Claims
- 1. A control network for an integrated fuel cell system, comprising:
a fuel cell having an output power, the fuel cell having a voltage and an output current; a controller adapted to vary a reactant flow to the fuel cell; an electrical load connected to the fuel cell such that the fuel cell output power is supplied to the electrical load; an electrical load sensor adapted to communicate a measurement of the electrical load to the controller; wherein the controller is adapted to monitor a change in the electrical load, and wherein the controller is further adapted to vary the reactant flow when the change in the electrical load exceeds a first predetermined level; and wherein the controller is further adapted to delay varying the reactant flow for a first predetermined period.
- 2. The control network of claim 1, wherein the fuel cell is a PEM fuel cell.
- 3. The control network of claim 1, wherein the reactant flow comprises hydrogen.
- 4. The control network of claim 1, wherein the electrical load comprises a residential appliance.
- 5. The control network of claim 1, wherein the predetermined level is 110 percent of the fuel cell output power.
- 6. The control network of claim 1, wherein the first predetermined period is less than 1 second.
- 7. The control network of claim 1, further comprising a fuel cell voltage sensor adapted to communicate a voltage of the fuel cell to the controller; and
wherein the controller is adapted to increase the reactant flow when the voltage of the fuel cell is below a second predetermined level.
- 8. The control network of claim 7, wherein the controller is further adapted to lower the reactant flow until the voltage of the fuel cell is at least as low as the second the predetermined level.
- 9. The control network of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a computer readable memory, and the controller is adapted to store a reactant flow instruction referenced to a fuel cell electrical output parameter.
- 10. The control network of claim 1, further comprising a supplemental power source, wherein the controller is adapted to supply power to the electrical load from the supplemental power source when the electrical load exceeds a third predetermined level.
- 11. The control network of claim 1, further comprising a supplemental power source, wherein the controller is adapted to supply power to the electrical load from the supplemental power source during the predetermined period.
- 12. A method of controlling an integrated fuel cell system, comprising:
determining whether a power output of a fuel cell is within a first predetermined range of an electrical load coupled to the fuel cell; lowering a reactant flow to the fuel cell when the power output is within the first predetermined range; detecting an increase of the electrical load; determining whether the increase exceeds a second predetermined range; and increasing a reactant flow to the fuel cell when the increase exceeds the second predetermined range.
- 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:
measuring a voltage of the fuel cell and communicating the voltage to the controller; increasing the reactant flow when the voltage of the fuel cell is below a second predetermined level.
- 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:
decreasing the reactant flow until the voltage of the fuel cell is at least as low as the second the predetermined level.
- 15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:
storing a reactant flow instruction referenced to a fuel cell electrical output parameter in a computer readable memory.
- 16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:
supplying power to the electrical load from a supplemental power source when the electrical load exceeds a third predetermined level.
- 17. The method of claim 12, further comprising:
supplying power to the electrical load from a supplemental power source during a predetermined period when the electrical load exceeds a third predetermined level.
- 18. A method of controlling an integrated fuel cell system, comprising:
determining whether a power output of a fuel cell is within a first predetermined range of an electrical load coupled to the fuel cell; executing a steady state algorithm when the power output is within the predetermined range; executing an up-transient algorithm when the power output is lower than the predetermined range; executing a down transient algorithm when the power output is greater than the predetermined range; wherein the steady state algorithm comprises maintaining a reactant flow above a predetermined level; wherein the up-transient algorithm comprises increasing the reactant flow; and wherein the down-transient algorithm comprises decreasing the reactant flow.
- 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:
measuring a voltage of the fuel cell and communicating the voltage to the controller; increasing the reactant flow when the voltage of the fuel cell is below a second predetermined level.
- 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:
decreasing the reactant flow until the voltage of the fuel cell is at least as low as the second the predetermined level.
- 21. The method of claim 18, further comprising:
storing a reactant flow instruction referenced to a fuel cell electrical output parameter in a computer readable memory.
- 22. The method of claim 18, further comprising:
supplying power to the electrical load from a supplemental power source when the electrical load exceeds a third predetermined level.
- 23. The method of claim 18, further comprising:
supplying power to the electrical load from a supplemental power source during a predetermined period when the electrical load exceeds a third predetermined level.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 USC 119(e) from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/294,710, filed May 31, 2001, naming Jones and Parks inventors, and titled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING AN INTEGRATED FUEL CELL SYSTEM.” That application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and for all purposes.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60294710 |
May 2001 |
US |