CA2499957A1 - Fuel cell system and method of operation to reduce parasitic load of fuel cell peripherals - Google Patents

Fuel cell system and method of operation to reduce parasitic load of fuel cell peripherals Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2499957A1
CA2499957A1 CA002499957A CA2499957A CA2499957A1 CA 2499957 A1 CA2499957 A1 CA 2499957A1 CA 002499957 A CA002499957 A CA 002499957A CA 2499957 A CA2499957 A CA 2499957A CA 2499957 A1 CA2499957 A1 CA 2499957A1
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CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
fuel cell
operation characteristic
peripheral
characteristic
current
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
CA002499957A
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French (fr)
Other versions
CA2499957C (en
Inventor
Joseph Cargnelli
Todd A. Simpson
Stephen Burany
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Hydrogenics Corp
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Individual
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Publication of CA2499957A1 publication Critical patent/CA2499957A1/en
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Publication of CA2499957C publication Critical patent/CA2499957C/en
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Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04007—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids related to heat exchange
    • H01M8/04029—Heat exchange using liquids
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04082—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration
    • H01M8/04089—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration of gaseous reactants
    • H01M8/04097—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration of gaseous reactants with recycling of the reactants
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04082—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration
    • H01M8/04089—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration of gaseous reactants
    • H01M8/04119—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration of gaseous reactants with simultaneous supply or evacuation of electrolyte; Humidifying or dehumidifying
    • H01M8/04126—Humidifying
    • H01M8/04141—Humidifying by water containing exhaust gases
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04082—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration
    • H01M8/04089—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration of gaseous reactants
    • H01M8/04119—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration of gaseous reactants with simultaneous supply or evacuation of electrolyte; Humidifying or dehumidifying
    • H01M8/04156—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration of gaseous reactants with simultaneous supply or evacuation of electrolyte; Humidifying or dehumidifying with product water removal
    • H01M8/04164—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration of gaseous reactants with simultaneous supply or evacuation of electrolyte; Humidifying or dehumidifying with product water removal by condensers, gas-liquid separators or filters
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04298—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
    • H01M8/04313—Processes 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
    • H01M8/0432—Temperature; Ambient temperature
    • H01M8/04328—Temperature; Ambient temperature of anode reactants at the inlet or inside the fuel cell
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04298—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
    • H01M8/04313—Processes 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
    • H01M8/0432—Temperature; Ambient temperature
    • H01M8/04335—Temperature; Ambient temperature of cathode reactants at the inlet or inside the fuel cell
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04298—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
    • H01M8/04313—Processes 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
    • H01M8/04492—Humidity; Ambient humidity; Water content
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04298—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
    • H01M8/04313—Processes 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
    • H01M8/04537—Electric variables
    • H01M8/04574—Current
    • H01M8/04589—Current of fuel cell stacks
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04298—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
    • H01M8/04313—Processes 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
    • H01M8/04537—Electric variables
    • H01M8/04604—Power, energy, capacity or load
    • H01M8/04619—Power, energy, capacity or load of fuel cell stacks
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04298—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
    • H01M8/04694—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by variables to be controlled
    • H01M8/04746—Pressure; Flow
    • H01M8/04753—Pressure; Flow of fuel cell reactants
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04298—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
    • H01M8/04694—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by variables to be controlled
    • H01M8/04746—Pressure; Flow
    • H01M8/04761—Pressure; Flow of fuel cell exhausts
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04298—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
    • H01M8/04694—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by variables to be controlled
    • H01M8/04746—Pressure; Flow
    • H01M8/04768—Pressure; Flow of the coolant
    • Y—GENERAL 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
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
    • Y02E60/50—Fuel cells

Abstract

A fuel cell system and a method of operating same are provided. The fuel cel l system includes a fuel cell for driving a load, at least one fuel cell peripheral, a device for measuring at least one fuel cell operation characteristic, and at least one controller for controlling the operation of at least one fuel cell peripheral based on the at least one fuel cell operation characteristic. The fuel cell operation characteristic is divided into at least two ranges, and operation of at least one fuel cell is controlled to provide it with a respective operational characteristic for ea ch range of operation of the fuel cell system.

Claims (10)

1. A fuel cell system, comprising;
a) a fuel cell for driving a load;
b) at least one fuel cell peripheral;
c) a measurement means for determining at least one fuel cell operation characteristic;
d) at least one controller for controlling the operation of at least one fuel cell peripheral based on the at least one fuel cell operation characteristic;

wherein the spectrum of the at least one fuel cell operation characteristic is divided into at least two ranges, and the controller is adapted to control said at least one fuel cell peripheral to provide a respective operational characteristic for said at least one fuel cell peripheral for each range.
2. A fuel cell system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fuel cell operation characteristic is selected from the group consisting of current, current density and power output.
3. A fuel cell system as claimed in claim 2, wherein a) said at least one fuel cell peripheral comprises at least one of a coolant recirculation pump, a hydrogen recirculation pump, a hydrogen purging means and a reactant supply means; and, b) the controller is operable to control the operation of at least one of these fuel cell peripherals.
4. A fuel cell system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the controller comprises a memory for storing a plurality of ranges in a fuel cell operation characteristic spectrum, and, for each fuel cell peripheral of said at least one fuel cell peripheral, a plurality of operational characteristics correlated with the plurality of ranges; and a processor for determining a current operating range in the plurality of ranges in the fuel cell operation characteristic spectrum based on the at least one fuel cell operation characteristic measured by the measurement means, and for determining a current operational characteristic correlated with the current operating range of the fuel cell operation characteristic;

the controller being operable to operate each fuel cell peripheral at an operational characteristic correlated with the range of the fuel cell operation characteristic.
5. A fuel cell system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the plurality of operational characteristics of the at least one fuel cell operation characteristic includes an idle level in which the load does not draw current from the fuel cell.
6. A method of operating a fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell, and at least one fuel cell peripheral, comprising a) connecting a load to the fuel cell system and providing a drive current from the fuel cell system to drive the load;
b) measuring at least one fuel cell operation characteristic; and c) controlling an operational characteristic of the at least one fuel cell peripheral based on the at least one fuel cell characteristic, and for at least two different ranges of the fuel cell operation characteristic, providing a respective operational characteristic for said at least one fuel cell peripheral.
7. A method as defined in claim 6 wherein the fuel cell operation characteristic is selected from the group consisting of current, current density and power output.
8. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the at least one fuel cell peripheral comprises at least one of a coolant recirculation pump, a hydrogen recirculation pump, a hydrogen purging means and a reactant supply means.
9. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the at least one fuel cell operation characteristic is variable within a plurality of ranges in a fuel cell operation characteristic spectrum, the at least one fuel cell peripheral is operable at a plurality of operational characteristics correlated with the plurality of ranges, and step (c) comprises operating the at least one fuel cell peripheral at an operational characteristic correlated with the range of the fuel cell operation characteristic.
10. A fuel cell system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the plurality of levels of the at least one fuel cell operation characteristic includes an idle level in which the load does not draw current from the fuel cell.
CA2499957A 2002-09-23 2003-09-23 Fuel cell system and method of operation to reduce parasitic load of fuel cell peripherals Expired - Lifetime CA2499957C (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US41254802P 2002-09-23 2002-09-23
US60/412,548 2002-09-23
PCT/CA2003/001447 WO2004027912A2 (en) 2002-09-23 2003-09-23 A fuel cell system and method of operating the same

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2499957A1 true CA2499957A1 (en) 2004-04-01
CA2499957C CA2499957C (en) 2012-01-17

Family

ID=32030903

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA2499957A Expired - Lifetime CA2499957C (en) 2002-09-23 2003-09-23 Fuel cell system and method of operation to reduce parasitic load of fuel cell peripherals

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US7323263B2 (en)
AU (1) AU2003271440A1 (en)
CA (1) CA2499957C (en)
WO (1) WO2004027912A2 (en)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2004027912A3 (en) 2006-05-26
US7323263B2 (en) 2008-01-29
CA2499957C (en) 2012-01-17
AU2003271440A1 (en) 2004-04-08
WO2004027912A2 (en) 2004-04-01
AU2003271440A8 (en) 2004-04-08
US20040146761A1 (en) 2004-07-29

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