Procedure for filling a fuel cell anode supply manifold with hydrogen for start-up
View Patent ↗A method for filling a fuel cell anode supply manifold with hydrogen prior to a start-up operation to facilitate a substantially even hydrogen distribution across the fuel cell is disclosed. The anode supply manifold is in fluid communication with a source of hydrogen. A first valve in fluid communication with the anode supply manifold and a second valve in fluid communication with an anode exhaust manifold are initially in a closed position while hydrogen is supplied to the anode inlet conduit to pressurize the fuel cell stack. The first valve is then opened to purge at least a portion of a fluid from the anode supply manifold to facilitate a filling of the manifold with hydrogen.
1. A method for filling a fuel cell anode supply manifold with hydrogen gas during start-up, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a fuel cell stack having a plurality of fuels cells, the fuel cell stack including an anode supply manifold and an anode exhaust manifold, the anode supply manifold having a fluid disposed therein and in fluid communication with a source of hydrogen gas, wherein an anode inlet conduit defines a volume between the source of hydrogen gas and the anode supply manifold;
providing a first valve in fluid communication with the anode supply manifold, wherein the first valve is disposed at a first end of the fuel cell stack and spaced from the anode inlet conduit;
providing a second valve in fluid communication with the anode exhaust manifold;
supplying hydrogen into the anode inlet conduit with no substantial amount of hydrogen flowing into the anode supply manifold, the first valve and the second valve each in a closed position, thereby pressurizing an active area of the fuel cells of the fuel cell stack to a pre-determined pressure level; and
opening the first valve to facilitate a purging of at least a portion of the fluid from the anode supply manifold to facilitate a filling of the anode supply manifold with hydrogen, wherein the pressure level of the active areas of the fuel cells militates against a flow of hydrogen through the fuel cells.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of closing the first valve and opening the second valve to cause the hydrogen to flow into active areas of the fuel cells at a substantially equal rate.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein a flow rate of the hydrogen flowing into the active areas of the fuel cells is maximized, thereby minimizing a time that a hydrogen-air front is present in the active areas of the fuel cells.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein a flow rate of the hydrogen flowing into the anode supply manifold is substantially the same as a flow rate of the fluid through the first valve.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pre-determined pressure level of the fuel stack is dependent upon the volume of the anode inlet conduit.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing a chamber between an outlet of the anode supply manifold and the first valve.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing a chamber between an outlet of the anode exhaust manifold and the second valve.
8. A method for filling a fuel cell anode supply manifold with hydrogen gas during start-up, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a fuel cell stack having a plurality of fuels cells, the fuel cell stack including an anode supply manifold and an anode exhaust manifold, the anode supply manifold having a fluid disposed therein and in fluid communication with a source of hydrogen gas, wherein an anode inlet conduit defines a volume between the source of hydrogen gas and the anode supply manifold;
providing a first valve in fluid communication with the anode supply manifold, wherein the first valve is disposed at a first end of the fuel cell stack and spaced from the anode inlet conduit;
providing a second valve in fluid communication with the anode exhaust manifold;
providing a chamber between an outlet of the anode supply manifold and the first valve;
providing a chamber between an outlet of the anode exhaust manifold and the second valve;
supplying hydrogen into the anode inlet conduit with no substantial amount of hydrogen flowing into the anode supply manifold, the first valve and the second valve each in a closed position, thereby pressurizing the fuel cell stack to a desired pressure; and
opening the first valve to facilitate a purging of at least a portion of the fluid from the anode supply manifold to facilitate a filling of the anode supply manifold with hydrogen.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the desired pressure of the fuel stack is dependent upon the volume of the anode inlet conduit.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein a flow rate of the hydrogen flowing into the anode supply manifold is substantially the same as a flow rate of the fluid through the first valve.
11. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of closing the first valve and opening the second valve to cause the hydrogen to flow into active areas of the fuel cells at a substantially equal rate.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first valve is closed when hydrogen enters the first chamber.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein a flow rate of the hydrogen flowing into the active areas of the fuel cells is maximized, thereby minimizing a time that a hydrogen-air front is present in the active areas of the fuel cells.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein a flow rate of the hydrogen flowing into the anode supply manifold is regulated as hydrogen enters the second chamber.
15. The method of claim 8 , wherein the second valve is closed when hydrogen enters the second chamber.