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. 04, 2011
Filed:
Dec. 18, 2006
Sebastian Lienkamp, Budenheim, DE;
Peter Willimowski, Rossdorf, DE;
David A. Arthur, Honeoye Falls, NY (US);
Sebastian Lienkamp, Budenheim, DE;
Peter Willimowski, Rossdorf, DE;
David A. Arthur, Honeoye Falls, NY (US);
GM Global Technology Operations, Inc., Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A device and method to predict and regulate nitrogen concentration in a flow shifting system. In one aspect of the system, a bleed valve fluidly coupled to multiple fuel cell stacks is used to reduce the presence of nitrogen in an anode flowpath. One or more sensors can be used to measure voltage within one or both of the fuel cell stacks. By assessing fuel cell voltage changes within the anode flowpath and equating such changes with nitrogen fraction buildup, the system can manipulate the bleed valve at appropriate times to improve system operability. In one form of equating the sensed voltage changes with the nitrogen fraction buildup, a predictive algorithm can be used by a logic device in a controller to compare the sensed voltage so that the controller instructs the bleed valve when to open and close. In a variation, the controller can compare the sensed voltages against stored data rather than rely on a formula or related algorithm.