Plug Power Inc.

Daniel O Jones

John W Parks

Michael M Walsh

Dustan L Skidmore

Arne Watson Ballantine

Nicholas Gerrard Vitale

Ron H Farkash

Steve Buelte

Dean P Skrzycke

Katie Dusett

A control algorithm for operating an integrated fuel cell system includes the following steps: determining whether a power output of a fuel cell is within a first predetermined range of an electrical load coupled to the fuel cell; lowering a reactant flow to the fuel cell when the power output is within the first predetermined range; detecting an increase of the electrical load; determining whether the increase exceeds a second predetermined range; and increasing a reactant flow to the fuel cell when the increase exceeds the second predetermined range.

Method and apparatus for controlling an integrated fuel cell system

A technique that is usable with a fuel cell stack includes coupling the fuel cell stack to a load, monitoring a power that is consumed by the load and determining if the power is increasing or decreasing. If the output power is increasing, a first control technique is used to control a fuel flow to the fuel cell stack, and if the output power is decreasing, a second control technique that is different from the first control technique is used to control the fuel flow to the stack.

Technique and apparatus to control the transient response of a fuel cell system

A fuel cell assembly includes a fuel cell stack, a first end plate associated with the fuel cell stack and a first heatable element adapted to heat the first end plate.

Fuel cell systems

The present invention provides a method for regulating a supply of reformate to a fuel cell in which the method includes receiving exhaust oxidant from the fuel cell, combining the exhaust oxidant and fuel to form reformate, and providing the reformate to the fuel cell.

Method of reformer operation to prevent fuel cell flooding

In one embodiment, an outermost heatable end plate for compressing a fuel cell stack. The outermost heatable end plate includes a body having at least one flow channel formed in the surface of the body through which coolant is passed. In another embodiment, an outermost heatable end plate includes a body and a heating element. The outermost heatable end plates inhibit condensation of water from a humidified reactant passing through an opening in the body of the plate and/or inhibit heat loss from the ends of the fuel cell stack. The opening of the outermost heatable end plate, for example, forms a portion of a manifold for conducting the reactant to the fuel cell stack.

Heatable end plate, fuel cell assembly, and method for operating a fuel cell assembly

A technique that is usable with a fuel cell stack includes coupling the fuel cell stack to a load and determining a power that is consumed by the load. The technique includes detecting a change in the power that is consumed by the load and controlling a fuel flow to the fuel cell stack to control a power output of the fuel cell stack to accommodate the change in the power consumed by the load. The technique also includes delaying the beginning of the controlling in response to the detection of the change in the power that is consumed by the load.

A hydration system includes fuel cell fluid flow plate(s) and injection port(s). Each plate has flow channel(s) with respective inlet(s) for receiving respective portion(s) of a given stream of reactant fluid for a fuel cell. Each injection port injects a portion of liquid water directly into its respective flow channel. This serves to hydrate at least corresponding part(s) of a given membrane of the corresponding fuel cell(s). The hydration system may be augmented by a metering system including flow regulator(s). Each flow regulator meters an injecting at inlet(s) of each plate of respective portions of liquid into respective portion(s) of a given stream of fluid by corresponding injection port(s).

Fuel cell membrane hydration and fluid metering

A cooler-humidifier plate for use in a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell stack assembly is provided. The cooler-humidifier plate combines functions of cooling and humidification within the fuel cell stack assembly, thereby providing a more compact structure, simpler manifolding, and reduced reject heat from the fuel cell. Coolant on the cooler side of the plate removes heat generated within the fuel cell assembly. Heat is also removed by the humidifier side of the plate for use in evaporating the humidification water. On the humidifier side of the plate, evaporating water humidifies reactant gas flowing over a moistened wick. After exiting the humidifier side of the plate, humidified reactant gas provides needed moisture to the proton exchange membranes used in the fuel cell stack assembly. The invention also provides a fuel cell plate that maximizes structural support within the fuel cell by ensuring that the ribs that form the boundaries of channels on one side of the plate have ends at locations that substantially correspond to the locations of ribs on the opposite side of the plate.

Fuel cell cooler-humidifier plate

A fluid flow passage bridgepiece for insertion into an open-face fluid flow channel of a fluid flow plate is provided. The bridgepiece provides a sealed passage from a columnar fluid flow manifold to the flow channel, thereby preventing undesirable leakage into and out of the columnar fluid flow manifold. When deployed in the various fluid flow plates that are used in a Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell, bridgepieces of this invention prevent mixing of reactant gases, leakage of coolant or humidification water, and occlusion of the fluid flow channel by gasket material. The invention also provides a fluid flow plate assembly including an insertable bridgepiece, a fluid flow plate adapted for use with an insertable bridgepiece, and a method of manufacturing a fluid flow plate with an insertable fluid flow passage bridgepiece.

Insertable fluid flow passage bridgepiece and method

Fluid service and/or electrical conductivity for a fuel cell assembly is promoted. Open-faced flow channel(s) are formed in a flow field plate face, and extend in the flow field plate face between entry and exit fluid manifolds. A resilient gas diffusion layer is located between the flow field plate face and a membrane electrode assembly, fluidly serviced with the open-faced flow channel(s). The resilient gas diffusion layer is restrained against entering the open-faced flow channel(s) under a compressive force applied to the fuel cell assembly. In particular, a first side of a support member abuts the flow field plate face, and a second side of the support member abuts the resilient gas diffusion layer. The support member is formed with a plurality of openings extending between the first and second sides of the support member. In addition, a clamping pressure is maintained for an interface between the resilient gas diffusion layer and a portion of the membrane electrode assembly. Preferably, the support member is spikeless and/or substantially flat. Further, the support member is formed with an electrical path for conducting current between the resilient gas diffusion layer and position(s) on the flow field plate face.

Fuel cell assembly unit for promoting fluid service and electrical

A hydration system includes fuel cell fluid flow plate(s) and injection port(s). Each plate has flow channel(s) with respective inlet(s) for receiving respective portion(s) of a given stream of reactant fluid for a fuel cell. Each injection port injects a portion of liquid water directly into its respective flow channel in order to mix its respective portion of liquid water with the corresponding portion of the stream. This serves to hydrate at least corresponding part(s) of a given membrane of the corresponding fuel cell(s). The hydration system may be augmented by a metering system including flow regulator(s). Each flow regulator meters an injecting at inlet(s) of each plate of respective portions of liquid into respective portion(s) of a given stream of fluid by corresponding injection port(s).

Growing community of inventors

Glenville, NY, United States of America

Daniel O Jones