Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

John P Nolan

Derek R Lebzelter

Todd Kenneth Preston

John P Salvador

Steven D Burch

Oliver Maier

Donald H Keskula

Yan Zhang

Joseph Mussro

Remy Fontaine

Daniel T Folmsbee

Loren Devries

Bram Peters

A method and an apparatus to adapt the performance of a cathode humidification unit as a membrane in a fuel cell stack degrades over time. An algorithm compares a sensed humidity profile of the fuel cell stack and model humidity profile of a cathode humidification unit model to calculate a new degradation factor. The cathode humidification unit model uses the degradation factor in the performance of the cathode humidification unit.

Cathode humidification unit adapting degradation factor

System and methods for controlling and optimizing coolant system parameters in a fuel cell system to obtain a requested cabin temperature in a fuel cell vehicle are presented. A method for managing a temperature in a vehicle cabin may include receiving an indication relating to a desired vehicle cabin temperature and a plurality of measured operating parameters. Based on the measured operating parameters, a projected output temperature of a cabin heat exchanger may be estimated. A determination may be made that the projected output temperature of the cabin heat exchanger is less than the indication. Based on the determination a fuel cell coolant parameter may be adjusted.

Systems and methods for controlling cabin heating in fuel cell vehicles

A system and method for operating a fuel cell stack of a fuel cell system in a vehicle when an error in cathode air flow rate is detected. The system and method include estimating a cathode air flow rate and detecting an error in the estimated cathode air flow rate. The system and method also include utilizing high frequency resistance measurements from a high frequency resistance sensor to control a relative humidity of the fuel cell stack when the error in the estimated cathode air flow rate has been detected.

Remedial actions for air flow errors in a fuel cell system

A system and method for determining if an RH sensor that measures the relative humidity of cathode inlet air provided to a fuel cell stack or an HFR circuit that measures stack water content is operating properly. The method provides the cathode inlet air through a WVT unit that increases the water content of the cathode inlet air. The method uses a water buffer model for determining the water content of the fuel cell stack based on inputs from a plurality of system components and revises a water transfer model using the HFR humidification signal or the RH signal to correct for WVT unit degradation. The method determines whether the RH sensor or the HFR circuit is operating properly, such as by determining if the HFR humidification signal is increasing at a rate that is faster than what the stack water content is able to increase.

Method to diagnose fuel cell humidification problems

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Rochester, NY, United States of America

John P Nolan