Fuel cell system method and apparatus employing oxygen sensor
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
H01M-008/04
출원번호
US-0916240
(2001-07-25)
발명자
/ 주소
Parr, Robert Kenneth
Wells, Brian
출원인 / 주소
Ballard Power Systems Inc.
대리인 / 주소
Seed IP Law Group PLLC
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
11인용 특허 :
17
초록▼
A controller in a fuel cell system performs various operating parameter checks at a predefined schedule, including one or more of a stack current check; a stack voltage check; a cell voltage check; a purge cell check; an oxygen concentration check; a hydrogen concentration check; a stack temperature
A controller in a fuel cell system performs various operating parameter checks at a predefined schedule, including one or more of a stack current check; a stack voltage check; a cell voltage check; a purge cell check; an oxygen concentration check; a hydrogen concentration check; a stack temperature check; an ambient air temperature check; a fuel pressure check; and an airflow rate check; a hydrogen sensor heater check; a battery voltage check; a microcontroller self-check; and/or toggling a watchdog. The frequency of the checks are set relative to achieve an efficient control of the fuel cell system by selectively distributing the load on the microcontroller.
대표청구항▼
1. A control system for a fuel cell assembly, comprising:an oxygen sensor; and a switch couplable to the fuel cell assembly and selectively actuatable to stop fuel cell operation in response to a high hydrogen condition indicated by an oxygen reading from the oxygen sensor. 2. The control system of
1. A control system for a fuel cell assembly, comprising:an oxygen sensor; and a switch couplable to the fuel cell assembly and selectively actuatable to stop fuel cell operation in response to a high hydrogen condition indicated by an oxygen reading from the oxygen sensor. 2. The control system of claim 1 wherein the oxygen sensor is located proximate the fuel cell assembly and the switch is coupled to the fuel cell assembly.3. The control system of claim 1, further comprising a hydrogen sensor, wherein the switch is also selectively actuatable to stop fuel cell operation in response to a high hydrogen condition indicated by a hydrogen reading from the hydrogen sensor.4. A control system for a fuel cell assembly comprising:an oxygen sensor; a hydrogen sensor; a temperature sensor; and a switch couplable to the fuel cell assembly and selectively actuatable to stop fuel cell operation in response to at least one of a low oxygen condition indicated by an oxygen reading from the oxygen sensor, a high hydrogen condition indicated by a hydrogen reading from the hydrogen sensor, and a high temperature condition indicated by a temperature reading from the temperature sensor. 5. The control system of claim 4wherein the switch takes the form of a programmed controller, the programmed controller configured to compare the oxygen reading to a low oxygen threshold value to determine an existence of the low oxygen condition, the hydrogen reading to a high hydrogen threshold value to determine an existence of the high hydrogen condition, and the temperature reading to a high temperature threshold value to determine an existence of the high temperature condition. 6. The control system of claim 1 wherein the switch takes the form of a programmed controller configured to compare the oxygen reading to a low oxygen threshold value of approximately 18 percent to determine an existence of the high hydrogen condition.7. The control system of claim 4 wherein the switch takes the form of a programmed controller that is configured to compare the oxygen reading to a low oxygen threshold value of approximately 18 percent to determine an existence of the low oxygen condition, the hydrogen reading to a high hydrogen threshold value of approximately 1 percent to determine an existence of the high hydrogen condition.8. The control system of claim 4wherein the switch takes the form of a programmed controller that is configured to compare the oxygen reading to a low oxygen threshold value of 18 percent to determine an existence of the high hydrogen condition, the hydrogen reading to a high hydrogen threshold value to determine an existence of the high hydrogen condition, and the temperature reading to a high temperature threshold value the determine an existence of the high temperature condition. 9. The control system of claim 1 wherein the switch takes the form of a programmed controller and at least one actuator coupled to the programmed controller for control thereby.10. A fuel cell system for use in a habitable environment, comprising:at least one fuel cell; an oxygen sensor; a hydrogen sensor; and a first switch selectively actuatable to stop fuel cell operation in response to at least one of a high hydrogen condition indicated by at least one of a hydrogen reading from the hydrogen sensor and an oxygen reading from the oxygen sensor wherein in the first switch comprises a controller that compares the oxygen reading to a low oxygen threshold value corresponding to a first hydrogen concentration, and further comprising a second switch, comprising a second controller that compares the hydrogen reading to a high hydrogen threshold value corresponding to a second hydrogen concentration equal to or less than the first hydrogen concentration. 11. A fuel cell system for use in a habitable environment, comprising:at least one fuel cell; an oxygen sensor; a hydrogen sensor; and a first switch selectively actuatable to stop fuel cell operation in response to at least one of a high hydrogen condition indicated by at least one of a hydrogen reading from the hydrogen sensor and an oxygen reading from the oxygen sensor wherein in the first switch comprises a controller that compares the oxygen reading to a low oxygen threshold value corresponding to a first hydrogen concentration and that compares the hydrogen reading to a high hydrogen threshold value corresponding to a second hydrogen concentration not greater than the first hydrogen concentration. 12. The fuel cell system of claim 11 wherein in the controller compares the oxygen reading to a low oxygen threshold value of approximately 18 percent and compares the hydrogen reading to a high hydrogen threshold value less than 4 percent, and further comprising an actuator that terminates a flow of fuel to the fuel cell in response to a signal from the controller.13. The fuel cell system of claim 11 wherein in the controller compares the oxygen reading to a low oxygen threshold value of approximately 18 percent and compares the hydrogen reading to a high hydrogen threshold value of 1 percent, and further comprising an actuator that terminates a flow of fuel to the fuel cell in response to a signal from the controller.14. The fuel cell system of claim 11 further comprising:a fuel flow valve; and an actuator that closes the fuel flow valve in response to a signal from the controller. 15. A method of operating a fuel cell assembly, comprising:determining a concentration of oxygen proximate the fuel cell; and providing fuel to the fuel cell if the determined concentration of oxygen proximate the fuel cell is greater than an oxygen threshold value. 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising setting the oxygen threshold value based on an oxygen concentration value corresponding to a dangerous concentration of hydrogen.17. The method of claim 15, further comprising setting the oxygen threshold value to approximately 18 percent.18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:repeatedly determining the concentration of oxygen proximate the fuel cell; and providing fuel to the fuel cell if the determined concentration of oxygen proximate the fuel cell is greater than the oxygen threshold value. 19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:repeatedly determining the concentration of oxygen proximate the fuel cell; comparing the determined concentration of oxygen proximate the fuel cell to the oxygen threshold value; and if the determined concentration of oxygen proximate the fuel cell is not greater than the oxygen threshold value, disconnecting an external load from the fuel cell; and closing at least one fuel value between a fuel source and the fuel cell. 20. The method of claim 15, further comprising:repeatedly determining the concentration of oxygen proximate the fuel cell; comparing the determined concentration of oxygen proximate the fuel cell to the oxygen threshold value; and if the determined concentration of oxygen proximate the fuel cell is not greater than the oxygen threshold value, disconnecting an external load from the fuel cell; closing at least one fuel value between a fuel source and the fuel cell; closing at least one purge value; disconnecting stack power; turning off an air compressor; turning off a cooling fan; writing a shutdown code to a non-volatile memory, if a fault occurred; and setting a non-restartable status in the non-volatile memory, if a non-restartable fault occurred. 21. A computer-readable media containing instructions to cause a processor to control operation of a fuel cell assembly, by:determining a concentration of oxygen proximate the fuel cell assembly; and providing fuel to the fuel cell if the concentration of oxygen proximate the fuel cell assembly is greater than an oxygen threshold value. 22. The computer-readable media of claim 21 containing instructions to cause a processor to control operation of the fuel cell assembly, further by setting the oxygen threshold value based on an oxygen concentration value corresponding to a dangerous concentration of hydrogen.23. The computer-readable media of claim 21 containing instructions to cause a processor to control operation of the fuel cell assembly, further by setting the oxygen threshold value to approximately 18 percent.24. The computer-readable media of claim 21 containing instructions to cause a processor to control operation of the fuel cell assembly, further by:repeatedly determining the concentration of oxygen proximate the fuel cell assembly; and providing fuel to the fuel cell assembly if the determined concentration of oxygen proximate the fuel cell assembly is greater than the oxygen threshold value. 25. The computer-readable media of claim 21 wherein the computer-readable media comprises a memory structure of a micro-controller.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (17)
Gilman ; Sol ; Bramhall ; Paul J., Catalyst system for the detection and elimination of hydrogen gas.
Bette Willi (Erlangen DEX) Lersch Josef (Heroldsbach DEX) Mattejat Arno (Bubenreuth DEX) Strasser Karl (Erlangen DEX), Fuel cell block and method for adjusting the removal of inert gas from the fuel cell block.
Gustav Boehm DE; David P. Wilkinson CA; Shanna Knights CA; Reinhold Schamm DE; Nicholas J. Fletcher CA, Method and apparatus for operating a fuel cell.
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