Method for controlling fuel cell device during power generation start by controlling power conditioner
US-9219283-B2 · Dec 22, 2015 · US
Fuel cell system control using cell voltage monitoring
US2026074248A1 · US · A1
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Publication number | US-2026074248-A1 |
| Application number | US-202418883387-A |
| Country | US |
| Kind code | A1 |
| Filing date | Sep 12, 2024 |
| Priority date | Sep 12, 2024 |
| Publication date | Mar 12, 2026 |
| Grant date | — |
How to read this patent
A practical reading order for non-experts. Skip the full description unless you need deep technical detail.
- Title
What the patent document calls the invention.
- Abstract
A short plain-language summary of the technical disclosure.
- Assignees and inventors
Who owns or filed the patent and who is credited as inventor.
- Key dates
Filing, priority, publication, and grant dates set the timeline.
- First independent claim
The legal scope of protection — read this for what is actually claimed.
- CPC / IPC classifications
Technology tags used to group this patent with similar filings.
- Citations and related patents
Prior art links and similar publications in this corpus.
Abstract
Official abstract text for this publication.
This disclosure relates to a fuel cell system for vehicles that includes a controller that manages, among other things, the stack current and purge valve or drain valve operations based on a cell voltage monitoring energy indicator. When the energy indicator exceeds a predefined threshold, the controller reduces the stack current or adjusts the purge valve or drain valve—either opening it to mitigate flooding or closing it to prevent drying out.
First claim
Opening claim text (preview).
What is claimed is: 1 . A vehicle comprising: a fuel cell system; and a controller programmed to reduce a stack current of the fuel cell system after a cell voltage monitoring energy indicator, derived from filtered voltage data of the fuel cell system, exceeds an energy indicator threshold. 2 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further programmed to reduce the stack current responsive to the cell voltage monitoring energy indicator exceeding the energy indicator threshold while a coolant inlet temperature of the fuel cell system is less than a temperature threshold and the stack current is greater than a current threshold. 3 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further programmed to increase a coolant temperature of the fuel cell system after the cell voltage monitoring energy indicator exceeds the energy indicator threshold. 4 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further programmed to adjust stack pressure setpoints of the fuel cell system after the cell voltage monitoring energy indicator exceeds the energy indicator threshold. 5 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further programmed to purge the fuel cell system after the cell voltage monitoring energy indicator exceeds the energy indicator threshold. 6 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further programmed to alter a stoichiometric operating mode of the fuel cell system after the cell voltage monitoring energy indicator exceeds the energy indicator threshold. 7 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further programmed to adjust a coolant flow rate of the fuel cell system after the cell voltage monitoring energy indicator exceeds the energy indicator threshold. 8 . A method comprising: opening a purge valve or drain valve of a fuel cell system after a cell voltage monitoring energy indicator, derived from filtered voltage data of the fuel cell system, exceeds an energy indicator threshold. 9 . The method of claim 8 further comprising opening the purge valve or drain valve responsive to the cell voltage monitoring energy indicator exceeding the energy indicator threshold while a coolant inlet temperature of the fuel cell system is greater than a temperature threshold, a stack current of the fuel cell system is greater than a current threshold, and a cathode inlet humidity of the fuel cell system is greater than a humidity threshold. 10 . The method of claim 8 further comprising increasing cathode mass air flow of the fuel cell system after the cell voltage monitoring energy indicator exceeds the energy indicator threshold. 11 . The method of claim 8 further comprising increasing a pressure of the fuel cell system after the cell voltage monitoring energy indicator exceeds the energy indicator threshold. 12 . The method of claim 8 further comprising increasing a coolant inlet temperature of the fuel cell system after the cell voltage monitoring energy indicator exceeds the energy indicator threshold. 13 . The method of claim 8 further comprising adjusting a coolant flow rate of the fuel cell system after the cell voltage monitoring energy indicator exceeds the energy indicator threshold. 14 . An automotive power system comprising: a controller programmed to close a purge valve or drain valve of a fuel cell system after a cell voltage monitoring energy indicator, derived from filtered voltage data of the fuel cell system, exceeds an energy indicator threshold. 15 . The automotive power system of claim 14 , wherein the controller is further programmed to close the purge valve or drain valve responsive to the cell voltage monitoring energy indicator exceeding the energy indicator threshold while a coolant inlet temperature of the fuel cell system is greater than a temperature threshold, a stack current of the fuel cell system is greater than a current threshold, and a cathode inlet humidity of the fuel cell system is less than a humidity threshold. 16 . The automotive power system of claim 14 , wherein the controller is further programmed to reduce cathode mass air flow of the fuel cell system after the cell voltage monitoring energy indicator exceeds the energy indicator threshold. 17 . The automotive power system of claim 14 , wherein the controller is further programmed to increase a stack pressure of the fuel cell system after the cell voltage monitoring energy indicator exceeds the energy indicator threshold. 18 . The automotive power system of claim 14 , wherein the controller is further programmed to decrease a coolant inlet temperature of the fuel cell system after the cell voltage monitoring energy indicator exceeds the energy indicator threshold. 19 . The automotive power system of claim 14 , wherein the controller is further programmed to alter a stoichiometric operating mode of the fuel cell system after the cell voltage monitoring energy indicator exceeds the energy indicator threshold.
Assignees
Inventors
Classifications
of fuel cell stacks · CPC title
of fuel cell stacks · CPC title
using propulsion power supplied by both fuel cells and batteries · CPC title
of the coolant · CPC title
Voltage · CPC title
Patent family
Related publications grouped by family.
External sources
Frequently asked questions
Answers are generated from the same data shown on this page.
- What does patent US2026074248A1 cover?
- This disclosure relates to a fuel cell system for vehicles that includes a controller that manages, among other things, the stack current and purge valve or drain valve operations based on a cell voltage monitoring energy indicator. When the energy indicator exceeds a predefined threshold, the controller reduces the stack current or adjusts the purge valve or drain valve—either opening it to mi…
- Who is the assignee on this patent?
- Ford Global Tech Llc
- What technology area does this patent fall under?
- Primary CPC classification H01M8/0491. Mapped technology areas include Electricity.
- When was this patent published?
- Publication date Thu Mar 12 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) (A1). Legal status and post-grant events are not shown on this page.
- What related patents are in patentsdb?
- We list 8 related publications on this page (citations in our corpus or others sharing the same primary CPC).