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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