IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0678804
(2007-02-26)
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등록번호 |
US-8173311
(2012-05-08)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Lienkamp, Sebastian
- Kirklin, Matthew C.
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출원인 / 주소 |
- GM Global Technology Operations LLC
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대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
3 인용 특허 :
5 |
초록
▼
A fuel cell system and method for controlling relative humidity in a fuel cell system. A controller can be signally coupled to one or more sensors and configured to operate at least one flow manipulation device in response to changes in a relative humidity of a reactant passing through the cathode f
A fuel cell system and method for controlling relative humidity in a fuel cell system. A controller can be signally coupled to one or more sensors and configured to operate at least one flow manipulation device in response to changes in a relative humidity of a reactant passing through the cathode flowpath of the fuel cell in order to maintain the relative humidity within a prescribed range. The controller correlates one or more of a temperature setpoint, pressure setpoint, stoichiometry setpoint or actual operating condition of any of them to an operating condition of the system. In this way, a desired level of relative humidity can be achieved, maintained or both while minimizing the use of power-robbing flow manipulation devices, such as a pump, compressor, fan or related component.
대표청구항
▼
1. A fuel cell system comprising: at least one fuel cell comprising an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte disposed between said anode and said cathode;an anode flowpath configured to convey a first reactant to said anode;a cathode flowpath configured to convey a second reactant to said cathode;a co
1. A fuel cell system comprising: at least one fuel cell comprising an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte disposed between said anode and said cathode;an anode flowpath configured to convey a first reactant to said anode;a cathode flowpath configured to convey a second reactant to said cathode;a cooling loop in thermal communication with at least one of said anode flowpath and said cathode flowpath;at least one pump fluidly coupled to said cathode flowpath;at least one valve fluidly disposed in said cathode flowpath;a plurality of sensors coupled to said cathode flowpath such that upon passage of said second reactant adjacent said plurality of sensors, said plurality of sensors generate a signal corresponding to said second reactant, said plurality of sensors comprising at least one mass flow sensor, at least one temperature sensor and at least one pressure sensor to sense at least one of a temperature, a pressure, and a stoichiometry associated with said second reactant; anda controller signally coupled to said plurality of sensors and configured to operate at least one of said pump and said valve in response to changes in a desired relative humidity of said second reactant in said cathode flowpath in order to maintain said desired relative humidity within a prescribed range, said desired relative humidity selected independent of said temperature, said pressure, and said stoichiometry, said controller configured to correlate at least one of a temperature setpoint based on a desired stoichiometry and an optimum pressure, a pressure setpoint based on a temperature, and a stoichiometry setpoint based on said desired stoichiometry established therein to an operating condition of said system such that said maintaining said relative humidity is substantially achieved while keeping said pressure and temperature setpoints operably decoupled from one another in order to avoid windup oscillations in said system while also minimizing said stoichimetry setpoint at said operating condition. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein said cooling loop comprises a pump, a radiator, a bypass valve and a fan. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein at least said bypass valve is signally coupled to said controller such that upon attainment of a certain temperature threshold, said controller can actuate said bypass valve to adjust a flow of coolant through said radiator. 4. The system of claim 2, wherein at least said fan is signally coupled to said controller such that upon attainment of a certain temperature threshold, said controller can actuate said fan to adjust a temperature of coolant flowing through said cooling loop. 5. The system of claim 1, wherein said temperature setpoint is derived from said stoichiometry setpoint. 6. The system of claim 1, wherein said temperature setpoint is based on a minimum backpressure value that corresponds to said backpressure valve being in a fully open condition. 7. The system of claim 1, wherein said controller is configured to determine said maintained relative humidity in real-time while said system is operating. 8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a humidification device fluidly coupled to said cathode flowpath and signally coupled to said controller such that upon attainment of an appropriate signal from said controller, said humidification device can contribute to said maintaining said relative humidity. 9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a vehicle cooperative therewith such that said system is a source of motive power for said vehicle. 10. The system of claim 9, wherein said vehicle comprises: a platform configured to carry said source of motive power;a drivetrain rotatably responsive to output from said source of motive power, said drivetrain connected to said platform; anda plurality of wheels connected to said drivetrain. 11. The system of claim 1, wherein said temperature setpoint is based on an optimal pressure such that maintenance or attainment of a preferred relative humidity level occurs with a minimal amount of parasitic power consumption from said at least one fuel cell. 12. A method of operating a fuel cell system, said method comprising: configuring said system to comprise an anode, a cathode, an electrolyte disposed between said anode and said cathode, an anode flowpath configured to convey a first reactant to said anode; a cathode flowpath configured to convey a second reactant to said cathode, a cooling loop in thermal communication with at least one of said anode flowpath and said cathode flowpath, and a plurality of flow modification devices coupled to said cathode flowpath;introducing said second reactant into said cathode flowpath;sensing at least one of a temperature, a pressure and a stoichiometry associated with said second reactant;selecting a desired relative humidity independent of said temperature, said pressure, and said stoichiometry;selecting a temperature setpoint based on a desired stoichiometry and an optimum pressure;selecting a pressure setpoint based on said temperature; andmanipulating at least one of said plurality of flow modification devices in response to at least one of said temperature, said pressure, and said stoichiometry associated with said second reactant to substantially attain said desired relative humidity, or in event said desired relative humidity has been substantially attained, to substantially maintain said desired relative humidity at said substantially attained level, said manipulating at least one of said plurality of flow modification devices based on an algorithm cooperative with said controller that minimizes operation of active ones of said plurality of flow modification devices while keeping said sensed pressure and temperature algorithmically decoupled from one another in order to avoid windup oscillations in said system. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein said active ones of said plurality of flow modification devices comprise electrically-powered devices. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein said electrically-powered devices comprises at least one of a cooling fan and a compressor. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein said cooling fan is in thermal communication with said cooling loop that is in turn in thermal communication with said cathode flowpath. 16. The method of claim 14, wherein said compressor is in fluid communication with said cathode flowpath. 17. The method of claim 12, further comprising configuring a humidification device to be in fluid communication with said cathode flowpath, said humidification device responsively coupled to said controller and configured to selectively introduce additional humidity into said cathode flowpath. 18. The method of claim 12, wherein a temperature setpoint is based on an optimal pressure such that maintenance or attainment of said relative humidity occurs with a minimal amount of parasitic power consumption from said fuel cell system. 19. A method of regulating relative humidity in a fuel cell system, said method comprising: sensing at least one of a temperature, a pressure and a flowrate associated with fluid flow through a cathode flowpath of said system;selecting a desired relative humidity independent of said temperature, said pressure, and said stoichiometry;introducing said fluid flow into said cathode flowpath;selecting a temperature setpoint based on a desired stoichiometry and an optimum pressure;selecting a pressure setpoint based on said temperature; andadjusting at least one of said temperature, pressure and stoichiometry associated with said fluid flow to substantially attain said desired relative humidity, or in event said desired relative humidity has been substantially attained, to substantially maintain said desired relative humidity at said substantially attained level, said adjusting configured to minimize a parasitic power loss associated with operation of said system while keeping said adjusted pressure and temperature operably decoupled from one another in order to avoid windup oscillations in said system. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein said parasitic power loss comprises power loss associated with operation of at least one of a compressor fluidly coupled to said cathode flowpath and a fan thermally coupled to said cathode flowpath. 21. The method of claim 19, wherein a desired level of said pressure is based at least in part on said temperature and a desired temperature level in turn based on an optimal pressure such that maintenance or attainment of said desired relative humidity occurs with said minimized parasitic power loss.
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