Combustor air flow control method for fuel cell apparatus

Patent · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2001

OSTI ID:874070

Clingerman, Bruce J ^[1]; Mowery, Kenneth D ^[2]; Ripley, Eugene V ^[3]

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1. Palmyra, NY
2. Noblesville, IN
3. Russiaville, IN

A method for controlling the heat output of a combustor in a fuel cell apparatus to a fuel processor where the combustor has dual air inlet streams including atmospheric air and fuel cell cathode effluent containing oxygen depleted air. In all operating modes, an enthalpy balance is provided by regulating the quantity of the air flow stream to the combustor to support fuel cell processor heat requirements. A control provides a quick fast forward change in an air valve orifice cross section in response to a calculated predetermined air flow, the molar constituents of the air stream to the combustor, the pressure drop across the air valve, and a look up table of the orifice cross sectional area and valve steps. A feedback loop fine tunes any error between the measured air flow to the combustor and the predetermined air flow.

• Research Organization: General Motors LLC, Detroit, MI (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-90CH10435
• Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Detroit, MI)
• Patent Number(s): US 6306531
• OSTI ID: 874070
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

combustor
air
flow
control
method
fuel
cell
apparatus
controlling
heat
output
processor
dual
inlet
streams
including
atmospheric
cathode
effluent
containing
oxygen
depleted
operating
modes
enthalpy
balance
provided
regulating
quantity
stream
support
requirements
provides
quick
fast
forward
change
valve
orifice
section
response
calculated
predetermined
molar
constituents
pressure
drop
look
sectional
steps
feedback
loop
fine
tunes
error
measured
fuel cell
air flow
flow stream
control method
atmospheric air
cell apparatus
inlet stream
cell cathode
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