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. 06, 2004
Filed:
Feb. 23, 2001
David P. Wilkinson, North Vancouver, CA;
Shanna D. Knights, Burnaby, CA;
Michael V. Lauritzen, Burnaby, CA;
Ballard Power Systems Inc., Burnaby, CA;
Abstract
An electrochemical fuel cell stack includes a plurality of fuel cells. At least one of the fuel cells is a sensor cell. The sensor cell has at least one structural dissimilarity with respect to the remaining fuel cells of the plurality. The structural dissimilarity may include, for example, a reduced sensor cell electrochemically active area, reduced electrocatalyst loading, modified anode or cathode flow field, different electrocatalyst composition, or a modified coolant flow field configuration. The sensor cell operates under substantially the same conditions as the remaining cells in the stack. However, in response to a change in a particular stack operating condition, an electrical or thermal response, preferably a voltage change, is induced in the sensor cell which is not simultaneously induced in the remaining fuel cells. Thus, the sensor cell can detect undesirable conditions and its response can be used to initiate corrective action. More than one sensor cell, specific to different types of conditions, may be employed in the stack. In the absence of undesirable conditions, the sensor cell can function as a power-producing fuel cell.