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JP-2026514199-A - Adaptive purging for fuel cell systems

JP2026514199AJP 2026514199 AJP2026514199 AJP 2026514199AJP-2026514199-A

Abstract

Aspects of adaptive purging technology for purging a fuel cell are disclosed, which adjust the time delay between subsequent purges based in part on one or more parameters of the fuel cell. The difference between two similar parameters is measured before and after the activation of a valve used to allow the inflow of purge gas. The degree of the difference between the two parameters is used to determine the time delay, i.e., the time when the valve should be activated again to allow the next purge of the fuel cell. In addition to the time delay, the parameters may be used to determine the time interval or period during which the valve should be activated so that it remains open during a purge event. [Selection Diagram] Figure 6

Inventors

  • ベアード、スコット

Assignees

  • インテリジェント エナジー リミテッド

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20230607
Priority Date
20220913

Claims (15)

  1. A fuel cell assembly having anode exhaust and a fuel cell, A valve configured to discharge purge gas from the anode exhaust, Before the first purging of the fuel cell with the above-mentioned purge gas, the first parameter of the fuel cell is obtained. After the first purge described above, the second parameter of the fuel cell is obtained. Obtain the difference between the first parameter and the second parameter described above. A fuel cell system characterized by having a valve controller configured to determine the time delay of a second purge after a first purge based on the above difference.
  2. The first parameter described above has a first altitude or a first humidity of the fuel cell. The fuel cell system according to claim 1, wherein the second parameter is the second altitude or second humidity of the fuel cell.
  3. The first parameter described above has the first temperature of the fuel cell. The second parameter described above has the second temperature of the fuel cell. The fuel cell system according to claim 1, wherein the valve controller is configured to perform the second purge at a time equal to the time delay.
  4. The fuel cell system according to claim 1, wherein the above difference is inversely proportional to the above time delay.
  5. The first parameter described above has the first current of the fuel cell. The fuel cell system according to claim 4, wherein the above second parameter is the second current of the fuel cell.
  6. The first parameter described above has the first output voltage of the fuel cell. The fuel cell system according to claim 1, wherein the second parameter is the second output voltage of the fuel cell.
  7. The first parameter described above has the first temperature of the fuel cell. The fuel cell system according to claim 1, wherein the second parameter is the second temperature of the fuel cell.
  8. The above valve controller is The first parameter described above has the first temperature of the fuel cell. The fuel cell system according to claim 1, wherein the second parameter is configured to have the second temperature of the fuel cell.
  9. The fuel cell system according to claim 1, wherein the valve controller is configured to set the time delay to zero when the difference falls below a threshold difference.
  10. In a method for adaptively purging fuel cells, Before performing the first purge, the first step is to obtain the first parameter of the fuel cell, After performing the first purge described above, the step is to obtain the second parameter of the fuel cell, The steps include determining the purge delay time based on the difference between the first parameter and the second parameter, The method is characterized by having the step of performing a second purge following the first purge with a purge time delay.
  11. The step of obtaining the first parameter includes the step of measuring the first output voltage of the fuel cell. The method according to claim 10, wherein the step of obtaining the above-mentioned second parameter is further comprising the step of measuring the second output voltage of the fuel cell.
  12. The step of obtaining the above first parameter includes the step of measuring the first temperature of the fuel cell. The method according to claim 10, wherein the step of obtaining the above-mentioned second parameter is further comprising the step of measuring the second temperature of the fuel cell.
  13. The step of obtaining the above first parameter includes measuring the first temperature of the fuel cell. The method according to claim 10, wherein the step of obtaining the second parameter is further comprising the step of measuring the second temperature of the fuel cell.
  14. The step of obtaining the above first parameter includes the step of measuring the first current of the fuel cell. The method according to claim 10, wherein the step of obtaining the above-mentioned second parameter is further comprising the step of measuring the second current of the fuel cell.
  15. The step of obtaining the above first parameter includes the step of measuring the first humidity of the fuel cell. The method according to claim 10, wherein the step of obtaining the above-mentioned second parameter is further comprising the step of measuring the second humidity of the fuel cell.

Description

This application is a PCT application claiming priority to UK Patent Application No. 2213374.8, filed on 13 September 2022, and its disclosure is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety as if it were fully contained herein. This application relates to a fuel cell system, and more specifically, to the adaptive control of a control valve for purging one or more fuel cells in a fuel cell system. Conventional electrochemical fuel cells convert fuel and oxidizer into electrical energy and reaction products. A common type of electrochemical fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly (MEA), which contains a polymer ion (proton) transfer membrane between anode and cathode fluid channels or gas diffusion structures. A fuel such as hydrogen and an oxidizer such as oxygen from the air pass through the respective sides of the MEA, producing electrical energy and water as reaction products. A stack containing multiple fuel cells with separate anode and cathode fluid channels may be formed. Such a stack typically takes the form of a block containing multiple individual fuel cell plates held together by end plates at both ends of the stack. For efficient operation, it is crucial that the polymer ion transfer membrane maintains a hydrated state. Controlling the stack temperature is also important. Therefore, a coolant may be supplied to the stack for cooling and/or hydration. At specific times or periodically, it may be necessary to use a purge gas to remove coolant, contaminants, or reaction byproducts from the fuel cell's flow paths or gas diffusion structures. Periodically, water and other gases need to be purged (removed) from the fuel cell. The purged gas may contain fuel (e.g., hydrogen), and this purged gas flows through the anode channel, removing water and gases from the fuel cell. Conventional fuel cells are configured to perform this purging process at specified times, regardless of whether purging is actually needed at a particular time. This can lead to inefficient use of the gas used to remove water, especially if the gas is also used to generate electrical energy. Disclosure According to one aspect of this disclosure, a fuel cell system is provided comprising: a fuel cell assembly having an anode exhaust port and a fuel cell; a valve configured to discharge a purge gas from the anode exhaust port; and a valve controller configured to acquire a first parameter of the fuel cell before a first purge of the fuel cell with the purge gas; acquire a second parameter of the fuel cell after the first purge, acquire the difference between the first parameter and the second parameter, and determine a time delay for a second purge after the first purge based on the difference. According to other aspects of this disclosure, a fuel cell system is provided comprising: a fuel cell assembly having an anode exhaust port and a fuel cell; a valve configured to discharge a purge gas from the anode exhaust port; and a valve controller configured to acquire a first parameter of the fuel cell before a first purge of the fuel cell with the purge gas, acquire a second parameter of the fuel cell after the first purge, acquire the difference between the first parameter and the second parameter, and determine, based on the difference, a purge period during which the valve remains open for a second purge after the first purge. According to other aspects of this disclosure, a fuel cell system is provided comprising: a fuel cell assembly having an anode exhaust port and a fuel cell; a valve configured to discharge a purge gas from the anode exhaust port; and a valve controller configured to obtain a first parameter of the fuel cell before a first purge of the fuel cell with the purge gas, obtain a second parameter of the fuel cell after the first purge, obtain the difference between the first parameter and the second parameter, and, based on that difference, execute a purge cluster including a series of operations of opening and then closing the valve a predetermined number of times. In any of the aspects described above in this disclosure, the first parameter may be a first output voltage, first temperature, first humidity, or first current of the fuel cell, and the second parameter may be a corresponding second output voltage, second temperature, second humidity, or second current of the fuel cell. In some aspects, the first parameter may be a first altitude or first humidity of the fuel cell, and the second parameter may be a second altitude or second humidity of the fuel cell. This disclosure also describes an adaptive purging technique for purging a fuel cell, which in several aspects adjusts the time delay between subsequent purges based in part on one or more parameters of the fuel cell. The difference between two similar parameters is measured before and after the activation of a valve used to allow the passage of purge gas. The degree of the difference between the two parameters is used to determine the time delay,