Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Manfred Herrmann

Peter Andres

Bruce Jeffrey Clingerman

Rainer Pechtold

Alastair Gordon Anderson

Marc Reischmann

Scott Dewey

Bernhard Wnendt

Jochen Lenz

Hartmut Stengelin

Erik Heil

Michael Kueffe

Jonas Hemsen

Roland Nolte

Hermann Victor

Christian Kunstmann

A battery module that includes a plurality of battery cells having cell elements that are electrically coupled. Each cell includes a first capacitor plate pair having a first capacitor plate and a second capacitor plate at a first side of the cell element. Each cell also includes a second capacitor plate pair having a first capacitor plate and a second capacitor plate positioned at a second side of the cell element. The first capacitor plate at the second side of one cell element is capacitively coupled to the first capacitor plate at the first side of the cell element in an adjacent cell and the second capacitor plate at the second side of the one cell element is capacitively coupled to the second capacitor plate at the first side of the cell element in the adjacent cell so as to provide DC breaking.

Capacitive communication layer for cell integrated battery management system

A battery module includes first, second, and third stacked battery cells, the second battery cell being arranged between the first battery cell and the third battery cell. The battery module further includes a first heat transfer layer arranged between the first battery cell and the second battery cell and a second heat transfer layer arranged between the second battery cell and the third battery cell. The battery module may further include a fluid conduit coupled to the first heat transfer layer and the second heat transfer layer.

Battery assemblies

A battery cell for an electric vehicle battery pack, including surface-applied wires to facilitate connecting the cell to a controller. Resistive or non-resistive wiring is printed onto or otherwise applied to the outer surface of the battery cell, to eliminate the need for separate jumper wires routed around or through the battery pack. A surface-applied wire is directly connected to each terminal of the battery cell, and each wire is routed on the outer surface of the cell to a location convenient for connecting a cell monitoring controller. The surface-applied wires can be made of a suitable resistive material, such that the resistance of each wire is known and the wires can be used for dissipating power during cell state of charge equalization. An insulating layer can be applied over the surface-applied wire to minimize the risk of short circuit.

Battery cell integrated measurement sensor line and equalization resistor

A fuel cell system that employs a closed coolant loop. The system includes an expansion device having a flexible membrane, where a cooling fluid side of the membrane is in fluid communication with the cooling fluid in the coolant loop and an air side of the membrane is in communication with an air pocket. The air side of the expansion device is in air communication with an air compressor so that the pressure of the cooling fluid within the coolant loop changes as the stack pressure changes. The fuel cell system also includes a coolant reservoir that is in fluid communication with the cooling fluid in the coolant loop. Air and hydrogen bubbles within the cooling fluid are vented to the coolant reservoir where they accumulate. The coolant reservoir includes a level sensor indicating the level of the cooling fluid therein.

Closed coolant loop with expansion device for a fuel cell system

A battery system is provided for a vehicle. The battery system includes, but is not limited to, comprising: a heat transfer loop, a battery cell, a thermoelectric semiconductor device coupled to the battery cell and the heat transfer loop, a variable voltage source coupled to the thermoelectric semiconductor device, and a temperature sensor coupled to the battery cell. A controller is coupled to the variable voltage source and the temperature sensor and also configured to receive a signal indicative of a temperature of the battery cell from the temperature sensor and adjust a voltage of the variable voltage source applied to the thermoelectric semiconductor device based at least in part on an evaluation of the temperature.

Battery pack for a vehicle

A method and an apparatus for the investigation of a fuel cell system comprising at least one fuel cell having an anode side to which a fuel is supplied in operation and a cathode side which is separated from the anode side by a membrane and to which an oxidizing agent is supplied in operation, in order to carry out at least one of the following tests: a) to test whether the fuel cell system is gas-tight at the anode side and/or at the cathode side, b) to test whether a leakage is present between the anode side and the cathode side of the fuel cell system, c) to test the starting behavior of the fuel cell system, d) to test the operation of the fuel cell system at low current yield. The respective test is carried out with a mixture of at least inert gas with at least one fuel permissible for the operation of the fuel cells, the mixture being supplied to the anode side of the fuel cell system. The mixture is so selected that the proportion of fuel lies below a value at which the mixture is flammable in air.

Method and apparatus for the investigation of a fuel cell system

A mechanization of a fuel cell system and a method of operating the same is provided which simplifies the start-up of the fuel cell system. The fuel cell system can be started up without using any battery derived high voltage power to drive a high voltage compressor. The present invention provides for the use of a low voltage blower to provide oxygen to the cathode side of the fuel cell stack to enable start-up of the fuel cell stack without the initial use of a high voltage compressor. The low voltage blower can be powered by a low voltage power source and/or the voltage produced by the fuel cell stack.

Starting a fuel cell system using ambient air and a low voltage blower

A hydrogen feed system for a fuel cell arrangement in which the hydrogen can be taken at a higher pressure from a supply tank standing under pressure or under pressure from a reforming device and can be fed after relaxation to a lower pressure into the fuel cell arrangement, with a return flow loop being provided in the hydrogen circuit, so that a part of the non-consumed hydrogen emerging from the fuel cell arrangement can be fed back into the latter, is characterized in that a pump is provided which brings about the recirculation of the hydrogen and which can be driven from the pressure energy of the hydrogen taken from the tank or coming from a reforming unit.

Growing community of inventors

Ginsheim, Germany

Manfred Herrmann