Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

John C Fagey

Yeh-Hung Lai

Pinkhas A Rapaport

An electrochemical conversion assembly () is provided comprising a plurality of electrochemical conversion cells arranged in a conductively coupled fuel cell stack (), a condition sensor () operatively coupled to the fuel cell stack (), and a programmable controller operatively coupled to the condition sensor and the fuel cell stack. The condition sensor is configured to measure a rate of change of hydration in the proton exchange membrane and either the condition sensor or the programmable controller is configured to generate a signal indicative of the measured rate of change of hydration. The programmable controller is configured to facilitate control of at least one operating parameter of the electrochemical conversion assembly by monitoring the signal indicative of the measured rate of change of hydration. The condition sensor can be configured to detect a dimensional change or a change in compression of the conductively coupled fuel cell stack as the membrane hydration changes. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Victor, NY, United States of America

John C Fagey