System and method for optimizing fuel cell purge cycles
View Patent ↗A system for optimizing the purge cycle of a fuel cell stack responsive to the performance of the fuel cell. The system includes a controller that measures a process parameter indicative of the rate at which water is being produced in the fuel cell. If the measured value exceeds a threshold value, then the purge assembly is automatically actuated.
1. A fuel cell system, comprising:
a source of hydrogen gas, wherein the source includes a fret processor adapted to produce hydrogen gas from water and at least one carbon-containing feedstock;
a fuel cell stack adapted to receive hydrogen gas from the source and to produce an electric current therefrom, wherein the fuel cell stack comprises a plurality of fuel cells that each include a cathode chamber that is adapted to receive an air stream and an anode chamber that is adapted to receive hydrogen gas from the source;
a purge assembly adapted to selectively purge the anode chambers of the fuel cells to reduce the concentration of at least a selected composition therein; and
a controller adapted to selectively actuate the purge assembly responsive to the value of a process parameter representative of the performance of the fuel cell stack; wherein the process parameter includes the rate at which hydrogen gas is consumed by the fuel cell stack.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the selected composition is water.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the selected composition is nitrogen.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the selected composition is methane.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the purge assembly is adapted to purge the anode chambers of the fuel cells with hydrogen gas from the source.
6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor assembly in communication with the controller and including at least one sensor adapted to measure the value of the process parameter.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the process parameter further includes the power produced by the fuel cell stack.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the process parameter further includes the rate at which water is generated in the fuel cell stack.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the value of the process parameter is a cumulative value of the process parameter during an operative cycle of the fuel cell stack.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the process parameter further includes the current produced by the fuel cell stack.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the process parameter further includes the power produced by the fuel cell stack during an operative cycle.
12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is adapted to compare the value of the process parameter to a determined value and actuate the purge assembly if the value of the process parameter exceeds the determined value.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the controller includes a memory device in which the determined value is stored.
14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system further includes at least one device adapted to apply an electrical load to the fuel cell stack.
15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fuel cell stack includes at least one proton exchange membrane fuel cell.
16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fuel cell stack includes at least one alkaline fuel cell.
17. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fuel processor is adapted to produce the hydrogen gas by steam reforming a carbon-containing feedstock and water.
18. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fuel processor is adapted to produce the hydrogen gas by partial oxidation of a carbon-containing feedstock.
19. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fuel processor is adapted to produce the hydrogen gas by pyrolysis of a carbon-containing feedstock.
20. The system of claim 1 , wherein the source further includes a storage device containing hydrogen gas.
21. The system of claim 20 , wherein the storage device includes a storage tank.
22. The system of claim 20 , wherein the storage device includes a hydride bed.