Plug Power Inc.

John W Parks

Arne Watson Ballantine

Dustan L Skidmore

Ryan Hallum

Daniel O Jones

Wieslaw J Zielinski

Glen E Benson

Eric T White

Robert A Sinuc

Richard L Chartrand

James G Hoehn, Jr

Gordon Scott Frost

Michael T DiPasquale

Edward Hardwicke

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

Fuel cell systems and associated methods of operation are provided whereby application of a fuel cell is coordinated with a fuel processor and a hydrogen separator. One such method includes the following steps: (1) operating a fuel processor to convert a hydrocarbon to reformate; (2) reacting the reformate in a fuel cell to generate electrical power; (3) supplying the electrical power to an electrical load, wherein the electrical load has a power requirement threshold; (4) determining whether the electrical power from the fuel cell is below the power requirement threshold; (5) increasing a flow of reformate from the fuel processor to the fuel cell when the electrical power from the fuel cell is below the power requirement threshold; (6) flowing a portion of the reformate from the fuel processor to a hydrogen separator; (7) storing hydrogen from the hydrogen separator in a hydrogen storage vessel; (8) monitoring an amount of hydrogen stored in the hydrogen storage vessel; and (9) adjusting a proportional valve upstream from the fuel cell toward a closed position when the amount of hydrogen in the hydrogen storage tank is below a predetermined threshold to increase a proportion of the reformate from the fuel processor that is flowed to the hydrogen separator.

Method and apparatus for a combined fuel cell and hydrogen purification system

A cogeneration fuel cell system and associated methods of operation are provided that accommodate a demand for heat as well as a demand for electric power. The system is operated among various modes to balance heat and power demand signals. In general, a fuel cell system is coupled to a power sink and a heat sink, and a controller is adapted to respond to data signals from the power sink and the heat sink. As examples, such data signals from the heat sink may include a temperature indication or a heat demand signal (such as from a thermostat), and such data signals from the power sink may include a voltage or current measurement, an electrical power demand signal, or an electrical load.

Method and apparatus for controlling a combined heat and power fuel cell system

A system includes fuel cell units and an on-site computer that is located near the units. The on-site computer is coupled to the fuel cell subsystems to communicate indications of operating conditions of the fuel cell subsystems over a remote communication link to a remote computer.

System for monitoring and controlling fuel cell-based power generation units

A method includes (1) operating a fuel processing reactor to convert a hydrocarbon into reformate; (2) flowing reformate through a first pressure regulator to reduce the pressure of the reformate; (3) supplying reformate from the first pressure regulator to a fuel cell to generate electrical power; (4) flowing a portion of the reformate from the fuel processor to a second pressure regulator to reduce the pressure of the reformate while generating the electrical power with the fuel cell; and (5) supplying reformate from the second pressure regulator to the hydrogen purification system while generating the electrical power with the fuel cell.

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 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 technique that is usable with a fuel cell stack includes providing a fuel flow and using at least some of the fuel flow to produce power with the fuel cell stack. A request is received to charge a battery. In response to the request, the technique includes determining if the remainder of the fuel flow is sufficient to produce additional power to charge the battery. Based on the determination, the remainder of the fuel flow is used to produce the additional power to charge the battery.

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Loudonville, NY, United States of America

John W Parks