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:
Jun. 25, 2013
Filed:
Dec. 15, 2005
Marc Becker, Idstein, DE;
Oliver Maier, Worms, DE;
Peter Willimowski, Darmstadt, DE;
GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A technique for determining the relative humidity of the cathode input airflow to a fuel cell stack that eliminates the need for a dew-point sensor. The cathode input airflow is humidified by a water vapor transfer unit that uses water in the cathode exhaust gas. The technique employs an algorithm that determines the flow of water into the cathode inlet of the stack. In one embodiment, the algorithm determines the volume flow of water through the water vapor transfer unit using the Arrhenius equation, and then converts the water volume flow to a water mole flow. The algorithm then uses the water mole flow through the water vapor transfer unit and the water mole flow of ambient air to determine the water mole flow into the cathode inlet. The algorithm then uses the water mole flow into the cathode inlet to determine the relative humidity of the cathode airflow.