Regulating Oxygen Flow in Fuel Cells
15 patents in this list
Updated:
This page provides information on the use of hydrogen fuel cells and the challenges associated with managing the oxygen supply within the fuel cell system.
Efficient management of the oxygen supply is crucial for the optimal performance of hydrogen fuel cells. The oxygen supply directly affects the power output and efficiency of the fuel cell system. Inadequate oxygen supply can lead to reduced power generation and inefficient fuel utilization. On the other hand, excessive oxygen can cause oxygen crossover, which can lead to performance degradation and potential damage to the membrane electrode assembly.
Managing the oxygen supply in fuel cells poses several technological challenges. Balancing the oxygen supply to prevent oxygen depletion or oversupply requires precise control and monitoring systems. The design and integration of the oxygen supply system must consider variations in oxygen demand during different operating conditions. Furthermore, the system needs to effectively manage oxygen diffusion and transport within the fuel cell to ensure uniform distribution and prevent concentration gradients that can impact performance. Effective oxygen supply management is crucial for the overall efficiency and durability of hydrogen fuel cells.
1. Solid Oxide Fuel Cell System with Anode Exhaust Gas Recycling for Enhanced Efficiency
Bloom Energy Corporation, 2023
High efficiency solid oxide fuel cell system that recycles the anode exhaust gases to extract hydrogen fuel while also oxidizing the remaining gases. The system includes pumps that extract hydrogen from the anode exhaust in stages, providing the extracted hydrogen back to the fuel cell stack and oxidizing the remaining exhaust gases. This allows purification of the hydrogen fuel and recovery of unspent fuel from the exhaust, improving system efficiency.
2. Advanced Control Method for Oxygen Management in Fuel Cells
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, 2023
Fuel cell system control method for improved safety, reliability, simplicity, weight reduction, and space reduction of fuel cell systems. The control involves steps like supplying hydrogen before gas containing oxygen, discharging oxygen gas when voltage reaches a reference level, and circulating oxygen gas to avoid carbon corrosion. This prevents dangerous radical reactions and potential fuel cell breakdown. The method also depressurizes the system at startup, monitors impedance, and increases current density gradually.
3. Innovative PEMFC Design for Preventing Water Buildup and Ensuring Efficient Oxygen Supply
Robert Bosch GmbH, 2023
Proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) design that prevents water buildup and oxygen starvation. The PEMFC has separate hydrogen and oxygen inlets. The oxygen inlet has a hydrophobic layer to prevent water ingress, while the hydrogen inlet has a hydrophobic layer to only allow hydrogen. This prevents water from reaching the hydrogen inlet. The water produced at the cathode exits through a hydrophilic outlet that only allows water molecules, preventing clogging.
4. Self-Sustained Reversible Fuel Cell System with Integrated Oxygen and Hydrogen Management
HYDROLITE LTD, 2022
A self-refueling power-generating system that can operate in a self-sustained manner, using no external resource for water, oxygen or hydrogen. The key idea is to configure a reversible fuel cell/electrolyzer device to have closed circuits for supplying/receiving oxygen, hydrogen, and water/dilute electrolyte. It can be used to provide efficient and economical energy storage and delivery. It involves determining the operation of reversible device(s) in fuel cell or electrolyzer mode according to power requirements and power availability, supplying and receiving oxygen in a closed circuit, compressing received oxygen in the electrolyzer mode, and supplying and receiving water or dilute electrolyte in a closed circuit in conjunction with the closed oxygen supply circuit by separating oxygen produced by the reversible device(s) in the electrolyzer mode from the water or dilute electrolyte received from the reversible device(s).
5. Innovative MEA Design with OER Catalyst to Prevent Corrosion and Platinum Loss in Fuel Cells
KOLON INDUSTRIES, INC., 2022
Membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) for proton exchange membrane fuel cells that can prevent corrosion of carbon supports and platinum loss when hydrogen supply is reduced without sacrificing performance. The MEA includes a proton exchange membrane with an anode on one side, a cathode on the other side, and an oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalyst layer in contact with the anode to inhibit carbon oxidation. The OER catalyst layer prevents carbon support corrosion and platinum loss when hydrogen supply is reduced.
6. Fuel Cell Performance Recovery System through Hydrogen-Induced Oxide Film Cleaning
Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, 2022
A system for recovering fuel cell performance by periodically cleaning oxide films from the fuel cell using hydrogen fuel. The system monitors the fuel cell's power output and when it drops below a threshold, indicating performance degradation, it prevents oxygen supply and discharges, converts the fuel cell's power output through an inverter without supplying externally, and supplies hydrogen to the cathode to clean oxide films from the platinum catalyst. This recovery process is stopped when voltage reaches a predetermined reference value.
7. Dual-Source Oxygen Supply System for High-Altitude Fuel Cell Powered Aircraft
Bell Helicopter Textron Inc., 2022
A fuel cell powered aircraft that converts between using ambient air and stored oxygen to power the fuel cell, allowing operation above 15,000 feet where air oxygen is too low for normal fuel cells. The aircraft has a fuel cell cathode that can switch between air and oxygen, allowing it to use ambient air at lower altitudes, then switch to using stored oxygen at higher altitudes where air oxygen is insufficient. The switching can be automated based on flight parameters, atmospheric conditions, power demands, etc. This allows the aircraft to efficiently use ambient air when possible, while having the oxygen option for high altitude flight.
8. Fuel Cell Module with Load-Protective Auxiliary Device Housing
HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., 2022
Fuel cell module for vehicles with an auxiliary device case to house fuel and oxygen systems. The case has a protection mechanism to prevent damage to fuel devices when a load is applied. The mechanism includes a protruding pipe that has a weak point designed to break when overloaded. The break point on the pipe prevents forces from transferring to the fuel system if a load is applied to the oxygen system.
9. Cost-Effective Non-Precious Metal Catalyst System for Oxygen Reduction in Fuel Cells
Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG, 2022
Non-precious metal catalyst system for fuel cells and electrolyzers that has comparable oxygen reduction activity to platinum, but lower cost. The catalyst system comprises an electrically conductive carrier metal oxide and a metal oxide catalyst material. The carrier metal oxide has at least two non-precious metal elements in a solid stoichiometric compound or solution. The catalyst material has at least one non-noble metal element in a solid stoichiometric compound or solution. The carrier and catalyst oxides are doped with fluorine, nitrogen, carbon, boron, and optionally hydrogen. The doped oxides exhibit good oxygen reduction reaction electrocatalysis.
10. Method for Safely Restarting Fuel Cells by Pre-Supplying Oxygen
HYDROGENICS CORPORATION, 2021
Restarting a fuel cell without damaging its components. The method involves supplying oxygen to the cathode electrode before recharging the fuel cell stack. This prevents combustion reactions that can degrade the fuel cell during restart. A fan, pump or blower powered by a battery provides the oxygen flow. The fan power requirement is lower than the normal operating blower.
11. Efficient Byproduct Recovery and Pollution Reduction in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells
Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC, 2021
Fuel cell system for efficiently recovering byproducts like CO2 and water from anode exhaust of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) while reducing pollution. The system uses a combustion chamber to burn excess fuel, but instead of air, an oxygen enriched gas is used to reduce nitrogen and argon levels in the exhaust. This enables efficient recovery of CO2 and water for reuse.
12. Fuel Cell System with Controlled Oxygen-to-Hydrogen Ratio for Safe Shutdown
HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION, 2020
A fuel cell system that prevents oxygen corrosion and hydrogen safety risks when the system is stopped. The system has dedicated spaces for oxygen and hydrogen to stay when the system is stopped. A control unit adjusts the oxygen-to-hydrogen ratio in those spaces to prevent issues.
13. Regenerative Fuel Cell System with Crossover Gas Management for Safety and Efficiency
IHI CORPORATION, IHI AEROSPACE CO., LTD., 2019
A regenerative fuel cell system that produces hydrogen and oxygen fuel by electrolyzing water. The system has separate valves to return any crossover gases back to their storage tanks. When oxygen accompanies the hydrogen produced, the hydrogen and oxygen react to remove the oxygen before returning the pure hydrogen to storage. Likewise, if hydrogen accompanies the oxygen, they react to remove the hydrogen before returning the pure oxygen to storage. This prevents crossover gases from reaching the wrong tanks and potentially causing fires or explosions.
14. Integrated Solid Oxide Fuel Cell System for Simultaneous Electricity, Hydrogen, and Refined CO2 Production
Saudi Arabian Oil Company, 2019
A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system that produces electricity, hydrogen and refined carbon dioxide simultaneously from liquid hydrocarbon fuel like gasoline or diesel. The system uses a series of process steps and components, including a hydrodesulfurization unit, steam reformer, water-gas shift reactor, fuel cell, oxygen generator, and CO2 purification system. It also incorporates hydrogen compression and storage for fueling fuel cell vehicles and an electrical output for powering electric vehicles.
15. Integrated Solid Oxide Fuel Cell System for Simultaneous Electricity, Hydrogen, and Refined CO2 Production
Saudi Arabian Oil Company, 2019
A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system and method that can simultaneously produce electricity, hydrogen and refined carbon dioxide from a liquid hydrocarbon fuel. The SOFC system includes components like a hydrodesulfurization system, steam reformer, water-gas shift reactor, hydrogen purification system, and oxygen generator. By controlling the process conditions and feed ratios, it can optimize hydrogen, electricity and carbon dioxide production based on the hydrocarbon fuel source.
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