CA2667780A1 - Utilization-based fuel cell monitoring and control - Google Patents

Utilization-based fuel cell monitoring and control Download PDF

Info

Publication number
CA2667780A1
CA2667780A1 CA002667780A CA2667780A CA2667780A1 CA 2667780 A1 CA2667780 A1 CA 2667780A1 CA 002667780 A CA002667780 A CA 002667780A CA 2667780 A CA2667780 A CA 2667780A CA 2667780 A1 CA2667780 A1 CA 2667780A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
fuel
cell stack
fuel cell
supply
pressure
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
CA002667780A
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
CA2667780C (en
Inventor
David J. Edlund
Arne Laven
Mesa Scharf
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Idatech LLC
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US10/857,629 external-priority patent/US7842428B2/en
Priority claimed from US10/909,266 external-priority patent/US8277997B2/en
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority claimed from CA002566357A external-priority patent/CA2566357C/en
Publication of CA2667780A1 publication Critical patent/CA2667780A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2667780C publication Critical patent/CA2667780C/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01MPROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/06Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues
    • H01M8/0606Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues with means for production of gaseous reactants
    • H01M8/0612Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues with means for production of gaseous reactants from carbon-containing material
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01MPROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04223Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids during start-up or shut-down; Depolarisation or activation, e.g. purging; Means for short-circuiting defective fuel cells
    • H01M8/04231Purging of the reactants
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01MPROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04298Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
    • H01M8/04313Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by the detection or assessment of variables; characterised by the detection or assessment of failure or abnormal function
    • H01M8/0438Pressure; Ambient pressure; Flow
    • H01M8/04388Pressure; Ambient pressure; Flow of anode reactants at the inlet or inside the fuel cell
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01MPROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04298Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
    • H01M8/04313Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by the detection or assessment of variables; characterised by the detection or assessment of failure or abnormal function
    • H01M8/0438Pressure; Ambient pressure; Flow
    • H01M8/04395Pressure; Ambient pressure; Flow of cathode reactants at the inlet or inside the fuel cell
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01MPROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04298Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
    • H01M8/04313Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by the detection or assessment of variables; characterised by the detection or assessment of failure or abnormal function
    • H01M8/04537Electric variables
    • H01M8/04574Current
    • H01M8/04589Current of fuel cell stacks
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01MPROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04298Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
    • H01M8/04694Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by variables to be controlled
    • H01M8/04746Pressure; Flow
    • H01M8/04753Pressure; Flow of fuel cell reactants
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01MPROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04298Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
    • H01M8/04694Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by variables to be controlled
    • H01M8/04746Pressure; Flow
    • H01M8/04761Pressure; Flow of fuel cell exhausts
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01MPROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04298Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
    • H01M8/04694Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by variables to be controlled
    • H01M8/04746Pressure; Flow
    • H01M8/04776Pressure; Flow at auxiliary devices, e.g. reformer, compressor, burner
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01MPROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04298Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
    • H01M8/04694Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by variables to be controlled
    • H01M8/04858Electric variables
    • H01M8/04895Current
    • H01M8/0491Current of fuel cell stacks
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01MPROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04298Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
    • H01M8/04694Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by variables to be controlled
    • H01M8/04858Electric variables
    • H01M8/04925Power, energy, capacity or load
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01MPROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04298Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
    • H01M8/04992Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by the implementation of mathematical or computational algorithms, e.g. feedback control loops, fuzzy logic, neural networks or artificial intelligence
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01MPROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/10Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
    • H01M2008/1095Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01MPROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/06Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues
    • H01M8/0662Treatment of gaseous reactants or gaseous residues, e.g. cleaning
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02EREDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/30Hydrogen technology
    • Y02E60/50Fuel cells
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02PCLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
    • Y02P70/00Climate change mitigation technologies in the production process for final industrial or consumer products
    • Y02P70/50Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

An energy producing and consuming assembly includes a fuel source adapted to provide a supply fuel at a supply pressure, and a fuel cell stack including at least one fuel cell. The fuel cell stack is adapted to receive an oxidant, to receive supply fuel from the fuel source at the supply pressure, and to use at least a portion of the received supply fuel to produce electric current at a production amperage in response to an applied load. The assembly further includes a load applying device adapted to be controlled to apply a load to the fuel cell stack, and a control system adapted to detect a pressure associated with the stack, to determine a target production amperage at which the stack consumes a predetermined proportion of the supply fuel for the detected pressure, and to control operation of the fuel cell stack based on the target production amperage.

Claims (34)

1. An energy producing and consuming assembly, comprising:
a fuel source adapted to provide a supply fuel at a supply pressure;
a fuel cell stack including at least one fuel cell, wherein the fuel cell stack is adapted to receive an oxidant, to receive supply fuel from the fuel source at the supply pressure, and to use at least a portion of the received supply fuel to produce electric current at a production amperage in response to an applied load;
a load applying device adapted to be controlled to apply a load to the fuel cell stack;
and a control system adapted to detect a pressure associated with the fuel cell stack, to determine a target production amperage at which the fuel cell stack consumes a predetermined proportion of the supply fuel for the detected pressure, to control operation of the fuel cell stack based on the target production amperage.
2. The energy producing and consuming assembly of claim 1, wherein the control system is further adapted to control the production amperage by actively controlling the load applying device.
3. The energy producing and consuming assembly of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the control system is adapted to control the delivery of supply fuel to maintain the detected pressure within a predetermined range.
4. The energy producing and consuming assembly of any one of claims 1-3, wherein the control system is adapted to actively control the electric current production of the fuel cell stack responsive at least in part to the detected pressure.
5. The energy producing and consuming assembly of any one of claims 1-4, wherein the control system is adapted to control the delivery of the supply fuel responsive at least in part to the detected pressure.
6. The energy producing and consuming assembly of any one of claims 1-5, wherein the predetermined proportion of supply fuel consumed by the fuel cell stack is in the range of 70% and 90%.
7. The energy producing and consuming assembly of any one of claims 1-5, wherein the predetermined proportion of supply fuel consumed by the fuel cell stack is at least 90%.
8. The energy producing and consuming assembly of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the control system is further adapted to determine a target flow of supply fuel based on the target production amperage and the detected pressure, wherein the fuel source is adapted to be controlled to produce the supply fuel from one or more feedstocks, and wherein the control system is adapted to control use of the feedstocks by the fuel source based on the target flow of supply fuel.
9. The energy producing and consuming assembly of claim 8, wherein the fuel source includes a fuel processor adapted to produce the supply fuel, and further wherein the control system is adapted to control production of the supply fuel by the fuel processor to maintain the supply pressure below a first threshold, and to control electric current production by the fuel cell stack to maintain the supply pressure above a second threshold.
10. The energy producing and consuming assembly of any one of claims 1-9, wherein the fuel cell stack is adapted to discharge unused fuel intermittently.
11. The energy producing and consuming assembly of any one of claims 1-10, wherein the fuel cell stack is adapted to exhaust unused fuel from an exit orifice at an exit pressure, and wherein the pressure detected by the control system includes the exit pressure.
12. The energy producing and consuming assembly of any one of claims 1-10, wherein the fuel cell stack is adapted to receive the supply fuel at an inlet orifice at an inlet pressure, and wherein the pressure detected by the control system includes the inlet pressure.
13. The energy producing and consuming assembly of any one of claims 1-10, wherein the pressure detected by the control system includes a pressure detected in the fuel cell stack.
14. The energy producing and consuming assembly of any one of claims 1-13, wherein the load applying assembly includes at least one energy-consuming device.
15. The energy producing and consuming assembly of any one of claims 1-14, wherein the load applying assembly includes at least one energy-storage device.
16. The energy producing and consuming assembly of any one of claims 1-15, wherein the fuel source further includes a hydrogen storage device.
17. The energy producing and consuming assembly of any one of claims 1-15, wherein the fuel source includes a fuel processor adapted to produce the supply fuel from at least one feedstock.
18. The energy producing and consuming assembly of claim 17, wherein the fuel source further includes a hydrogen storage device.
19. The energy producing and consuming assembly of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein the fuel processor is adapted to produce the supply fuel by a hydrogen-producing reforming reaction from at least a carbon-containing feedstock.
20. The energy producing and consuming assembly of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein the fuel processor is adapted to produce the supply fuel by an electrolysis reaction.
21. The energy producing and consuming assembly of any one of claims 17-20, wherein the control system is adapted to control production of the supply fuel by the fuel processor to maintain the supply pressure below a first threshold, and to control electric current production by the fuel cell stack to maintain the supply pressure above a second threshold.
22. A method of operating an energy producing and consuming assembly, comprising:
supplying a supply fuel at a supply pressure;
applying oxidant and the supply fuel to a fuel cell stack, which includes at least one fuel cell;

producing electric current with the fuel cell stack at a production amperage;

detecting a pressure at the fuel cell stack;
determining a target production amperage at which the fuel cell stack consumes a predetermined proportion of the supply fuel for the detected pressure; and controlling the operation of the fuel cell stack based on the target production amperage.
23. The method of claim 22, further comprising applying a load to the fuel cell stack, and wherein controlling the operation of the fuel cell stack includes actively controlling the load applied to the fuel cell stack.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein the supplying a supply fuel includes applying one or more feedstocks to a fuel processor apparatus in a manner producing the supply fuel at a supply pressure, and further comprising controlling the operation of the fuel processor apparatus based at least in part on the target production amperage.
25. The method of any one of claims 22-24, further comprising discharging unused fuel from the fuel cell stack intermittently.
26. The method of claim 22, further comprising applying a load to the fuel cell stack, and wherein controlling the operation of the fuel cell stack includes actively controlling the current produced by the fuel cell stack.
27. The method of any one of claims 22-26, further comprising discharging unused fuel from the fuel cell stack through an exit orifice at an exit pressure, and wherein detecting a pressure at the fuel cell stack includes detecting the exit pressure.
28. The method of any one of claims 22-26, wherein the detecting a pressure at the fuel cell stack includes detecting the pressure of the supply fuel at an inlet orifice of the fuel cell stack.
29. The method of any one of claims 22-26, wherein the detecting a pressure at the fuel cell stack includes detecting the pressure of unused fuel at an exit orifice of the fuel cell stack.
30. The method of any one of claims 22-26, wherein the detecting a pressure at the fuel cell stack includes detecting the pressure of the supply fuel in the fuel cell stack.
31. The method of any one of claims 22-30, wherein the supplying a supply fuel includes producing the supply fuel from one or more feedstocks.
32. The method of any one of claims 22-31, wherein the supplying a supply fuel includes producing the supply fuel from at least a carbon-containing feedstock.
33. The method of any one of claims 22-32, wherein the supplying a supply fuel includes producing the supply fuel from at least water.
34. The method of any one of claims 22-33, further comprising controlling the production of the supply fuel in a manner adapted to maintain the supply pressure below a first threshold value, and controlling the production of electric current by the fuel cell stack in a manner adapted to maintain the supply pressure above a second threshold value that is less than the first threshold value.
CA2667780A 2004-05-28 2005-05-23 Utilization-based fuel cell monitoring and control Active CA2667780C (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US10/857,629 US7842428B2 (en) 2004-05-28 2004-05-28 Consumption-based fuel cell monitoring and control
US10/857,629 2004-05-28
US10/909,266 US8277997B2 (en) 2004-07-29 2004-07-29 Shared variable-based fuel cell system control
US10/909,266 2004-07-29
US11/109,489 2005-04-18
US11/109,489 US7985510B2 (en) 2004-05-28 2005-04-18 Utilization-based fuel cell monitoring and control
CA002566357A CA2566357C (en) 2004-05-28 2005-05-23 Utilization-based fuel cell monitoring and control

Related Parent Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA002566357A Division CA2566357C (en) 2004-05-28 2005-05-23 Utilization-based fuel cell monitoring and control

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2667780A1 true CA2667780A1 (en) 2005-12-15
CA2667780C CA2667780C (en) 2012-03-13

Family

ID=40774766

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA2667780A Active CA2667780C (en) 2004-05-28 2005-05-23 Utilization-based fuel cell monitoring and control

Country Status (4)

Country Link
JP (1) JP4773431B2 (en)
CN (1) CN102208667B (en)
CA (1) CA2667780C (en)
TW (1) TW200603479A (en)

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FI20105377L (en) * 2010-04-12 2011-10-13 Waertsilae Finland Oy Method and device for controlling fuel supply in a fuel cell system
JP2015011940A (en) * 2013-07-02 2015-01-19 アクアフェアリー株式会社 Power generator
CN107514315A (en) * 2017-08-18 2017-12-26 广东卓梅尼技术股份有限公司 A kind of monitoring system of hydrogen hybrid powder
JP2021005534A (en) * 2019-06-27 2021-01-14 株式会社東芝 Fuel cell system and control method therefor
JP7140734B2 (en) * 2019-10-03 2022-09-21 トヨタ自動車株式会社 Methods for estimating the internal pressure of gas supply systems and gas tanks
CN115425262A (en) * 2022-11-04 2022-12-02 北京亿华通科技股份有限公司 Liquid hydrogen system fuel cell control method and device, fuel cell and vehicle

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP4000607B2 (en) * 1996-09-06 2007-10-31 トヨタ自動車株式会社 Fuel cell power generation apparatus and method
US6519539B1 (en) * 2000-09-29 2003-02-11 Hydrogenics Corporation Measurement of fuel cell impedance
JP4438231B2 (en) * 2001-01-26 2010-03-24 株式会社エクォス・リサーチ FUEL CELL DEVICE AND CONTROL METHOD FOR FUEL CELL DEVICE

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
TW200603479A (en) 2006-01-16
CA2667780C (en) 2012-03-13
CN102208667A (en) 2011-10-05
CN102208667B (en) 2012-10-03
JP4773431B2 (en) 2011-09-14
JP2008501225A (en) 2008-01-17

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
CN106450383B (en) A kind of water management in pem fuel cell system and its working method
CA2667780A1 (en) Utilization-based fuel cell monitoring and control
EP1821356A4 (en) Fuel cell and power generating method
US10158132B2 (en) Fuel cell system and method of controlling the fuel cell system
JP2016095997A (en) Drainage device for fuel cell, fuel cell system, and mobile object
KR101897338B1 (en) Shut down system and control method of fuel cell vehicle
GB2429577A (en) Utilization-based fuel cell monitoring and control
CA2647802A1 (en) Fuel cell with hydrogen leak detection
WO2005067088A3 (en) Fuel cell system and control method thereof
US8715873B2 (en) Fuel cell system with improved cold start properties and method of operating same
CN105609824A (en) Fuel cell system and fuel cell system control method
CN102893436A (en) Fuel cell system with calculation of liquid water volume
JP4814930B2 (en) Fuel cell system
US20090104478A1 (en) Method for Controlling the Pressure in an Anode of a Fuel Cell, and a Fuel Cell
CN103392253A (en) Fuel cell system
US6815108B2 (en) Function maintaining method for a fuel cell system
CN105591131B (en) Fuel cell system
US9048467B2 (en) Fuel cell system with energy-efficient reactant recycling
KR20040009653A (en) Apparatus for fuel supply in fuel cell
JP2005317436A5 (en)
JP6227497B2 (en) FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD FOR FUEL CELL SYSTEM
US20230253602A1 (en) Fuel cell system and fuel supply method thereof
CN103959529A (en) Fuel-cell system
JP2012009182A (en) Fuel cell system, power generation method of fuel cell and method of determining flooding
JP2010272505A (en) Fuel cell system

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
EEER Examination request