Method to improve reliability of a fuel cell system using low performance cell detection at low power operation
Abstract
A system and method for detecting a low performing cell in a fuel cell stack using measured cell voltages. The method includes determining that the fuel cell stack is running, the stack coolant temperature is above a certain temperature and the stack current density is within a relatively low power range. The method further includes calculating the average cell voltage, and determining whether the difference between the average cell voltage and the minimum cell voltage is greater than a predetermined threshold. If the difference between the average cell voltage and the minimum cell voltage is greater than the predetermined threshold and the minimum cell voltage is less than another predetermined threshold, then the method increments a low performing cell timer. A ratio of the low performing cell timer and a system run timer is calculated to identify a low performing cell.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- DOESC (USDOE Office of Science (SC) (United States))
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1083768
- Patent Number(s):
- 8420271
- Application Number:
- 12/502,961
- Assignee:
- GM GLobal Technology Operations LLC (Detroit, MI)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01R - MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES
H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01M - PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
Citation Formats
Choi, Tayoung, Ganapathy, Sriram, Jung, Jaehak, Savage, David R., Lakshmanan, Balasubramanian, and Vecasey, Pamela M. Method to improve reliability of a fuel cell system using low performance cell detection at low power operation. United States: N. p., 2013.
Web.
Choi, Tayoung, Ganapathy, Sriram, Jung, Jaehak, Savage, David R., Lakshmanan, Balasubramanian, & Vecasey, Pamela M. Method to improve reliability of a fuel cell system using low performance cell detection at low power operation. United States.
Choi, Tayoung, Ganapathy, Sriram, Jung, Jaehak, Savage, David R., Lakshmanan, Balasubramanian, and Vecasey, Pamela M. Tue .
"Method to improve reliability of a fuel cell system using low performance cell detection at low power operation". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1083768.
@article{osti_1083768,
title = {Method to improve reliability of a fuel cell system using low performance cell detection at low power operation},
author = {Choi, Tayoung and Ganapathy, Sriram and Jung, Jaehak and Savage, David R. and Lakshmanan, Balasubramanian and Vecasey, Pamela M.},
abstractNote = {A system and method for detecting a low performing cell in a fuel cell stack using measured cell voltages. The method includes determining that the fuel cell stack is running, the stack coolant temperature is above a certain temperature and the stack current density is within a relatively low power range. The method further includes calculating the average cell voltage, and determining whether the difference between the average cell voltage and the minimum cell voltage is greater than a predetermined threshold. If the difference between the average cell voltage and the minimum cell voltage is greater than the predetermined threshold and the minimum cell voltage is less than another predetermined threshold, then the method increments a low performing cell timer. A ratio of the low performing cell timer and a system run timer is calculated to identify a low performing cell.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2013},
month = {4}
}