The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 15, 2002
Filed:
Nov. 07, 2000
Applicant:
Inventors:
William A. Adams, Kemptville, CA;
Christopher L. Gardner, Dunrobin, CA;
Assignee:
Estco Battery Management Inc., Nepean, CA;
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H02J 0/700 ; H01M 8/04 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
H02J 0/700 ; H01M 8/04 ;
Abstract
A controller controls a switch bank which can shunt a voltage source in parallel with each fuel cell in a stack. By controlling the voltage of the voltage source, the current through the fuel cell is directly controlled. By increasing the anode potential of the fuel cell through control of the voltage source, poisons deposited on the electrocatalyst are removed, thereby rejuvenating the fuel cell. Each fuel cell in a stack can be treated in turn, causing a reduction of the effects of electrocatalyst poison on stack performance.