US 12,249,743 B2
Method for controlling humidity in a fuel cell
Gino Paganelli, Cottens (CH); and Lionel Jeanrichard-dit-Bressel, Formangueires (CH)
Assigned to Symbio, Fontaine (FR)
Filed by Symbio, Fontaine (FR)
Filed on Apr. 30, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/245,608.
Claims priority of application No. 2004319 (FR), filed on Apr. 30, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0344027 A1, Nov. 4, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H01M 8/04828 (2016.01); H01M 8/04119 (2016.01); H01M 50/414 (2021.01); H01M 50/497 (2021.01)
CPC H01M 8/04828 (2013.01) [H01M 8/04179 (2013.01); H01M 50/414 (2021.01); H01M 50/497 (2021.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for controlling humidity in a fuel cell, the method comprising:
feeding hydrogen to the fuel cell at a nominal pressure at an inlet of the fuel cell; and
repeating, with an electronic control unit, the following steps at a predetermined periodicity:
at a first moment in time, opening a hydrogen purge valve arranged on an outlet of an anode circuit of the fuel cell, wherein the opening of the hydrogen purge valve evacuates liquid water present at the anode and gases;
measuring a pressure of hydrogen at an inlet to the anode circuit of the fuel cell, and comparing the measured value of the pressure of hydrogen at the inlet to the anode circuit to a predetermined threshold pressure value, wherein the predetermined threshold pressure value is equal to a hydrogen pressure at which liquid water stops being evacuated via the open hydrogen purge valve;
at a second moment in time, closing the hydrogen purge valve when the measured pressure of the hydrogen at the inlet to the anode circuit is equal to or lower than the predetermined threshold pressure value;
measuring an opening time of the hydrogen purge valve, as a time difference between the first moment in time and the second moment in time;
comparing the measured opening time of the hydrogen purge valve to a pre-set threshold opening time value;
determining a humidity level prevailing at a cathode of the fuel cell from the result of the comparison of the measured opening time of the hydrogen purge valve to the pre-set threshold opening time value; and
adjusting the operation of the fuel cell when the measured opening time of the hydrogen purge valve exceeds the pre-set threshold opening time value to decrease the humidity prevailing at the cathode of the fuel cell;
thereby controlling the humidity in the fuel cell.