US 12,444,758 B2
Fuel cell regeneration
Richard Ancimer, Toronto (CA); and Ashok Kumar, Columbus, IN (US)
Assigned to CUMMINS INC., Columbus, IN (US)
Filed by Cummins Inc., Columbus, IN (US)
Filed on Aug. 15, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/888,194.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/234,994, filed on Aug. 19, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0056450 A1, Feb. 23, 2023
Int. Cl. H01M 8/04119 (2016.01); H01M 8/04089 (2016.01); H01M 8/04298 (2016.01); H01M 8/04313 (2016.01); H01M 8/04701 (2016.01); H01M 8/04746 (2016.01); H01M 8/04828 (2016.01); H01M 8/04858 (2016.01)
CPC H01M 8/04126 (2013.01) [H01M 8/04097 (2013.01); H01M 8/04305 (2013.01); H01M 8/04313 (2013.01); H01M 8/04701 (2013.01); H01M 8/04753 (2013.01); H01M 8/04828 (2013.01); H01M 8/04902 (2013.01); H01M 8/0491 (2013.01); H01M 2250/20 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of regenerating degradation of a fuel cell or fuel cell stack, comprising:
monitoring time spent operating the fuel cell or fuel cell stack above a threshold voltage,
determining a need for regenerating the degradation of the fuel cell or fuel cell stack,
regenerating the degradation of the fuel cell or fuel cell stack when time spent operating the fuel cell or fuel cell stack is above a threshold time by:
increasing humidity in the fuel cell or fuel cell stack,
changing an operating current density of the fuel cell or fuel cell stack to an intermediate current density of about 0.2 A/cm2 to about 0.8 A/cm2,
implementing intermittent non-open circuit voltage that is based on the threshold voltage, and
ending regeneration of the fuel cell or fuel cell stack.