US 12,347,904 B2
Look ahead energy management and control systems and methods to improve fuel cell system performance, durability, and life
Avinash Vallur Rajendran, Indianapolis, IN (US); Archit Koti, Sunnyvale, CA (US); Guangji Ji, Wuhan (CN); Loren DeVries, Indianapolis, IN (US); Charles Vesely, Andover, MN (US); Vivek Sujan, Columbus, IN (US); Elizabeth Weitzel, Columbus, IN (US); and Patrick Kaufman, Vacaville, CA (US)
Assigned to CUMMINS INC., Columbus, IN (US)
Filed by CUMMINS INC., Columbus, IN (US)
Filed on Feb. 3, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/592,236.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/147,995, filed on Feb. 10, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0255100 A1, Aug. 11, 2022
Int. Cl. H01M 8/04992 (2016.01); B60L 3/00 (2019.01); B60L 50/60 (2019.01); B60L 50/70 (2019.01); H01M 8/04082 (2016.01); H01M 8/04746 (2016.01); H01M 8/10 (2016.01)
CPC H01M 8/04992 (2013.01) [B60L 3/0046 (2013.01); B60L 3/0053 (2013.01); B60L 50/60 (2019.02); B60L 50/70 (2019.02); H01M 8/04201 (2013.01); H01M 8/04753 (2013.01); H01M 2008/1095 (2013.01); H01M 2250/20 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A look ahead energy management and control system to reduce or prevent transients in a fuel cell system, comprising:
one or more sensors operably connected to one or more data sources and configured to detect look ahead technology data related to at least one factor external to the fuel cell system,
an air handling subsystem,
the fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell stack, and
a look ahead controller,
wherein the look ahead technology data is detected by the one or more sensors and communicated to the look ahead controller which predicts transients based on the look ahead technology data,
wherein the look ahead controller proactively prompts the air handling subsystem to release excess oxygen to the fuel cell system, and the look ahead controller does not increase an amount of fuel being provided to the fuel cell system while the air handling subsystem releases the excess oxygen, and
wherein the fuel cell system reduces or prevents predicted transients of the fuel cell stack thereby extending the life of the fuel cell system.