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Title: Staged venting of fuel cell system during rapid shutdown

Patent ·
OSTI ID:1175030

A venting methodology and system for rapid shutdown of a fuel cell apparatus of the type used in a vehicle propulsion system. H.sub.2 and air flows to the fuel cell stack are slowly bypassed to the combustor upon receipt of a rapid shutdown command. The bypass occurs over a period of time (for example one to five seconds) using conveniently-sized bypass valves. Upon receipt of the rapid shutdown command, the anode inlet of the fuel cell stack is instantaneously vented to a remote vent to remove all H.sub.2 from the stack. Airflow to the cathode inlet of the fuel cell stack gradually diminishes over the bypass period, and when the airflow bypass is complete the cathode inlet is also instantaneously vented to a remote vent to eliminate pressure differentials across the stack.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-90CH10435
Assignee:
General Motors Corporation (Detroit, MI)
Patent Number(s):
6,790,548
Application Number:
10/115,643
OSTI ID:
1175030
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (3)

A Porous Media Burner for Reforming Methanol for Fuel Cell Powered Electric Vehicles conference February 1995
Catalytic Combustion for Gas Turbine Applications
  • Krill, W. V.; Kesselring, J. P.; Chu, E. K.
  • ASME 1979 International Gas Turbine Conference and Exhibit and Solar Energy Conference, Volume 1B: Gas Turbines https://doi.org/10.1115/79-GT-188
conference April 2015
The Advanced Low-Emissions Catalytic-Combustor Program: Phase I — Description and Status conference April 2015

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