Systems and methods to monitor and control a flow of air within a fuel cell stack

1. A system to monitor and control a flow of air within a fuel cell stack, the system comprising:

an air supply path configured to conduct a flow of air through a fuel cell stack;

a sensor configured to determine a measured parameter associated with the air supply path;

a modeling system programmed to determine a modeled parameter associated with the air supply path;

a control system programmed to:

generate a baseline based on the measured parameter and the modeled parameter,

determine a difference between the measured parameter and the modeled parameter,

determine a change of the difference with respect to the baseline,

determine that the change satisfies a criterion, and

generate a corrective action based upon satisfaction of the criterion.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the measured parameter comprises a measured pressure in a cathode air supply path configured to supply a fuel mixed with the flow of air to a plurality of cathodes in the fuel cell stack, and the modeled parameter comprises a modeled pressure in the cathode air supply path.

3. The system of claim 2 , further comprising:

a backpressure valve configurable within a range of positions, the range of positions operable to adjust a pressure set-point;

wherein the modeled pressure is based, at least in part, on an adjusted position of the backpressure valve.

4. The system of claim 2 , further comprising:

a compressor configured to induce the flow of air through the fuel cell stack;

wherein the corrective action comprises adjusting the operation of one of the compressor the backpressure valve to adjust a pressure set-point in the air supply path.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control system is further programmed to determine that the change of the difference corresponds to one of a leak in the air supply path and an obstruction in the air supply path.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the corrective action comprises generation of one of a user notification and a diagnostic code, the user notification and the diagnostic code configured to indicate the leak in the air supply path.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the user notification comprises an indication that the leak comprises emission of a fuel.

8. The system of claim 5 , wherein the corrective action comprises generation of one of a user notification and a diagnostic code, the user notification and the diagnostic code configured to indicate the obstruction in the air supply path.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the baseline is configured to account for variation in one of a system tolerance parameter and a component tolerance parameter.

10. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a processor; and

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium;

wherein at least one of the modeling system and the control system comprise modules including computer-executable instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and executable on the processor.

11. A method for monitoring and controlling a flow of air within a fuel cell stack, the method comprising:

inducing a flow of air in an air supply path configured to conduct the flow of air through a fuel cell stack;

determining a measured parameter of a characteristic of the air supply path using a sensor;

determining a modeled parameter associated with the air supply path using a modeling system;

determining a baseline based on the measured parameter and the modeled parameter;

determining a difference between the measured parameter and the modeled parameter;

determining a change of the difference with respect to the baseline;

determining that the change satisfies a criterion; and

generating a corrective action using a control system.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the measured parameter comprises a measured pressure in a cathode air supply path configured to supply a fuel mixed with the flow of air to a plurality of cathodes in the fuel cell stack, and the modeled parameter comprises a modeled pressure in the cathode air supply path.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

adjusting a position of a backpressure valve to adjust a pressure set-point;

wherein the modeled pressure is based, at least in part, on the position of the backpressure valve.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the corrective action comprises adjusting the operation of one of a compressor or the backpressure valve to adjust a pressure set-point in the air supply path.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

determining that the change in the difference corresponds to one of a leak in the air supply path and an obstruction in the air supply path.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising generating one of a user notification and a diagnostic code configured to indicate the leak in the air supply path.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the notification comprises an indication that the leak comprises emission of a fuel.

18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising generating one of a user notification and a diagnostic code configured to indicate the obstruction in the air supply path.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the baseline is configured to account for variation in one of a system tolerance parameter and a component tolerance parameter.

20. A system to monitor and control an air flow within a fuel cell stack, the system comprising:

a cathode air supply path in the fuel cell stack configured to permit a flow of air carrying a fuel to a plurality of cathodes in a plurality of fuel cells in the fuel cell stack;

a pressure sensor configured to determine a measured pressure associated with the cathode air supply path;

a compressor in communication with the cathode air supply path and the pressure sensor, the compressor configured to induce an air flow at a pressure set-point in the cathode air supply path;

a backpressure valve configurable within a range of positions, the range of positions operable to adjust the pressure set-point based, at least in part, on the measured pressure;

a pressure modeling system programmed to determine a modeled pressure associated with the fuel cell stack based at least in part on a position of the backpressure valve;

a control system programmed to:

generate a baseline based on the measured parameter and the modeled parameter,

determine a difference between the measured parameter and the modeled parameter,

determine a change of the difference with respect to the baseline,

determine that the change satisfies a criterion, and

selectively implement a corrective action based upon satisfaction of the criterion.