Advanced Fuel Cells for Clean Energy

Fuel cell power generation system that ensures constant power output while reducing fuel cell degradation. The system uses multiple fuel cell units connected in parallel with a common output line. A control device adjusts the output of each cell while maintaining a constant overall power supply. This prevents fluctuating cell loads that can cause uneven humidity within the cell stack, which accelerates deterioration. By keeping the overall output steady, it reduces humidity variation across cells and suppresses degradation.

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A method of controlling a fuel cell unit to effectively refresh the fuel cell without impacting the overall system output. The method involves varying the output power of each fuel cell while maintaining a constant total output from the system. This ensures a consistent supply of power while reducing humidity imbalances within the cells. It involves coordinated control of multiple fuel cells in parallel. The technique prevents humidity-induced cell deterioration when operating at constant output. It can be applied in stationary fuel cell systems where a constant output is required.

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Composite fuel cell power supply system with improved energy management for extended durability. The system has multiple fuel cells, batteries, and converters connected in parallel to provide stable voltage output. It uses a master controller to coordinate the fuel cell, boost converter, and battery charging. The master sets target voltages for each component and pulls power from the most efficient source to meet load demand. This ensures optimal utilization of each energy source and prevents overdischarging.

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Fuel cell system for vehicles that improves efficiency by intelligently managing the fuel cell and battery. The system calculates an average fuel cell efficiency based on historical data. When the fuel cell efficiency is lower than required, it operates normally. But when the average is higher, it makes the fuel cell operate at a specific point with maximum efficiency instead of spontaneously meeting demand. This leverages the higher efficiency by keeping the fuel cell at optimal conditions rather than fluctuating. The battery provides any additional power needed to meet load requirements.

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System and method to balance power output of multiple fuel cell stacks in a multi-module fuel cell system to prevent performance degradation when individual stacks fail. The system monitors cumulative power and runtime of the stacks, then adjusts the power of each stack based on the monitored values to compensate for any stack degradation. This ensures the overall system power is maintained when stacks fail. The system can also replace failing stacks with better performing ones.

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Fuel cell-based power supply system for ships that flexibly deals with power demand requirements by selectively operating different fuel cell types. The system uses a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) for rapid start-up and fast response, and a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) for high efficiency. An operating control system switches between the two fuel cells based on load demands, like high power startup versus steady state efficiency. It also allows the SOFC to transition to an electrolyzer mode for backup hydrogen generation.

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Fuel cell system and vehicle configurations to prevent fuel cell stack damage and improve overall system efficiency. The fuel cell stack power generation is dynamically controlled based on the state of charge of the battery, regenerative power input, and vehicle conditions. This prevents excessive cycling of the stack and prevents stack degradation. When regenerative power is high and acceleration is low (e.g., downhill), stack power generation is reduced. When vehicle is climbing, stack power is increased. This prevents stack overcharging and prevents frequent start/stop cycling. Additionally, when regenerative power is high and acceleration is low (e.g., downhill), auxiliary devices are powered directly from the stack instead of the battery to prevent stack idling. When vehicle is climbing, stack power is increased. This prevents stack overcharging and prevents frequent start/stop cycling.

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Fuel cell system and vehicle control to improve fuel cell lifetime and reduce degradation by optimizing power generation and storage based on factors like load power, vehicle speed, acceleration, and terrain. The control strategy involves dynamically adjusting the fuel cell's power output and regenerative charging based on conditions to balance power demand, storage charge, and vehicle dynamics. This helps prevent overcharging, overdischarging, and excessive voltage swings that degrade the fuel cell and battery. It also reduces regenerative charging during downhill driving to prevent overcharging the battery.

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A fuel cell system control method and apparatus that enables maintaining constant power output from a fuel cell system by compensating for power reduction of some modules using other modules. A monitoring device checks module power levels and a controller adjusts compensation by turning on underutilized modules. This stabilizes the overall system power when some modules degrade over time or in changing environments.

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A hydrogen fueled high altitude aircraft using a thermodynamic fuel cell system that maximizes efficiency and minimizes environmental impacts. The system compresses inlet air using multiple compressors and cools it using liquid hydrogen to maintain low temperature for the fuel cell. The hydrogen is also compressed and expanded before the fuel cell. The exhaust is cooled to condense water that is collected and expelled as ice. The high efficiency hydrogen conversion enables long range flight with lower fuel volumes. The VTOL aircraft can fly at high altitude with reduced environmental impact.

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Power net system for fuel cells that enables higher power output and better balancing using fewer converters compared to conventional fuel cell systems. The system has a fuel cell controller, DC/DC converter, battery, load controller, and fuel cell power controller. The fuel cell power controller receives load demand, calculates required fuel cell and battery outputs, compares actual fuel cell output to requirement, and adjusts fuel cell output accordingly. This allows individual fuel cell balancing and optimal overall output without excessive converters.

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Fuel cell system that can reduce hydrogen concentration in exhaust gas. It does this by selectively introducing dilution air into the exhaust gas discharge line from the fuel cell stack. This reduces the hydrogen concentration to safer levels. A bypass line connects the air supply and exhaust discharge lines with an adapter having separate flow paths. The air inlet is larger than the outlet, creating lower pressure in the outlet region so air flows from the supply into the exhaust gas.

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Fuel cell system with stabilized power output and improved efficiency during refresh cycles. The system uses two power storage devices. One, the auxiliary power supply, charges during normal operation and discharges during refresh stops to maintain load power. The second, the post-stop power storage, recovers power after refresh stops and adds to load power. This allows immediate electrode reaction stop after recovery instead of wasting power.

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Fuel cell unit and fuel cell power generation device with self-start capability and compact size suitable for portable and mobile applications. The fuel cell unit has a sheet-shaped reaction module that directly provides power to the control system, allowing self-start without auxiliary power. Multiple fuel cell units can be cascaded to increase output power. This eliminates the need for bulky compressors and backup power supplies compared to traditional cylindrical fuel cell stacks.

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A fuel cell system that can reduce the hydrogen concentration in the exhaust gas from a fuel cell stack without adding expensive filters or fans. The system connects the exhaust discharge line to the pneumatic air supply for the vehicle. This allows air from the pneumatic system to be selectively supplied to the exhaust line to dilute the hydrogen concentration when needed, to prevent flammability issues.

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Fuel cell system that reduces power fluctuations to mitigate defects caused by load variations. The system sets a target power for the fuel cell based on the load request, then uses a variation suppression process to make the target power variation smaller than the load request variation. This reduces power fluctuations from the fuel cell, preventing issues like component degradation. The variation suppression is limited based on factors like fuel cell state, battery charge, vehicle speed, and output history to prevent overcharging, undercharging, overloading, etc.

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Fuel cell power generation system that allows using a general-purpose power conditioner with maximum power point tracking (MPPT) for fuel cells instead of dedicated fuel cell power conditioners. The system suppresses current dissociation issues when using a general-purpose MPPT power conditioner with fuel cells by having the fuel cell controller transmit its output power command to the conditioner. This allows the conditioner to externally control the fuel cell output based on the command, preventing excessive current and gas supply issues.

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Modular fuel cell system for vehicles that enables mass production of fuel cell powertrain systems for a wide variety of applications or vocations. The system uses parallel fuel cell systems that can be mixed and matched to provide customized power and torque requirements for different vehicle applications. A central control system distributes power between the parallel systems based on their individual states to optimize performance and efficiency. This allows flexibility in configuring the modular system to meet specific vehicle needs while leveraging common components.

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Controlling power supply to fuel cell system components during start and stop to improve reliability and efficiency. The method involves using bidirectional DC/DC converters to provide power from auxiliary batteries when the fuel cell stack is not generating enough voltage during startup/shutdown. This prevents component failures due to insufficient power. The converters can also be used to boost voltage from the auxiliary batteries during normal operation. By intelligently switching between stack power and battery power, the system can provide stable power to components like BOP during transient conditions.

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Fuel cell system that can extend operating time when the storage device runs low on charge. The system increases the amount of oxidant gas supplied to the fuel cell stack when certain conditions are met. This improves fuel cell performance during passive step-down where the fuel cell voltage exceeds the storage device voltage. By increasing oxidant gas, the fuel cell generates more power and reduces power taken from the storage device. This prevents storage over-discharge and extends system life when storage is low.

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Fuel cell fabrication process that provides zero emissions and even offsets greenhouse gas emissions through the complete and permanent dissociation of methane that would otherwise be either burned or released. The process involves dissociating methane using high-power microwave plasma reactors to separate it into hydrogen gas and solid carbon. The carbon is used to produce fuel cells while the hydrogen fuels clean energy applications. It sources methane from landfill sites, natural gas deposits, etc.

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Stable operation of a fuel cell system by preventing dry-out and flooding issues during power generation. The system distributes target power generation from multiple fuel cell stacks in a balanced way over time. This allows humidity inside the stacks to be maintained even during system power generation. It also continuously varies the output of each stack to improve durability. This prevents dry-out from insufficient humidity and flooding from excessive condensation.

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A method to remove water from hydrogen fuel cell exhaust gases. The method uses a rotating sorbent wheel, heat exchanger, and evaporator in the exhaust flow path. The wheel absorbs water vapor from the exhaust in one section and releases the water into a different section as it rotates. The heat exchanger recovers waste heat from the exhaust. This integrated system aims to capture over 99% of the water content from fuel cell exhaust gases.

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Parallel configuration of fuel cell and battery systems for energy supply that allows flexible, safe and efficient operation. The system has independent fuel cell and battery modules connected in parallel. An energy management system adjusts the fuel cell output based on battery charge level to balance load. This prevents overcharging/discharging and excessive fuel cell cycling. The modules operate independently but can also be combined. The parallel configuration enables flexible load distribution, improves component life, and allows scaling by adding modules.

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Fuel cell system with optimized recovery treatment to prevent catalyst loss and power degradation in fuel cell stacks. The system has multiple fuel cell stacks and a power management unit. It stops power generation in one stack when required power is between thresholds, then restores it when power drops below a first threshold. This periodic recovery prevents stack potentials from rising too high during low load conditions, reducing catalyst elution and impurity buildup.

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Modular fuel cell network for high-performance vehicles that allows efficient, long-term operation of large fuel cell systems. The network has multiple separate fuel cell systems, each with its own stack. In normal operation, the power requirement is split between the systems. Periodically, one system is temporarily shut down for regeneration to partially reverse damage. Another system compensates for the lost power during regeneration. This allows extended life of the fuel cell systems by periodically regenerating instead of continuously operating.

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A fuel cell power generation system that improves durability and provides stable output by variably controlling the output of individual fuel cells. The system uses multiple fuel cell stacks connected to multiple power converters that can regulate and vary the stack outputs. A controller coordinates the converters to maintain overall system output by adjusting stack outputs. This allows flexible output control without shutting down on stack failures. By separately controlling stack outputs, it improves durability compared to constant output systems. The variable output also reduces grid instability compared to variable stack output without coordination.

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Fuel cell system that maximizes the service life of multiple fuel cell stacks by equalizing aging across them. The system has multiple fuel cell stacks controlled by a central controller. When power is requested, the controller selects the stack with the lowest service life indicator to provide power. If that stack's power output isn't enough, it adds another stack with a lower service life indicator. This prioritizes operating stacks in the optimal range first, then adding more stacks if needed, to prevent overloading high-wear stacks.

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A fuel cell-based uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system that provides seamless power switching and reduces environmental pollution compared to diesel generators. The UPS uses a hydrogen fuel cell as the primary power source instead of a diesel generator. When grid power is normal, the fuel cell provides power to the load. If grid power fails, the fuel cell charges a battery which then powers the load. This allows seamless power switching without interruption. The fuel cell emits water as the only byproduct, unlike diesel generators that produce pollutants like sulfur and carbon dioxide.

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Fuel cell system that can quickly and reliably respond to output requests from a central management device. The fuel cell system prepares for output increases or decreases before receiving the request. It does this by adjusting fuel, air, and water amounts while maintaining power consumption. This virtual secures the necessary power to quickly respond to output requests. The fuel cell system also reduces conversion efficiency in the preliminary operation to create a virtual power consumption.

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Electrical power system with fuel cells that improves fuel efficiency compared to conventional systems. The system has multiple fuel cells and a controller that intelligently manages the operation of the cells based on load requirements. The controller switches between three modes for each cell: a first mode where cells start/stop power generation, a second mode where cells continuously generate power, and a stop mode where cells stop generating power. This dynamic mode switching improves fuel efficiency compared to continuously running cells under low load conditions.

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Fuel cell system that can uniformly supply fuel gas and prevent soot formation. It uses water vapor generated during power generation and mixes it with fuel gas using a reforming catalyst. The water vapor retention member has exhaust ports to allow uniform gas flow and prevent concentration that can cause soot.

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High efficiency, low emission integrated system that produces hydrogen and electricity using a fuel cell with an integrated steam methane reformer (SMR) to convert natural gas to hydrogen. The system includes a water-gas shift reactor, absorber column, PSA purification system, and other components to increase the hydrogen concentration from the SMR and remove impurities. The system also recycles CO2-rich flashed gas and anode exhaust to the SMR to increase heat production.

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Method for controlling a fuel cell power supply system to provide adaptive power output for loads that can change over time. The method involves measuring the battery charge and load power, then controlling the fuel cell based on three operating modes. The modes are: 1) charge mode where the fuel cell provides excess power to charge the battery, 2) discharge mode where the fuel cell provides power to the load while depleting the battery, and 3) transitional mode where the fuel cell balances load power and battery charge. Transitions between modes are determined by load power and battery charge. This adaptive control improves efficiency and reduces overconsumption compared to fixed fuel cell power output.

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Fuel cell system with intelligent power management to reduce fuel cell stack degradation due to power fluctuations. The system switches between three power generation states for the fuel cell stack based on load demand and battery charge. It calculates a reference power based on actual fuel cell performance. Then it updates the intermediate power level to match the reference. This prevents sudden power transitions that can stress the fuel cell. By keeping the intermediate power close to the reference, it reduces stack cycling and degradation.

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A fuel cell system that prevents local drying and deterioration in fuel cells by dynamically adjusting power generation. The system has multiple fuel cells and a control device to allocate power to each cell based on total required power. When total power stays constant for a certain time, it updates the power assignments to change generation levels in some cells. This prevents continuous constant output that can lead to local issues like drying or poor drainage in cells. The updated assignments aim to balance generated power across cells and prevent local issues.

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A fuel cell membrane electrode assembly with high catalytic activity and improved tolerance to carbon monoxide. The assembly has a cathode with a highly active oxygen reduction catalyst distributed homogeneously in an ionomer. The anode has a hydrogen oxidation catalyst and a CO oxidation catalyst. The ratio of platinum in the hydrogen oxidation catalyst to the CO oxidation catalyst is greater than 3:1. The total platinum loading is less than 0.4 mg/cm2.

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Fuel cell power system with reliable and efficient power distribution for applications like vehicles or backup power. The system uses multiple fuel cell modules, a lithium battery, DC/DC converters, and energy controllers. The controllers optimize power distribution between the cells based on parameters like fuel cell voltage, battery SOC, and converter circuitry. This allows following the optimal reference power for each converter to balance load and optimize overall efficiency.

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Method to optimize power output from fuel cells without using external DC-DC converters that have high losses. The method involves detecting the load's power demand, allocating fuel cells to supply power based on load requirements, and adjusting the fuel cell voltages to keep them in the optimal range. This avoids the losses of conventional DC-DC converters while still providing regulated power.

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Fuel cell system and power generation system that maximizes fuel cell efficiency during vehicle operation to improve performance and longevity. The system monitors fuel cell efficiency and dynamically adjusts the fuel cell current to the most efficient level when efficiency changes. This prevents operation in regions where efficiency is low. It also slightly varies the fuel cell current during normal operation to approach maximum efficiency. This allows the fuel cell to operate at optimal efficiency levels throughout its usage. This improves fuel cell performance and reduces deterioration compared to fixed output operation.

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Optimizing hydrogen consumption in power supply systems for electric vehicles with both batteries and fuel cells by intelligently managing when and how much power comes from each source. The method involves monitoring battery state, power requirements, and setpoints, then dynamically adjusting power allocation between battery and fuel cell to efficiently meet demands while minimizing hydrogen usage.

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Fuel cell system with improved startup and voltage management to avoid high potential issues and optimize power output. The system uses a step-up converter to boost fuel cell voltage. During fuel cell stop, the converter charges the secondary battery instead of allowing high cell voltage. This prevents high potentials. To start, the system checks if cell voltage reaches a threshold while supplying air and hydrogen. If not, it waits. This ensures a viable cell count without high cell count penalties. After start, the system increases air flow to prevent cell starvation.

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Improving the power generation contribution ratio of a fuel cell power generation system to the load power while using the existing fuel cell power generation device. The system has a load detection device, output control device, and fuel cell power generator. When the fuel cell power output is less than the load, it increases output at a rate. When equal or greater, it reduces output at a slower rate. This prevents rapid fluctuations in output vs load, improving contribution.

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Operating a fuel cell system to reduce carbon deposition and coking by limiting current output from the fuel cell stack based on temperature, fuel supply, and hydrogen consumption. The current output is capped to prevent under-fueled conditions that promote carbon buildup.

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Active fuel cell system that can operate independently without external support. The system integrates components like energy storage, consumption, generation, and conversion. It allows the fuel cell stack to work independently by storing excess power during fuel cell operation, then using it to power components like compressors and pumps when the stack isn't generating power. A controller manages the components. This makes the fuel cell system an active, standalone energy device instead of relying on external power sources.

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Optimizing the control of fuel cell engine systems in vehicles to extend the life of the fuel cells by preventing prolonged high potential and frequent start-stop operation that degrades fuel cell performance. The method involves preferentially using a single fuel cell stack to meet power demands instead of simultaneously running two stacks. This reduces the time the cells spend in high potential states that corrode the catalyst and degrade performance. If single stack power isn't enough, the dual stack is used.

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Power supply system for electric vehicles with fuel cells that can prevent fuel cell degradation by maintaining a minimum power output level during low load conditions. The system intelligently adjusts the fuel cell's minimum power output based on the generated power trend. It calculates a lower limit power based on previous fuel cell output, then during low load periods, forces the fuel cell to generate at least that minimum level. This prevents the fuel cell from going too low and deteriorating.

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Power control system for fuel cell vehicles that reduces the variability of fuel cell power output to improve durability and efficiency. The system calculates the average power requirement over a set time for devices consuming fuel cell power. It then adjusts the fuel cell output to match this average demand. This prevents excessive fluctuations in fuel cell power that can cause deterioration and energy waste.

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Power generation control system for electric vehicles with multiple fuel cell systems to balance degradation across the cells. The system coordinates the operation of the fuel cell stack based on their individual states, the battery charge, and required power demand. This aims to limit overall degradation across the fuel cell stack by optimizing operation based on the stack's health and battery charge level.

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Optimizing power generation from multiple fuel cell systems in an electric vehicle by coordinating their operation based on individual cell health. The system has a central controller that coordinates multiple fuel cell systems in the vehicle. Each cell has a local controller that manages its own operation. The central controller acquires the cell health from the local controllers and sets power generation levels for all cells to balance their states. This prevents imbalances that degrade cell life. It also determines the optimal number of cells to operate based on overall vehicle power demand and cell health.

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