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. 03, 2012
Filed:
Jun. 06, 2008
Akbar Chowdhury, Pittsford, NY (US);
Seth E. Lerner, Honeoye Falls, NY (US);
Akbar Chowdhury, Pittsford, NY (US);
Seth E. Lerner, Honeoye Falls, NY (US);
GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A system and method for improving fuel cell system start-up reliability. The method includes determining if the resistance of the membranes in a fuel cell stack is too high, where the reliability of system start-up will be reduced, and if so, providing one or more remedial actions to help ensure that the start-up is more reliable. In one embodiment, the system and method determine that the fuel cell membranes are to dry based on whether a high frequency measurement of the fuel cell stack exceeds a predetermined HFR threshold. If the HFR threshold has been exceeded, a special start-up procedure is used that increases the reliability that the start-up will be successful using the remedial actions, such as reducing cathode airflow and turning on stack end cell heaters.