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Title: Staged venting of fuel cell system during rapid shutdown

Abstract

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.

Inventors:
; ;
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1175030
Patent Number(s):
6790548
Application Number:
10/115,643
Assignee:
General Motors Corporation (Detroit, MI)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01M - PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
DOE Contract Number:  
AC02-90CH10435
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION

Citation Formats

Keskula, Donald H., Doan, Tien M., and Clingerman, Bruce J. Staged venting of fuel cell system during rapid shutdown. United States: N. p., 2004. Web.
Keskula, Donald H., Doan, Tien M., & Clingerman, Bruce J. Staged venting of fuel cell system during rapid shutdown. United States.
Keskula, Donald H., Doan, Tien M., and Clingerman, Bruce J. Tue . "Staged venting of fuel cell system during rapid shutdown". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1175030.
@article{osti_1175030,
title = {Staged venting of fuel cell system during rapid shutdown},
author = {Keskula, Donald H. and Doan, Tien M. and Clingerman, Bruce J.},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2004},
month = {9}
}

Works referenced in this record:

A Porous Media Burner for Reforming Methanol for Fuel Cell Powered Electric Vehicles
conference, February 1995


Catalytic Combustion for Gas Turbine Applications
conference, April 2015

  • 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

The Advanced Low-Emissions Catalytic-Combustor Program: Phase I — Description and Status
conference, April 2015