltage of the output power after the output power has been provided to the load by the fuel cell for a first time interval, and stopping the fuel cell from providing output power to the load when a voltage difference between the initial average voltage and the first average voltage is more than a first allowable voltage difference. | 06-02-2011 |
| 20110300463 | CONTROL EQUIPMENT FOR INTENDING AN ACTUAL FUEL CONVERSION FOR A GAS CELL ARRANGEMENT PROCEDURE FOR THE DETERMINATION OF A FUEL CONVERSION OF A GAS CELL ARRANGEMENT AND GAS CELL ARRANGEMENT - The present invention describes a control device for determining an actual fuel turnover for a fuel cell arrangement comprising a voltage reception device for receiving values of a voltage applying over the fuel cell arrangement, a fuel flow setting device for setting a flow of fuel supplied or suppliable to a fuel cell arrangement and/or a current setting device for setting an electrical current output by the fuel cell arrangement, as well as a memory for storing calibration data describing a nominal relation between the fuel turnover of the fuel cell arrangement and a voltage applying over the fuel cell arrangement. The control device is adapted to receive a first voltage value; to control a variation of the flow of fuel supplied to the fuel cell arrangement and/or the current output by the fuel cell arrangement after receiving the first voltage value; and to receive a second voltage value after the variation. In addition, the control device is adapted to determine the actual fuel turnover of the fuel cell arrangement based on the first voltage value, the second voltage value and the calibration data. Moreover, the invention pertains to a corresponding method and a fuel cell arrangement. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110294026 | Method and apparatus for controlling the operation of a fuel cell - 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. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20100266921 | POWER CONTROL FOR HYBRID FUEL CELL SYSTEMS - A hybrid fuel cell system that includes a fuel cell stack and a high voltage battery. The fuel cell system also includes a cell voltage controller that controls the average cell voltage of the cells in the fuel cell stack, a damped driver request module that damps a driver power request signal, and a power balancing module. The power balancing module maintains the cell voltage of the cells in the stack within a predetermined range, and uses excess power from the stack beyond what is requested to charge the battery. The power balancing module includes a base load limiter that prevents the cell voltage from going above a predetermined value, unless the battery is at is maximum state of charge. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20100136449 | POWER SUPPLY APPARATUS - A power supply apparatus comprises a combined power source composed of a plurality of power cells configured electrically independently, a switch for arbitrarily connecting each of the power cells by selectively connecting terminals of the power cells through switching elements, a voltage detector for respectively detecting differences in potentials between the terminals of the power cells, a voltage regulator for stabilizing a voltage supplied to a load, a current detector for detecting a load current supplied to the load, and a controller for controlling ON-OFF states of the switching elements by controlling the switch by a control signal generated based on voltage signals on the voltages detected by the voltage detector, a power consumption of the load, and an output power of the combined power source. | 06-03-2010 |
| 20110200902 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND FUEL CELL STATE DETECTION METHOD - A fuel cell system ( | 08-18-2011 |
| 20100136450 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND OPERATION METHOD OF FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system of the present invention comprises a fuel cell ( | 06-03-2010 |
| 20100266922 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND MOBILE OBJECT - A fuel cell system capable of improving the voltage controllability of a converter provided in the system is provided. A controller judges whether or not a passing power of a DC/DC converter falls within a reduced response performance area for the number of active phases as of the present moment. When the controller determines that the passing power of the DC/DC converter falls within the reduced response performance area, the controller determines the number of phases which avoids the driving within the reduced response performance area, and outputs a command for switching to the determined number of phases (phase switching command) to the DC/DC converter. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20120196199 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - A fuel cell system and a method for controlling the same are provided. Based on the method, a control temperature of a fuel cell stack is set, and an environment temperature and an operating temperature of the fuel cell stack are detected. A thermal resistance of the fuel cell stack is calculated according to the environment temperature, the operating temperature and a current heating amount. An allowable heating amount of the fuel cell stack is set according to the control temperature, the environment temperature, and the thermal resistance. When the current heating amount is less than the allowable heating amount and the operating temperature is less than the control temperature, the current heating amount is increased, and when the current heating amount is greater than the allowable heating amount or the operating temperature is greater than the control temperature, the current heating amount is decreased. | 08-02-2012 |
| 20110229783 | ADAPTIVE LOADING OF A FUEL CELL - A fuel cell system is disclosed with a fuel cell stack having a plurality of fuel cells, the fuel cell stack including an external electrical circuit adapted to control current from the fuel cell stack, 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 a measurement of the sensor, and a processor for receiving the sensor signal, analyzing the sensor signal, and controlling an adaptive load applied to the external electrical circuit based upon the analysis of the sensor signal. | 09-22-2011 |
| 20110223506 | METHOD FOR HV BUS VOLTAGE CONTROL IN FUEL CELL VEHICLES FEATURING HV LITHIUM BATTERIES - A system for reducing oscillations on a high voltage bus. The system includes a high voltage battery electrically coupled to the high voltage bus and a DC/DC boost converter electrically coupled to the high voltage bus and a fuel cell stack. The DC/DC converter includes a current controller that selectively controls the current provided by the fuel cell stack. A system controller provides a stack current set-point to the DC/DC converter. The DC/DC converter includes a voltage device that receives a voltage signal from the bus and provides a time derivative of the voltage signal that defines voltage changes on the bus over time. The time derivative signal is provided to a summer that adjusts the current stack set-point to provide a modified current set-point to the current controller that selectively adjusts the current provided by the fuel cell stack to dampen oscillations on the high voltage bus. | 09-15-2011 |
| 20100190074 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND VOLTAGE LIMITATION METHOD - A fuel cell system with which elution of a cathode due to excessive electro motive force is able to be inhibited without increase of electric power consumption at the time of power generation is provided. In the case where electro motive force V | 07-29-2010 |
| 20100261083 | POWER SUPPLY APPARATUS - A power supply apparatus, which can detect an abnormal voltage drop in a power cell and, if recovery from this voltage drop is made, resume power generation, thereby realizing reasonable and stable power supply, is provided. The power supply apparatus comprises a combined power source composed of a plurality of power cells configured electrically independently, a switch for arbitrarily connecting each of the power cells by selectively connecting terminals of the power cells through switching elements, a voltage detector for respectively detecting differences in electrical potentials between the terminals of the power cells, and a controller for controlling the switch by a control signal to control ON/OFF states of the switching elements so as to isolate a power cell to halt a supply of electrical power therefrom when a voltage generated in the power cell has dropped to a set voltage or lower as found based on voltage signals which respectively indicate the differences in electric potentials detected by the voltage detector, and resume the supply of electrical power from the power cell whose power supply has been halted when a down time in the isolated power cell has reached a predetermined time or longer. | 10-14-2010 |
| 20100261085 | Electric Power Source Arrangement and Method of How to Use It - An electric power source arrangement is described, comprising a fuel cell means ( | 10-14-2010 |
| 20100261084 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system is provided which can accurately detect an insulation resistance even during a high-potential prevention control. The fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell that generates electric power through an electrochemical reaction between a fuel gas and an oxidant gas; an insulation resistance measurement unit that measures an insulation resistance between the fuel cell and an outer conductor; and a control unit that controls a power generation state of the fuel cell, and the control unit carries out a high-potential prevention control that avoids a voltage of the fuel cell becoming equal to or higher than a predetermined high-potential prevention voltage threshold lower than an open circuit voltage of the fuel cell, and changes the high-potential prevention voltage threshold during an insulation resistance detection performed by the insulation resistance measurement unit. | 10-14-2010 |
| 20110129750 | DIRECT METHANOL FUEL CELL AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE - According to one embodiment, a fuel cell, includes a stack includes blocks, each of the blocks includes direct methanol type cells, a connection module configured to switch between connection and disconnection between a block of the blocks and a load, according to an instruction, a voltage value detector configured to detect an output voltage value of the block, a determination module configured to determine whether an output restoration process is performed on the block based on an output voltage value of the block, and a controller configured to transmit, to the connection module, an instruction for connecting the load to the block when first determination module determines that the output restoration process is performed on the block, and to transmit, to the connection module, an instruction for disconnecting the load from the block when the output voltage value has become less than or equal to a set voltage value. | 06-02-2011 |
| 20100221626 | DUAL-POWER-SUPPLY SYSTEM - A dual-power-supply system uses both a fuel cell and a chargeable secondary battery. A differential voltage adding unit adds a differential voltage between the voltage of the fuel cell and a necessary target output voltage to the voltage of the fuel cell by using the secondary battery, thereby obtaining an output voltage of the dual-power-supply system. A control unit detects the output voltage, and controls the differential voltage adding unit such that the output voltage is equal to the target output voltage. | 09-02-2010 |
| 20100239930 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - In the event that at least a portion of unit cells in a fuel cell stack have experienced a significant drop in voltage, the fuel cell system will execute a voltage recovery process allowing them to recover generating capability. In the voltage recovery process, a controller measures impedance of the fuel cell stack, and based on these measurements, determines the hydration condition of the electrolyte membrane inside the fuel cell. If, during the determination of hydration condition, the controller has determined that the hydration level is low, a current limiting process for temporarily limiting output of the fuel cell in order to recover generating capability will be triggered under more lenient conditions, as compared to if determined that the hydration level is high. | 09-23-2010 |
| 20100216043 | Fuel cell monitoring and control system - A method of controlling a fuel cell system includes applying alternating current (AC) signals to an individual fuel cell. The AC signals have a plurality of different frequencies. A voltage across the individual fuel cell is determined at each of the plurality of different frequencies. An impedance characteristic of the individual fuel cell is determined based at least in part on the voltage across the individual fuel cell at each of the plurality of different frequencies. The individual fuel cell is controlled based at least in part on the impedance characteristic. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100304252 | System for altering temperature of an electrical energy storage device or an electrochemical energy generation device using microchannels based on states of the device - A method is generally described which includes altering the temperature of an electrical energy storage device or an electrochemical energy generation device includes configuring a controller with a control algorithm to control the actions of a fluid control system as a function of current draw from the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device, the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device configured to provide electrical current. The method also includes providing A microchannel thermal control system for the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device. The microchannel thermal control system is configured to cool at least portions of the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device. The microchannel thermal control system is configured to flow a fluid through the microchannels and the fluid to receive heat generated by the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device. Further, the method includes providing an electrical characteristic sensor coupled to the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device and configured to sense at least one electrical characteristic of the electrical energy storage device or the electrochemical energy generation device and to provide a signal representative of the at least one characteristic to the controller. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20100316920 | ELECTROCHEMICAL ENERGY GENERATING APPARATUS AND OPERATING METHOD THEREOF, AND ELECTROCHEMICAL DEVICE - An electrochemical energy generation device ( | 12-16-2010 |
| 20100316921 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system capable of providing a suitable power distribution is provided. A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell that generates electric power through an electrochemical reaction between a fuel gas and an oxidant gas; a motor that can be driven upon the supply of electric power and can generate regenerative power; a power storage unit which can be charged with power generated from the fuel cell and regenerative power of the motor and can discharge charge power to the motor; an auxiliary apparatus used for operating at least the fuel cell; and a control unit that controls a power distribution between the above components. The control unit determines the power distribution using a power generation command value based on power required to be generated during a normal operation, while the control unit determines the power distribution using a power generation measured value of the fuel cell instead of the power generation command value during a high-potential prevention control that avoids a voltage of the fuel cell becoming equal to or higher than a predetermined high-potential prevention voltage threshold lower than an open circuit voltage of the fuel cell. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20110008697 | FUEL CELL SENSORS AND METHODS - Control systems, sensors and methods for controlling the fuel concentration in a fuel cell or a fuel cell stack are provided. In certain examples, the control system may be configured to detect a performance degradation, and the fuel concentration provided to the fuel cell may be adjusted in response to detection of the performance degradation. | 01-13-2011 |
| 20110014536 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - The invention prevents a fuel cell from going into a high-voltage state upon activation. In a fuel cell system having a fuel cell that is supplied with reactant gases and generates power from an electrochemical reaction of the reactant gases, a compressor that supplies the fuel cell with oxidizing gas which is one of the reactant gases, and a control unit | 01-20-2011 |
| 20110014535 | METHOD TO IMPROVE RELIABILITY OF A FUEL CELL SYSTEM USING LOW PERFORMANCE CELL DETECTION AT LOW POWER OPERATION - A system and method for detecting a low performing cell in a fuel cell stack using measured cell voltages. The method includes determining that the fuel cell stack is running, the stack coolant temperature is above a certain temperature and the stack current density is within a relatively low power range. The method further includes calculating the average cell voltage, and determining whether the difference between the average cell voltage and the minimum cell voltage is greater than a predetermined threshold. If the difference between the average cell voltage and the minimum cell voltage is greater than the predetermined threshold and the minimum cell voltage is less than another predetermined threshold, then the method increments a low performing cell timer. A ratio of the low performing cell timer and a system run timer is calculated to identify a low performing cell. | 01-20-2011 |
| 20110027679 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system has a fuel cell stack and a controller. The fuel cell stack is formed by stacking cells. The controller executes first cell voltage recovery processing when the cell voltage of a first cell group, placed at each end of the fuel cell stack, is below a first lower limit voltage threshold and executes second cell voltage recovery processing, which is different from the first cell voltage recovery processing, when the cell voltage of a second cell group, placed at substantially the center of the fuel cell stack, is below a second lower limit voltage threshold. | 02-03-2011 |
| 20110053024 | Fuel cell using organic fuel - A fuel cell is provided which can control an optimum fuel concentration according to an output without a sensor for measuring the fuel concentration. The fuel cell uses a liquid organic compound for fuel and includes a membrane-electrode assembly, a passage for allowing fuel or oxidant to flow, a fuel supply unit for supplying the fuel to the fuel cell and intermittently or periodically changing a rate of fuel supply, and a computation processor for measuring a signal of a voltage or an output of the fuel cell, computing the rate of the fuel supply and the signal, and correcting the rate of the fuel supply. In the fuel cell, the optimum fuel concentration can be easily controlled according to the output by periodically varying the fuel concentration from a reference fuel concentration, measuring a voltage or an output and a variation range of the voltage or the output, and then determining whether the reference fuel concentration is appropriate or not. | 03-03-2011 |
| 20110129751 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RECOVERING PERFORMANCE OF A FUEL CELL - A fuel cell system is provided having at least one fuel cell including an oxidant electrode, a fuel electrode, and an electrolyte membrane interposed between the oxidant electrode and the fuel electrode. The fuel cell system includes a temperature detector which detects a temperature of the fuel cell and a controller which operates the fuel cell, controls a potential of the oxidant electrode, and determines whether to perform a performance recovery operation in which an impurity on the oxidant electrode is oxidized. When the performance recovery operation is to be performed, the controller controls the potential of the oxidant electrode to be a desired potential based on the temperature detected by the temperature detector. | 06-02-2011 |
| 20110086286 | METHOD TO PERFORM ADAPTIVE VOLTAGE SUPPRESSION OF A FUEL CELL STACK BASED ON STACK PARAMETERS - A system and method for maintaining the voltage of fuel cells in the fuel cell stack below a predetermined maximum voltage. The method determines a desired voltage set-point value that defines a predetermined maximum fuel cell voltage value and uses the voltage set-point value and an average fuel cell voltage to generate an error value there-between. The method generates a minimum gross power prediction value using the modified voltage set-point value to prevent the fuel cell voltages from going above the predetermined maximum fuel cell voltage value and generating a supplemental power value based on the minimum gross power prediction value and the error value to determine how much power needs to be drawn from the stack to maintain the fuel cell voltage below the predetermined maximum voltage value. The method uses the supplemental power value to charge the battery or operate an auxiliary load coupled to the stack. | 04-14-2011 |
| 20110129749 | MULTI-POINT FUEL CELL VOLTAGE MONITOR - A fuel cell voltage monitor ( | 06-02-2011 |
| 20110177414 | FUEL CELL POWER GENERATION SYSTEM - There is provided a fuel cell power generation system that exhibits superior efficiency of power generation and durability. | 07-21-2011 |
| 20100304254 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A FUEL CELL UTILIZING A FUEL CELL SENSOR - A method for controlling a fuel cell system including measuring an open circuit voltage of a fuel cell. The method further includes determining an air actuator control signal based on the open circuit voltage of the fuel cell. The method further includes controlling the air actuator based on the air actuator control signal. The method further includes determining a fuel actuator control signal based on the open circuit voltage of the fuel cell. The method further includes controlling the fuel actuator based on the fuel actuator control signal. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20100273075 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system capable of carrying out a proper current limiting even when decreasing a cell voltage through, e.g., a rapid warm-up is provided. When a rapid warm-up is started, an acceptable cell-voltage value setting part sets a acceptable lowest-cell-voltage value in accordance with the operation state of a fuel cell. Meanwhile, a target cell-voltage value setting part sets an initial value for a target lowest-cell-voltage value. The target cell-voltage value setting part then compares a lowest cell voltage detected by a cell monitor with the set target lowest-cell-voltage value, and judges whether or not the lowest cell voltage is near the target lowest-cell-voltage value continuously for a given time period. If the result of the judgment is positive, the target cell-voltage value setting part updates the target lowest-cell-voltage value with a value obtained by decreasing the target lowest-cell-voltage value only by an update width. | 10-28-2010 |
| 20100261086 | Fuel Cell System and Power Management Method thereof - A fuel cell system and a power management method thereof are provided. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell power generation part, a switch circuit, a load supply circuit, a status detector, an electronic load circuit, and a control circuit. An input terminal and an output terminal of the switch circuit are respectively coupled to the power generation part and the load supply circuit. The status detector is coupled to a node between the power generation part and the input terminal to detect an output voltage of the power generation part. The electronic load circuit is coupled to a node between the power generation part and the input terminal to perform a current-sinking operation. The control circuit is for generating a first and a second control signals respectively for switching the on-off states of the switch circuit and controlling the current-sinking value of the electronic load circuit. | 10-14-2010 |
| 20110177415 | VOLTAGE-BASED FLUID SENSOR FOR A FUEL CELL STACK ASSEMBLY - A fluid detection system and method is disclosed having sensor elements | 07-21-2011 |
| 20100316922 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - In order to assure drive of a drive motor, a boost operation of a boost device is appropriately performed by judging whether a voltage supplied from a fuel cell suffices a voltage required for driving the drive motor, thereby suppressing a switching loss by the boost device. A fuel cell system is a power source for driving a load. The system includes: a drive motor driven by an electric power; a fuel cell which generates electricity by an electrochemical reaction between an oxidizing gas containing oxygen and a fuel gas containing hydrogen and supplies an electric power to the drive motor; a first boost device which can boosts the voltage outputted from the fuel cell and supplies the boosted voltage to the drive motor; and boost control means which controls voltage boost performed by the first boost device according to the relationship between the fuel cell output voltage and the voltage required by the drive motor. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20100285379 | Transitioning an electrochemical cell stack between a power producing mode and a pumping mode - A technique includes operating an electrochemical cell stack in a power producing mode, including communicating a fuel flow in an anode chamber of the stack and communicating an oxidant flow in a cathode chamber of the stack. The technique includes halting the oxidant flow and monitoring a voltage of the stack while the oxidant flow is halted, and in response to the voltage decreasing below a predefined threshold, transitioning the stack into an electrochemical cell pumping mode. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20110256460 | FUEL CELL POWER GENERATION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING THE SAME - A fuel cell power generation system of the present invention includes: a fuel cell ( | 10-20-2011 |
| 20100304253 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING A FUEL CELL SYSTEM UTILIZING A FUEL CELL SENSOR - A method for controlling a fuel cell system, the fuel cell system is described in accordance with exemplary embodiments. The method includes measuring an open circuit voltage of the fuel cell. The method further includes determining an air actuator control signal based on the open circuit voltage of the fuel cell. The method further includes controlling the air actuator based on the air actuator control signal. The method further includes determining a fuel actuator control signal based on the open circuit voltage of the fuel cell. The method further includes controlling the fuel actuator based on the fuel actuator control signal. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20110256461 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM, ESTIMATION DEVICE OF AMOUNT OF ANODE GAS TO BE GENERATED AND ESTIMATION METHOD OF AMOUNT OF ANODE GAS TO BE GENERATED - There is disclosed a fuel cell system or the like capable of sufficiently reducing an exhaust hydrogen concentration even in a case where a fuel cell is operated in a state of a low power generation efficiency. A bypass valve B | 10-20-2011 |
| 20100136451 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND CURRENT CONTROL METHOD OF SAME - A control unit | 06-03-2010 |
| 20100173212 | FUEL CELL DEGRADATION DETECTING APPARATUS AND FUEL CELL SYSTEM - In a fuel cell system, a load control unit causes transistor elements to be operated at a timing of every predetermined elapsed periods, so that specific currents having α and 2α amperes are output. In a degradation detection unit, output voltages Va, Vb are obtained from the α and 2α amperes, an inclination R(=dv/dI) corresponding to output a resistance Rdmfc is acquired from a difference dv between the output voltages Va, Vb, and an open circuit voltage OCV is obtained from a voltage (Va+dv) obtained by adding the difference dv to the voltage Va. In a judgment unit, the inclination R(=dv/dI) and the voltage OCV are compared with threshold values, respectively, so that the a detection signal indication a degradation of a fuel cell power generation unit is output. Thus, it is possible to detect the cell degradation and to drive a load constantly and stably. | 07-08-2010 |
| 20120040264 | HYDROGEN CONCENTRATION SENSOR UTILIZING CELL VOLTAGE RESULTING FROM HYDROGEN PARTIAL PRESSURE DIFFERENCE - A hydrogen concentration sensor for measuring the hydrogen concentration in an anode sub-system of a fuel cell system. The hydrogen concentration sensor includes a membrane, a first catalyst layer on one side of the membrane and a second catalyst layer on an opposite side of the membrane where the sensor operates as a concentration cell. The first catalyst layer is exposed to fresh hydrogen for the anode side of a fuel cell stack and the second catalyst layer is exposed to an anode recirculation gas from an anode exhaust of the fuel cell stack. The voltage generated by the sensor allows the hydrogen partial pressure in the recirculation gas to be determined, from which the hydrogen concentration can be determined. | 02-16-2012 |
| 20100159340 | FUEL CELL STACK WITH STOICHIOMETRY DETERMINATION IN INDIVIDUAL CELLS - A fuel system including a fuel cell including a plurality of unit cells supplied with a prescribed gas to generate electricity, a stoichiometric ratio calculating apparatus calculating the stoichiometric ratio of the prescribed gas for each unit cell, and a gas flow increasing apparatus increasing the supply of the prescribed gas when the stoichiometric ratio falls below a prescribed value. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20120231361 | FUEL CELL - A fuel cell has a fuel cell main body, a fuel supply unit, a voltage sensor, a supply speed determining unit, a fuel supply control unit, and a connecting unit. The voltage sensor measures the open-circuit voltage of the fuel cell main body. The supply speed determining unit determines the fuel supply speed of the fuel supply unit, on the basis of the results obtained from the measurement performed by the voltage sensor, in the case where the voltage measured by the voltage sensor is smaller than a predetermined value. The fuel supply control unit controls, on the basis of the supply speed thus determined, the fuel supply from the fuel supply unit. The connecting unit connects a load to the fuel cell main body, in the case where the voltage measured by the voltage sensor is larger than the predetermined value. | 09-13-2012 |
| 20120015271 | SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL - To provide a solid oxide fuel cell capable of extending the time period over which a minimum rated output power can be maintained while restraining the advance of fuel cell module degradation. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120015270 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - Provided is a fuel cell system including: a fuel cell which generates power by an electrochemical reaction between an oxidant gas supplied to an oxidant gas flow path and a fuel gas supplied to a fuel gas flow path; and a controller which adjusts an amount of the oxidant gas supplied to the fuel cell and a voltage of the fuel cell. The controller has an obstruction degree determining unit which determines a degree of obstruction of the oxidant gas flow path based on a stoichiometric ratio of the oxidant gas and the voltage of the fuel cell during a low-efficiency operation in which the stoichiometric ratio of the oxidant gas is reduced from the stoichiometric ratio of the oxidant gas during a normal operation and heat discharged from the fuel cell is increased from that during the normal operation. This improves stability of the low-efficiency operation of the fuel cell system. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20110165487 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW RATE OF FUEL SUPPLIED TO A FUEL CELL, FUEL SUPPLY DEVICE, AND FUEL CELL SYSTEM USING THE SAME - In a method for controlling a flow rate of fuel supplied to a fuel cell, a voltage change is examined while the flow rate of the fuel is increased step by step in a state in which a constant current is output. Conversely, when the voltage change becomes small, the flow rate of fuel is reduced step by step. When the voltage change becomes large, the flow rate of the fuel in the previous step is employed. Thus, the flow rate of fuel can be optimized in accordance with an operating state of the fuel cell. | 07-07-2011 |
| 20120021316 | CELL VOLTAGE MONITORING (CVM) PICK-UP ASSEMBLY FOR A FUEL CELL STACK - Disclosed herein is a cell voltage monitoring (CVM) pick-up assembly for a fuel cell stack. The assembly includes a tab and a contact wire having two ends. A loop is located between the two ends to mount the wire on the tab to resiliently urge one end towards a fuel cell to provide electrical contact with it. Also disclosed is a fuel cell stack that includes a plurality of assemblies. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120021317 | SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL - Provides a solid oxide fuel cell with which product life can be extended while a practical output power is maintained. The present invention is a solid oxide fuel cell, having a fuel cell module ( | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120115058 | MITIGATING ELECTRODE EROSION IN HIGH TEMPERATURE PEM FUEL CELL - A method of operating a fuel cell power plant ( | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120028152 | DIAGNOSIS AND REMEDIATION OF LOW ANODE HYDROGEN PARTIAL PRESSURE IN A PEM FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A system and method for preventing anode reactant starvation. The system includes a hydrogen source, an anode bleed valve, and a cell voltage monitor. The system also includes an anode sub-system pressure sensor and a controller configured to control the anode sub-system. The controller determines the average cell voltage and estimates the hydrogen molar fraction and/or nitrogen molar fraction in the anode sub-system. The controller also receives measurement data from the cell voltage monitor and the pressure sensor, and determines whether there is a decrease in the minimum cell voltage in response to changes in the anode pressure. If the controller detects a decrease in the minimum cell voltage in response to changes in the anode pressure, the controller corrects for the decrease by increasing anode pressure and/or by decreasing the molar fraction of nitrogen in the anode sub-system. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120028153 | SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL - A solid oxide fuel cell capable of extending the time period over which initial rated output power is maintained, while restraining increases in running cost. The present invention is a solid oxide fuel cell ( | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120156581 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A HIGH TEMPERATURE FUEL CELL AS A BACK-UP POWER SUPPLY WITH REDUCED PERFORMANCE DECAY - A method is provided for reducing degradation in a fuel cell assembly, including at least one fuel cell with a PBI membrane, during standby, operation. The method may include electrochemically consuming an oxidant from a cathode coupled to the PBI membrane in response to a disconnection of an external load and supplying fuel to remove or electrochemically consume any back-diffused oxidant to the associated fuel cell sufficient to replace or consume the back-diffused oxidant while the external load is removed, and/or also may include controlling a standby temperature of the fuel cell. In this way, it may be possible to avoid increased cell voltage decay associated with degradation of the PBI in a simple and cost effective system. | 06-21-2012 |
| 20110076582 | METHOD TO IMPROVE FUEL CELL SYSTEM PERFORMANCE USING CELL VOLTAGE PREDICTION OF FUEL CELL STACK - A system and method for determining the maximum allowed stack current limit rate for a fuel cell stack that considers cell voltage. The method includes estimating a fuel cell stack voltage based on a fuel cell resistance value, stack variables and a current request signal. The fuel cell resistance value can be modeled based on stack temperature and stack relative humidity. The stack variables can include exchange current density and mass transfer coefficient. The method then uses the estimated fuel cell voltage and a look-up table based on estimated voltage to determine a current rate limit value for changing the current of the stack. The method then adds the current rate limit value and the current request signal to obtain the current set-point. | 03-31-2011 |
| 20100248055 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LIMITING CURRENT THEREOF - In a fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell with plural cells and performing processing for limiting a supply current to a load by performing a compensation computation with respect to a system-request current corresponding to a system-request power requested by the system based on the lowest cell voltage in the cells, the compensation computation being performed for limiting the supply current through a PI compensation using, as a reference value, a current value of the system-request current as of the time when the lowest cell voltage falls below a predetermined lowest-cell-voltage acceptable value, values for gains in the PI compensation for limiting the supply current are different from values for gains in the PI compensation for restoring the supply current. The system-request current can be securely limited in any operation statuses, and in addition, the supply current can be made rapidly responsive during the limitation of the current, while the supply current can be stably converged during the current restoration. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100248054 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - Electric power generation is properly controlled during a high potential avoidance operation. A fuel cell system comprises a fuel cell for generating an electric power upon receiving supply of a reactant gas and a controller for performing control for high potential avoidance with the upper limit of the output voltage of the fuel cell as a high potential avoidance voltage lower than the open end voltage thereof. The controller computes a larger system requirement power out of a system requirement power calculated from a load requirement and a system requirement power calculated from the high potential avoidance voltage as a system requirement power for the fuel cell. To compute the system requirement power for the fuel cell, not only the system requirement power calculated from the load requirement but also the system requirement power calculated from the high potential avoidance voltage are taken into account, and therefore the electric power can be stably generated without causing fuel shortage. The amount of the electric power to be generated can be properly controlled, and hence battery overcharging can be thus prevented. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100248052 | FUEL CELL, FUEL CELL SYSTEM, AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A fuel cell with which deterioration of an anode electrode is able to be inhibited by an inexpensive means while generated carbon dioxide is removed, a fuel cell system including the same, and an electronic device including the same are provided. The fuel cell includes: a power generation section having an electrolyte between a cathode electrode and an anode electrode; an anode side platy member provided on the anode electrode side of the power generation section; a fuel vaporization chamber; a through hole that is formed in the anode platy member and gives passage between the anode electrode and the fuel vaporization chamber; a carbon dioxide exhaust section that guides carbon dioxide generated in the power generation section to each side face of the anode platy member or the fuel vaporization chamber; and a valve provided in the carbon dioxide exhaust section. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100248053 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system is provided which can extend the time during which a high-potential avoidance control is performed as much as possible, thereby reducing deterioration of a fuel cell. The fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell that generates electric power upon a supply of a reaction gas; a power storage device that is charged with at least a part of power generated by the fuel cell; and a controller that controls an output voltage of the fuel cell with, as an upper limit, a high-potential avoidance voltage lower than an open end voltage thereof. The controller variably sets the high-potential avoidance voltage in accordance with the amount of charge SOC of the power storage device. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100209795 | POWER SUBSYSTEM FOR A FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a battery system, a power communication line and a power conditioning circuit. The fuel cell stack provides a stack voltage that stays near or below a first maximum voltage. The battery system includes a terminal that is coupled to the power communication line. The power conditioning circuit, in response to the stack voltage, provides a second voltage to the power bus. The second voltage stays near or below a second maximum voltage, and the second maximum voltage is greater than the first maximum voltage. | 08-19-2010 |
| 20100173211 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND FUEL CELL POWER MANAGING METHOD - A fuel cell system and a fuel cell power managing method in which the fuel cell system controls a current output of a fuel cell by adjusting a target voltage value of the fuel cell according to a difference between a current value of the fuel cell and a target constant current value. By doing so, the fuel cell system may allow the fuel cell to stably and constantly output a constant current. | 07-08-2010 |
| 20120315561 | SMART IN-VEHICLE REACTIVE RECOVERY STRATEGY - A method for determining when to operate a voltage recovery process for recovering a reversible voltage loss of a fuel cell stack in a fuel cell system. The method includes estimating an irreversible voltage loss of the fuel cell and an actual voltage of the fuel cell stack, and determining whether a difference between the estimated irreversible voltage loss and the estimated actual voltage exceed a threshold, and if so, the voltage recovery process is performed. | 12-13-2012 |
| 20100273074 | Fuel cell system and method for operating a fuel cell system - Disclosed is a fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell stack, supplied with a reaction gas on the gas inlet side and comprises at least one flush valve on the gas outlet side on a flush cell. A control device, which controls the actuation of the flush valve as a function of the voltage of the flush cell, is provided, wherein the voltage tap is provided in a region of the flush cell at which the concentration of the reaction gas drops the fastest to a predefined threshold value. Due to the voltage tap in the region where the concentration of the reaction gases drop the fastest to a predefined threshold value, a significantly more sensitive and precise regulation of the flush is possible and voltage dips are effectively prevented in the flush cell, as a result of which the overall risk of corrosion are minimized for the flush cell. | 10-28-2010 |
| 20100291452 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system increases an output voltage of a fuel cell if an electric power generation command value Pref for the fuel cell abruptly reduces while the fuel cell is being warmed up at a low-efficiency operation, which has lower electric power generation efficiency than that of a normal operation. Thus, the surplus electric power Ws corresponding to the difference between an electric power generation amount Pmes of the fuel cell and the electric power generation command value Pref is stored into a capacitive component of the fuel cell, thereby matching the electric power supplied to an external load of the fuel cell (Pmes-Ws) with the electric power generation command value Pref. This makes it possible to conduct control not to supply the surplus electric power to the external load when the electric power required from the fuel cell suddenly reduces during the low-efficiency operation. | 11-18-2010 |
| 20110003223 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING FUEL CELL VEHICLE AND FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell vehicle is controlled by performing a rate limiting control process for reducing electric power generated by a fuel cell to reduce a frequency at which a voltage generated by the fuel cell is equal to or higher than a predetermined voltage when electric power requested by a load is lowered, and changing a rotational speed of an air pump depending on the electric power requested by the load when the electric power generated by the fuel cell is reduced. | 01-06-2011 |
| 20110217613 | METHOD FOR COLLECTION AND COMMUNICATION OF MEASURED DATA WITHIN A FUEL CELL STACK - A system for communicating measurement data from each fuel cell or a group of fuel cells in a fuel cell stack, including a plurality of fuel cells and a plurality of stack plates, where one stack plate is between each fuel cell and on each end of the stack. The system includes a plurality of embedded smart plates where each embedded smart plate is mechanically and electrically coupled to at least one of the plurality of stack plates, and where each embedded smart plate includes optical transceivers on a top side and a bottom side of the smart plate. The system further includes at least one aggregator device having at least one optical transceiver to initiate a series of communications between the embedded smart plates to determine the location and data collected by each of the smart plates. | 09-08-2011 |
| 20110217612 | METHOD TO MEASURE AND COMMUNICATE CELL VOLTAGE IN A FUEL CELL STACK BY EMBEDDING MEASUREMENT UNITS ON THE PLATE - A system for communicating measurement data from each fuel cell or a group of fuel cells in a fuel cell stack, including a plurality of fuel cells, a plurality of stack plates, and a plurality of embedded smart plates. The stack plates are between each fuel cell and on each end of the stack, and the plurality of embedded smart plates are mechanically and electrically coupled to at least one of the plurality of stack plates, and each smart plate including optical transceivers on the top side and the bottom side. The system further includes first and second aggregator devices, said first and second aggregator devices including at least one optical transceiver for communicating with the embedded smart plate adjacent to the first or second aggregator device, where one aggregator device initiates communication with the embedded smart plates and the other aggregator device completes communication. | 09-08-2011 |
| 20100233559 | Fuel Cell System for a Vehicle, Method for Monitoring a Fuel Cell System - A fuel cell system for a vehicle includes a fuel cell arrangement that is coupleable to a vehicle drive as a primary load, and to a plurality of secondary loads. A control apparatus which controls the primary load and the secondary loads includes a monitoring circuit that is operable in a special operating mode of the fuel cell system, with the secondary loads being switched on and/or off as a manipulated variable in order to maintain the output voltage, as a reference variable, at a low voltage value that is formed by a cell voltage of the fuel cells of less than 0.45 V on average. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20120288778 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING FUEL CELL SYSTEM - In a case where gas supply controller of an FC system determines that the temperature of an FC is a predetermined temperature or less, the gas supply controller fixes the FC voltage to a voltage value within a voltage region where degradation is relatively small, the voltage value being below a voltage range where an oxidation-reduction proceeds. Further, the amount of a gas supplied to the FC is changed in accordance with electric power required by a load. | 11-15-2012 |
| 20120288777 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING FUEL CELL SYSTEM - In an FC system of an FC vehicle, if a control device determines that conditions of an idling power generation suppression mode of a FC are satisfied, the control device sets the voltage of the FC to a predetermined voltage value outside a voltage range where an oxidation-reduction of platinum proceeds, and controls a reactant gas supply apparatus to change a supply amount of air such that the FC has an output in accordance with the electric power required by a load. | 11-15-2012 |
| 20100167146 | FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATING FUEL CELL SYSTEM - Provided is a fuel cell system which is capable of well preventing deterioration of performance of a fuel cell stack or well restoring deteriorated performance of the fuel cell stack and of suppressing deterioration of durability of the fuel cell stack, and a method of operating the fuel cell system. In a fuel cell system of the present invention including a fuel cell stack | 07-01-2010 |
