Ford Motor Company Limited

Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Keith Oglesby

Kurt David Osborne

Woong-chul Yang

Bradley Landon Spare

A method of controlling pressure of a fuel gas in a fuel cell stack is disclosed. The method includes establishing a specification for a fuel gas/oxidant gas delta pressure vs. time value, operating the fuel cell stack, monitoring the fuel gas/oxidant gas delta pressure vs. time value and reducing stress resulting from excessive pressure of the fuel gas by implementing at least one of the following: (1) inducing the fuel cell stack to convert excess fuel gas into electrical current; (2) shutting off supply of the fuel gas to the fuel cell stack; and (3) and raising an operating pressure of the fuel cell stack when the fuel gas/oxidant gas delta pressure vs. time value strays beyond the specification.

Anode loop pressure control in PEM fuel cell system

A system for delivering a supply fluid stream to a fuel cell stack that discharges an unused fluid stream is provided. A fuel supply is adapted to provide a pressurized supply fluid stream. An expander is in fluid communication with the fuel supply and is configured to receive the pressurized supply fluid stream to reduce the pressure of the pressurized supply fluid stream and to generate mechanical energy in response to reducing the pressure of the pressurized supply fluid stream. An electric machine is operably coupled to the expander and for selectively converting the mechanical energy generated by the expander into electrical energy. A compressor/blower is capable of being driven by at least one of the mechanical energy and the electrical energy to control the flow of the unused fluid stream to the fuel cell stack for recirculating the unused fluid stream back to the fuel cell stack.

Hydrogen recirculation system using integrated motor generator energy

A method of operating a fuel cell stack is disclosed. The method includes operating the fuel cell stack in accordance with a predetermined profile of fuel gas/oxidant gas delta pressure vs. time, monitoring a fuel gas/oxidant gas delta pressure vs. time value of the fuel cell stack and adjusting pressure of the fuel gas by consuming excess quantities of the fuel gas in the fuel cell stack when the fuel gas/oxidant gas delta pressure vs. time value of the fuel cell stack exceeds the predetermined profile.

A system is provided for supplying air to a fuel cell for use within a vehicle . The system includes a conventional storage tank which receives and stores hydrogen gas at a relatively high pressure, an expander unit , a compressor unit , pressure regulators , a valve , a controller , and vehicle sensors , and a secondary compressor . The system selectively channels pressurized hydrogen gas through expander unit which lowers the pressure of the hydrogen gas and rotatably drives compressor . By utilizing the potential energy within the hydrogen gas to drive compressor , system conserves energy and improves the overall fuel economy of the vehicle

System and method for supplying air to a fuel cell for use in a vehicle

A system is provided for recovering the potential energy of a hydrogen gas fuel supply within a fuel cell powered vehicle . The system includes a conventional storage tank which receives and stores hydrogen gas at a relatively high pressure, an expander , a compressor , a motor/generator which selectively generates electrical power and torque, pressure regulators , a valve , an electrical charge storage device or battery , a controller , vehicle sensors and electrical switches or switching module . The system selectively channels pressurized hydrogen gas through expander which lowers the pressure of the hydrogen gas, rotatably drives compressor and generates electricity. Controller causes the generated electricity to be selectively communicated to electrical accessories , and/or to battery by use of switching module , based upon vehicle attribute data received from sensors . Based upon the attribute data, controller may also signal valve to bypass expander , and cause electrical power to be supplied to motor/generator from battery to drive compressor

System and method for recovering potential energy of a hydrogen gas fuel supply for use in a vehicle

A system is provided for recovering the potential energy of a hydrogen gas fuel supply within a fuel cell powered vehicle . The system includes a conventional storage tank which receives and stores hydrogen gas at a relatively high pressure, an energy conversion unit or assembly , a compressor unit or assembly , pressure regulators , a valve , an electrical charge storage device or battery , a controller , vehicle sensors and electrical switches or switching module . The system selectively channels pressurized hydrogen gas through energy conversion unit which lowers the pressure of the hydrogen gas and generates electricity. Controller causes the generated electricity to be selectively communicated to compressor , electrical accessories , and/or to battery by use of switching module based upon vehicle attribute data received from sensors

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Livonia, MI, United States of America

Keith Oglesby