Fuel cell based power generator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11637300-B2
Application number	US-201916354077-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 14, 2019
Priority date	Mar 14, 2019
Publication date	Apr 25, 2023
Grant date	Apr 25, 2023

Abstract

A controller for a fuel cell based power generator includes a memory and a processor configured to execute executable instructions stored in the memory to receive a pressure in an anode loop of the fuel cell based power generator, wherein the anode loop includes a hydrogen generator and an anode loop blower, and control the anode loop blower such that the hydrogen generator provides hydrogen to an anode of a fuel cell via the blower and the anode loop at a controlled pressure. In further embodiments, the temperatures of the fuel cell and hydrogen generator are independently controlled.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A fuel cell based power generator, comprising:
an anode loop that includes a hydrogen generator and an anode loop blower;
a controller that includes a memory and
a processor configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to:
receive a pressure value of sensed pressure in the anode loop of the fuel cell based power generator, wherein the hydrogen generator receives hydrogen containing water from the anode loop; and
control an anode loop blower speed such that the hydrogen generator generates hydrogen in response to receiving the hydrogen containing water and provides the hydrogen to an anode of a fuel cell via the anode loop blower and the anode loop at a controlled pressure.

2. The fuel cell based power generator of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to:
determine whether the pressure in the anode loop exceeds a threshold pressure; and
modify a speed of the anode loop blower to modify the pressure in the anode loop in response to the determination.

3. The fuel cell based power generator of claim 2 , wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to:
determine whether the pressure in the anode loop falls below a lower threshold pressure; and
modify the speed of the anode loop blower to increase the speed of the anode loop blower in response to the pressure in the anode loop exceeding the lower threshold pressure.

4. The fuel cell based power generator of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to:
determine whether the pressure in the anode loop exceeds an upper threshold pressure; and
modify the speed of the anode loop blower to decrease the speed of the anode loop blower in response to the pressure in the anode loop exceeding the upper threshold pressure.

5. The fuel cell based power generator of claim 1 , wherein the controller controls a first cooling mechanism to maintain a temperature within the fuel cell within a predetermined temperature range.

6. The fuel cell based power generator of claim 1 , wherein the controller controls a second cooling mechanism to maintain a temperature within the hydrogen generator within a predetermined temperature range.

7. The fuel cell based power generator of claim 1 wherein the anode loop includes a secondary path adjacent an anode side of the fuel cell that provides the hydrogen to the anode of the fuel cell.

8. A controller for a fuel cell based power generator, comprising:
a memory; and
a processor configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to:
receive a pressure value of sensed pressure in an anode loop of the fuel cell based power generator, wherein the anode loop includes a hydrogen generator that receives hydrogen containing water from the anode loop and an anode loop blower;
control an anode loop blower speed such that the hydrogen generator generates hydrogen in response to receiving the hydrogen containing water and provides the hydrogen to an anode of a fuel cell via the anode loop blower and the anode loop at a controlled pressure;
wherein the anode loop includes a secondary path adjacent an anode side of the fuel cell that provides the hydrogen to the anode of the fuel cell; and
controlling a purge valve in the secondary path to purge inert gases.

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Klein Jeffrey Michael
• Park Jong
• Eickhoff Steven J
• Koeneman Paul Bryant
• Rustan Gustav

Classifications

• H01M8/04753 Primary

  of fuel cell reactants · CPC title

• H01M16/006

  of fuel cells with rechargeable batteries · CPC title

• Y02E60/50

  Fuel cells · CPC title

• H01M8/04302

  applied during start-up · CPC title

• H01M8/04388

  of anode reactants at the inlet or inside the fuel cell · CPC title