OPERATIONAL CONTROL OF FUEL CELLS

摘要

Various examples are provided for operational control of fuel cells. In one example, among others, a system for controlling a fuel cell includes a stack temperature controller in cascade with a liquid level controller. The liquid level controller can provide a control output based at least in part upon an indication of a liquid level of a liquid fuel tank and a level reference. The stack temperature controller can provide a fan speed control output based at least in part upon an indication of a stack temperature of the fuel cell and the control output of the liquid level controller. In another example, a system for estimating methanol concentration of a fuel cell system includes a state observer that generates an estimate of the methanol concentration of fuel provided to a direct methanol fuel cell based upon a plurality of states of the fuel cell system.

主权项

1. A system for operational control of a fuel cell, comprising:
the fuel cell comprising an anode chamber operable to receive fuel from a liquid fuel tank and a cathode chamber operable to receive ambient air; a liquid level controller operable to provide a control output based at least in part upon an indication of a liquid level of the liquid fuel tank and a level reference; and a stack temperature controller in cascade with the liquid level controller, the stack temperature controller operable to provide a fan speed control output based at least in part upon an indication of a stack temperature of the fuel cell and the control output of the liquid level controller, where ambient air received by the cathode chamber is based at least in part upon the fan speed control output.