Air control system and method for fuel cell stack system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10347928-B2
Application number	US-201615158650-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 19, 2016
Priority date	May 19, 2016
Publication date	Jul 9, 2019
Grant date	Jul 9, 2019

Abstract

An airflow control method of an air control system for a fuel cell stack (FCS) includes opening a recirculation valve by a controller to recirculate air through a compressor to increase a temperature of the air prior to entering the FCS to offset a FCS temperature below a predetermined threshold in response to identification to a cold-start event. The recirculation valve may be arranged with the compressor to recirculate air therethrough. The FCS may be arranged with the compressor and recirculation valve to selectively receive air therefrom. A sensor may measure thermal conditions of the FCS. The controller may be programmed to receive signals from the sensor indicating thermal conditions of the FCS, and to operate the recirculation valve based on the signals to recirculate air through the compressor to increase a temperature of the air prior to entering the FCS.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fuel cell stack (FCS) system comprising:
a compressor in fluid communication with an FCS;
a recirculation valve arranged in direct fluid communication, without fluid flow diversion, with the compressor to recirculate all air traveling through the compressor for warming prior to entering the FCS;
a sensor located proximate the FCS; and
a controller programmed to operate the valve based on sensor signals indicating air temperature is below a first threshold.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further programmed to open the valve based on detection of a compressor surge event.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further programmed to open the valve in response to receiving a signal from the sensor indicating a temperature of the FCS is below a second threshold.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the second threshold is a temperature corresponding to the FCS having an ice condition therein.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the second threshold is a temperature corresponding to a cold-start event.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further programmed to close the valve in response to receiving a signal from the sensor indicating a temperature of the FCS is above a third threshold.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further programmed to open the valve in response to receiving a temperature reading from the sensor indicating air within the FCS is below eighty degrees Celsius.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Pryor Martin

Classifications

• H01M8/04067

  Heat exchange or temperature measuring elements, thermal insulation, e.g. heat pipes, heat pumps, fins · CPC title

• H01M8/04776 Primary

  at auxiliary devices, e.g. reformer, compressor, burner · CPC title

• H01M2008/1095

  Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes · CPC title

• H01M8/04111

  using a compressor turbine assembly · CPC title

• H01M8/04302

  applied during start-up · CPC title