Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Andreas Koenekamp

Thomas Hild

Rainer Pechtold

Boris Schilder

Sascha Schaefer

Hartmut Stengelin

Marcus Koch

Dirk Rensink

Reiner Wilpsbaeumer

Michael Hahn

Andy Kraemer

Alexander Dudek

A battery module includes a plurality of battery cells. Each battery cell includes an anode having an anode active area, a cathode having a cathode active area, and an ion-conducting separator interposed between the anode active area and the cathode active area. A first subset of the battery cells are arranged in parallel wired battery cell pairs. Each parallel wired battery cell pair of the first subset has two adjacent battery cells with a cooling fin interposed between the two adjacent battery cells.

Cell delta-temperature optimized battery module configuration

A back pressure valve for a fuel cell stack assembly is disclosed, wherein the valve includes a solenoid disposed thereon, an energization of the solenoid causing a generation of heat in a valve flap to facilitate a melting of ice that has formed in the valve.

Back pressure valve with inductively heated flap

Systems and methods to determine a state of charge (SOC) of a battery using confidence values. SOC estimations are determined using a voltage-based estimation strategy and a current-based estimation strategy. Confidence values are also generated for the voltage-based SOC estimation and the current-based SOC estimation to quantify the amount of uncertainty associated with the SOC estimations. An overall SOC estimation is determined by comparing the confidence values and selecting the SOC estimation having the least amount of uncertainty.

Systems and methods for determining the state of charge of a battery utilizing confidence values

A flow shifting fuel cell with water separator. The water separator is used to control the amount of moisture that passes through the anode flowpath of one or more fuel cells in one or more fuel cell stacks. The water separator is made up of a housing to direct the flow of a moisture-bearing fluid as well as act as a collection and container for separated moisture. Fluid that is cyclically passing through the fuel cell stack as part of its flow shifting mode of operation oscillates back and forth across a separation chamber formed within the water separator, thereby allowing bidirectional control of the moisture content within the fluid. A drain is formed in the separation chamber to allow removal of condensed water.

Bidirectional water separator

A fuel cell system for a hybrid vehicle that includes a high voltage battery, where the system uses a cathode exhaust gas airflow from a fuel cell stack to draw air through a battery compartment in which the battery is mounted to provide battery cooling. An air intake line is in fluid communication with the passenger compartment of the vehicle and the battery compartment. An ejector line is in fluid communication with the battery compartment and the cathode exhaust gas pipe. The flow of the cathode exhaust gas around the injector pipe creates a low pressure area, which draws air through the battery compartment from the passenger compartment. In one embodiment, a compressor that provides the cathode inlet air to the fuel cell stack is used at low stack output loads, such as during vehicle idle, to direct air through the cathode exhaust gas pipe, and cool the battery system under low load conditions.

HV battery cooling with exhaust flow of fuel cell systems

A heated valve that has particular application for one or more of a drain valve, a pressure release valve and a bleed valve in an anode outlet unit of a fuel cell system. The valve includes a divided solenoid having at least two coils. During a normal operation of the valve, current is applied to both coils. During a heat-up operation of the valve, current is applied to only one of the coils so that the reduced resistance of a single coil provides increased heat.

Valve heated by split solenoid

A valve including an integrated heater that has particular application for one or more of a bleed valve, a drain valve and a pressure release valve in an anode outlet unit of a fuel cell system. The valve includes a valve body having a valve body chamber defining a valve seat. A valve tappet seats against the valve seat to close a flow channel in the valve through which a fluid flows. A ring heater is mounted within the chamber so that the fluid flows through a central opening in the ring heater, where the ring heater is in close proximity to the valve seat.

Cartridge valve with integrated ceramic ring heater

A liquid hydrogen tank assembly that employs a level sensor inductively coupled through the tank walls so as to minimize one conductive heat path through the tank walls. The tank assembly includes an inner tank and an outer tank having a vacuum layer therebetween to maintain the liquid hydrogen within the inner tank under cryogenic temperatures. A capacitive level sensor is positioned within the inner tank and provides an electrical indication of the level of the liquid hydrogen within the inner tank. The level sensor is electrically coupled to an inner coil within the inner tank. An outer coil is provided proximate the outer tank wall and is electrically coupled to a signal processing and conditioning circuit.

Growing community of inventors

Darmstadt, Germany

Andreas Koenekamp