Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Victor W Logan

Bruce Jeffrey Clingerman

Manish Sinha

Abdullah Basar Alp

Donald H Keskula

Sergio E Garcia

John C Fagley

Derek R Lebzelter

Megan J Quick

Rodney J Rhodes

Balasubramanian Lakshmanan

John P Salvador

Steven D Burch

Patrick Frost

Matthew C Kirklin

Daniel I Harris

Seth E Lerner

Joseph D Rainville

Jon R Sienkowski

Clark G Hochgraf

James W Dandalides

David B Ouwerkerk

Dongmei Chen

David A Masten

John Wheat

James K Leary

Scott Dewey

John R Bonkoske

Joel Fairchok

A method for determining membrane humidification by determining the membrane protonic resistance of a fuel cell stack at humidified conditions, and normalizing the base resistance of the fuel cell stack against the base resistance of a reference fuel cell stack.

Method for determining membrane protonic resistance of a fuel cell stack

A method for controlling relative humidity (RH) of a cathode side of a fuel cell stack in a fuel cell system that includes an RH sensor on a cathode inlet line for providing an RH signal indicative of the RH of cathode inlet air. If the RH sensor is providing a valid RH signal, the RH signal is calculated as an RH average of the cathode inlet air. When the RH sensor is not providing a valid RH signal, the calculated RH average is utilized to control the cathode inlet air RH. If the RH sensor is not providing a valid signal during start-up, then the stack power is temporarily set at an optimum level for a known cathode inlet air RH.

Stack cathode inlet RH (relative humidity) control without RH sensing device feedback

A method that employs a model based approach to determine a maximum anode pressure set-point based on existing airflow in the exhaust gas line. This approach maximizes anode flow channel velocity during bleed events while meeting the hydrogen emission constraint, which in turn increases the amount of water purged from the anode flow channels to increase stack stability.

Online anode pressure bias to maximize bleed velocity while meeting emission constraint

Auto-learning of base stack resistance for HFR based RH control

A system and method for quickly heating a fuel cell stack at fuel cell system start-up. The fuel cell system includes a three-way valve positioned in the anode exhaust that selectively directs the anode exhaust gases to the cathode input of the fuel cell stack so that hydrogen in the anode exhaust gas can be used to heat the fuel cell stack. During normal operation when the fuel cell stack is at the desired temperature, the three-way valve in the anode exhaust can be used to bleed nitrogen to the cathode exhaust.

Methods and controls for hydrogen to cathode inlet of a fuel cell system

A system and method for putting a fuel cell vehicle into a performance mode by preloading sub-systems in the fuel cell system so that high power is available from the fuel cell stack quicker than during normal fuel cell system operation. For example, if a driver activates a vehicle performance mode, the fuel cell system can respond by, for example, increasing the compressor speed, increasing anode recirculation, increasing air and cooling fluid flow through the radiator, increasing battery state-of-charge, etc. Thus, when the driver requests the high power after the system is in the performance mode, the system is able to deliver the desired power immediately or at least quicker and for a longer time period.

Fuel cell vehicle performance mode

A system and method for controlling an anode exhaust gas bleed valve in a fuel cell system that includes estimating the gas composition in the anode exhaust gas, using an inverse valve model to calculate a desired valve flow coefficient, and bleeding the anode exhaust gas at a flow rate that results in the desired valve flow coefficient. The method includes determining the partial pressure of nitrogen in the anode exhaust gas, calculating the partial pressure of water vapor and hydrogen in the anode exhaust gas, and calculating the gas mole fraction of the nitrogen, water vapor and hydrogen in the anode exhaust gas. The method also includes using the gas mole fraction of nitrogen, water vapor and hydrogen to determine the desired valve flow coefficient, and using the desired valve flow coefficient to determine when to open and close the bleed valve.

Fuel cell anode stoichiometry control

A fuel cell system that includes a fuel cell stack providing high voltage power. A tap is electrically coupled to the positive end of the stack to provide a positive voltage output terminal of the fuel cell stack, and a tap is electrically coupled to the negative end of the stack to provide a negative output terminal of the fuel cell stack. A low voltage tap is electrically coupled to one or more intermediate bipolar plates of the stack to provide low voltage power. Several intermediate taps can be electrically coupled to the bipolar plates, where a center intermediate tap is designated a reference potential tap. A switching network switches the several voltage potentials to provide an AC signal.

Low voltage power tap on high voltage stack

A device and method to regulate humidification in a cascaded fuel cell stack. The cascaded fuel cell stack includes individual fuel cells placed together in multiple groups. A recirculation loop is fluidly coupled to an anode flowpath to permit the recirculation of hydrogen or a related fuel. A controller and one or more sensors and flow manipulation devices cooperate with one another to selectively increase or decrease the flow of reactant in the recirculation loop in order to manage water levels in one or more of the anode, cathode or electrolyte layer disposed between the anode and cathode.

Cascaded fuel cell stack operation with anode gas recirculation

A fuel cell system () and operational methods (and) are described that utilize a combination of sensor input and component models for causing the system's cathode effluent () to selectively bypass cathode effluent processing components () so as to obtain or maintain a desired cathode inlet relative humidity or dew point. The described system and methods may operate open loop (e.g., without sensor feedback to verify operation) or closed loop (e.g., relying on cathode inlet relative humidity/dew point sensors or fuel cell stack membrane conductivity measures).

Fuel cell system cathode inlet relative humidity control

A method is provided for controlling the concentration of nitrogen in a fuel cell stack. The method includes providing a fuel cell stack with cathode passages and anode passages including a valve in communication with the anode passages. The method further comprises selecting a maximum desired amount of nitrogen to be found in the fuel cell stack and calculating an actual amount of nitrogen in the fuel cell stack. Next, the method provides for comparing the maximum desired amount of nitrogen in the fuel cell stack to the actual amount of nitrogen in the fuel cell stack, and opening the valve if the actual amount of nitrogen in the fuel cell stack is greater than the maximum desired amount of nitrogen in the fuel cell stack. The method calculates the actual amount of nitrogen in the fuel cell stack based on an amount of nitrogen that enters the anode passages due to an age of the fuel cell stack.

Adaptive anode nitrogen management control

An apparatus and method for operating a fuel cell power system utilizing a low voltage power source and system power to power an airmover. The fuel cell power system uses a low voltage power source to power the airmover during start-up and transitions to using system power to power the airmover as the fuel cell stack increases its voltage output. During a shutdown operation the fuel cell power system transitions from using system power to using the low voltage power source to power the airmover enabling a purging operation to be performed. A controller coordinates the operation of the airmover between using the low voltage power source and using electrical power produced by the fuel cell stack to power the airmover.

Low voltage compressor operation for a fuel cell power system

Fuel cell parameters and limited electrochemical fuel cell sensors are used to calculate the concentration of diluting gas on the anode side of the fuel cell. The calculated concentration is then used to optimize fuel cell efficiency and/or stability by controlling the evacuation of diluted fuel from the anode side of the cell. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention the dilution gas crossover rate of the membrane electrode assembly is calculated and the dilution gas concentration in the anode flow field is determined as a function of the crossover rate. The vent valve is opened when the dilution gas concentration in the anode flow field is above a high threshold value and is closed when the dilution gas concentration in the anode flow field is below a low threshold value.

Fuel cell system burp control

A switching system and control method therefor are provided and implemented with a fuel cell stack system. The switching system enables fuel cell stacks to be connected in series for providing power to a power user while removing the particular disadvantages of a series circuit. In the event of a stack fault, the faulty stack may be bypassed, whereby the remaining stacks provide power to the power user at reduced capacity. The stack is continuously monitored and is reintroduced to the series circuit if the fault clears. If the fault reoccurs a predetermined number of times after the stack has been reintroduced, a 'reduced capacity' mode is initiated. Additionally, in the event of a reduced or an increased current demand, stacks are selectively switched in and out of the series connection, for limiting the overall operation voltage range of the fuel cell stack system.

System stack contingency and efficiency switching

A control system and method for operating a cooling fan in a coolant system of fuel cell power plant having a high temperature coolant loop and a low temperature coolant loop. The fan controller generates a fan control signal based on a first control signal from the high temperature coolant loop and a second control signal from the low temperature coolant loop. The first control signal is a function of the waste heat energy in the high temperature coolant loop, and the second control signal is a function of the temperature in the low temperature coolant loop. The fan control signal may also be generated based on a third control signal which is a function of a localized ambient temperature such as the under hood temperature of a vehicle.

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Naples, NY, United States of America

Victor W Logan