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:
May. 24, 2011
Filed:
Aug. 14, 2006
Yeh-hung Lai, Webster, NY (US);
Pinkhas A. Rapaport, Fairport, NY (US);
John C. Fagey, Victor, NY (US);
Yeh-Hung Lai, Webster, NY (US);
Pinkhas A. Rapaport, Fairport, NY (US);
John C. Fagey, Victor, NY (US);
GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
An electrochemical conversion assembly () is provided comprising a plurality of electrochemical conversion cells arranged in a conductively coupled fuel cell stack (), a condition sensor () operatively coupled to the fuel cell stack (), and a programmable controller operatively coupled to the condition sensor and the fuel cell stack. The condition sensor is configured to measure a rate of change of hydration in the proton exchange membrane and either the condition sensor or the programmable controller is configured to generate a signal indicative of the measured rate of change of hydration. The programmable controller is configured to facilitate control of at least one operating parameter of the electrochemical conversion assembly by monitoring the signal indicative of the measured rate of change of hydration. The condition sensor can be configured to detect a dimensional change or a change in compression of the conductively coupled fuel cell stack as the membrane hydration changes. Additional embodiments are disclosed.