Fuel cell based power generator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023187670-A1
Application number	US-202318165199-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 6, 2023
Priority date	Mar 14, 2019
Publication date	Jun 15, 2023
Grant date	—

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 method of operating a fuel cell based power generator, comprising:
providing, by a hydrogen generator, hydrogen to an anode of a fuel cell via an anode loop connected to the fuel cell and an anode loop blower in the anode loop such that the fuel cell generates an amount of electricity; receiving a pressure value in the anode loop; and controlling 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

2 . The method of claim 1 and further comprising:
determining whether the pressure value in the anode loop exceeds an upper threshold pressure value or a lower threshold pressure value;
modifying, by the controller, a speed of the anode blower by:
increasing the speed of an anode loop blower in response to the pressure value in the anode loop exceeding the lower threshold pressure value; and
decreasing the speed of the anode loop blower in response to the pressure value in the anode loop exceeding the upper threshold pressure value; and
providing, by the fuel cell, the amount of electricity to a charge storage device coupled to the fuel cell.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further includes replacing a fuel cartridge of the hydrogen generator by removing a fuel cartridge of the hydrogen generator, wherein removing the fuel cartridge mechanically closes an inlet valve and an outlet valve of the hydrogen generator.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein replacing the fuel cartridge of the hydrogen generator further includes installing a new fuel cartridge in the hydrogen generator, wherein installing the new fuel cartridge mechanically opens the inlet valve and the outlet valve of the hydrogen generator.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further includes pre-heating the fuel cell based power generator during startup of the fuel cell based power generator by:
heating the fuel cell via heater tape such that the fuel cell is heated to its operating temperature; or turning on, by the controller, the anode loop blower and a cathode loop blower to provide hydrogen to the anode of the fuel cell such that a fuel reaction process begins in the fuel cell that generates heat to heat the fuel cell to its operating temperature.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further includes:
filling the anode loop with hydrogen gas via an external hydrogen tank connected to the anode loop during startup of the fuel cell based power generator; and purging, via a purge valve located on the anode loop and a purge valve located on the anode loop, inert gas from the anode loop while the hydrogen gas from the external hydrogen tank fills the anode loop during the startup as the fuel cell begins to generate the amount of electricity.

7 . A computer implemented method comprising:
receiving 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; and controlling 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.

8 . The method of claim 7 and further comprising:
determining whether the pressure in the anode loop exceeds a threshold pressure; and
modifying a speed of the anode loop blower to modify the pressure in the anode loop in response to the determination.

9 . The method of claim 8 and further comprising:
determining whether the pressure in the anode loop falls below a lower threshold pressure; and
modifying 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.

10 . The method of claim 7 and further comprising:
determining whether the pressure in the anode loop exceeds an upper threshold pressure; and
modifying 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.

11 . The method of claim 7 and further comprising controlling a first cooling mechanism to maintain a temperature within the fuel cell within a predetermined temperature range.

12 . The method of claim 7 and further comprising controlling a second cooling mechanism to maintain a temperature within the hydrogen generator within a predetermined temperature range.

13 . The controller of claim 7 wherein the anode loop recirculates hydrogen generated by the hydrogen generator back to the hydrogen generator.

14 . The controller of claim 7 wherein the anode loop provides hydrogen to the anode of the fuel cell via a secondary path of the anode loop.

15 . A non-transitory machine-readable storage device having instructions for execution by a processor of a machine to cause the processor to perform operations to perform a method, the operations comprising:
receiving 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; and controlling 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.

16 . The device of claim 15 wherein the operations further comprise:
determining whether the pressure in the anode loop exceeds a threshold pressure; and
modifying a speed of the anode loop blower to modify the pressure in the anode loop in response to the determination.

17 . The device of claim 15 wherein the operations further comprise:
determining whether the pressure in the anode loop falls below a lower threshold pressure; and
modifying 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.

18 . The device of claim 15 wherein the operations further comprise:
determining whether the pressure in the anode loop exceeds an upper threshold pressure; and
modifying 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.

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• H01M8/04302

  applied during start-up · CPC title

• H01M8/04731

  of other components of a fuel cell or fuel cell stacks · CPC title

• H01M2220/20

  Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane · CPC title

• H01M8/04783

  Pressure differences, e.g. between anode and cathode · CPC title

• H01M8/04097 Primary

  with recycling of the reactants (H01M8/04119, H01M8/04104 take precedence) · CPC title