US 12,119,524 B2
Fuel cell assembly and associated method of operation
Sean Ashton, Loughborough (GB); Zachary Elliott, Loughborough (GB); Harry Karmazyn, Loughborough (GB); and Kevin Kupcho, Loughborough (GB)
Assigned to Intelligent Energy Limited, Loughborouch (GB)
Appl. No. 15/534,464
Filed by Intelligent Energy Limited, Loughborough (GB)
PCT Filed Dec. 7, 2015, PCT No. PCT/GB2015/053737
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 8, 2017,
PCT Pub. No. WO2016/092277, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 16, 2016.
Claims priority of application No. 1421778 (GB), filed on Dec. 8, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2017/0352904 A1, Dec. 7, 2017
Int. Cl. H01M 8/04858 (2016.01); H01M 8/0202 (2016.01); H01M 8/04223 (2016.01); H01M 8/04225 (2016.01); H01M 8/04228 (2016.01); H01M 8/04302 (2016.01); H01M 8/04303 (2016.01); H01M 8/0432 (2016.01); H01M 8/0438 (2016.01); H01M 8/0444 (2016.01); H01M 8/04492 (2016.01); H01M 8/04537 (2016.01); H01M 8/04701 (2016.01); H01M 8/04746 (2016.01); H01M 8/04955 (2016.01); H01M 8/24 (2016.01); H01M 8/2484 (2016.01)
CPC H01M 8/04865 (2013.01) [H01M 8/0202 (2013.01); H01M 8/04225 (2016.02); H01M 8/04228 (2016.02); H01M 8/04238 (2013.01); H01M 8/04246 (2013.01); H01M 8/04302 (2016.02); H01M 8/04303 (2016.02); H01M 8/0432 (2013.01); H01M 8/0438 (2013.01); H01M 8/0444 (2013.01); H01M 8/04492 (2013.01); H01M 8/04544 (2013.01); H01M 8/04552 (2013.01); H01M 8/04559 (2013.01); H01M 8/04582 (2013.01); H01M 8/04701 (2013.01); H01M 8/04753 (2013.01); H01M 8/04873 (2013.01); H01M 8/0488 (2013.01); H01M 8/04955 (2013.01); H01M 8/24 (2013.01); H01M 8/2484 (2016.02)] 3 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fuel cell assembly comprising a plurality of serially connected fuel cells connected together for collectively providing power to a load, the assembly comprising:
a plurality of conditioning switches, each of the conditioning switches being associated with one fuel cell or a group of fuel cells of the plurality of serially connected fuel cells, each fuel cell having a catalyst layer, and configured to selectively provide an electrical connection between an anode and a cathode of its associated fuel cell or group of fuel cells for controlling a voltage thereof;
wherein each of the conditioning switches (i) selectively provides the respective electrical connection in a first mode of operation of the fuel cell assembly and (ii) deactivates the respective electrical connection in a second mode of operation of the fuel cell assembly; and
a controller programmed to actuate, responsive to a measure of a fuel cell performance passing a threshold, the conditioning switches associated with said fuel cell or group of fuel cells to selectively provide its electrical connection in the first mode of operation; and,
in which the controller is programmed to actuate the conditioning switches to selectively provide its respective electrical connection between initiation of an increase in reactant flow through the fuel cell assembly and reactant flow rate or pressure causing a pressure front reaching a predetermined level; and,
whereby, damage to the catalyst layer of the fuel cells from the pressure front and a reverse current decay is reduced.