Daniel Charles Folick

US Patent:

20190181464, Jun 13, 2019

Filed:

Dec 8, 2017

Appl. No.:

15/836740

Inventors:

- Erlanger KY, US
Daniel Folick - Long Beach CA, US

International Classification:

H01M 8/04089
H01M 8/04992

Abstract:

A system includes a compressor to pump a gas at a compressor flow rate, and a fuel cell stack that receives the gas. The system also includes a memory to store a compressor flow map corresponding to a desirable progression shape of the compressor flow rate from a starting compressor flow rate to a target compressor flow rate over a period of time. The system also includes an ECU to determine or receive a control signal corresponding to a final target compressor flow rate and to determine the starting compressor flow rate. The ECU also determines an intermediate target compressor flow rate using the compressor flow map based on the final target compressor flow rate, the starting compressor flow rate, and an amount of time since determining or receiving the control signal, and controls the compressor based on the intermediate target compressor flow rate.

US Patent:

20190181475, Jun 13, 2019

Filed:

Dec 8, 2017

Appl. No.:

15/836743

Inventors:

- Erlanger KY, US
Daniel Folick - Long Beach CA, US
Shigeki Hasegawa - Aichi, JP
Naoki Tomi - Aichi, JP

International Classification:

H01M 8/04746
H01M 8/04111
H01M 8/0438
H01M 8/04082
H01M 8/04992

Abstract:

A system for providing oxygen to a fuel cell circuit includes a compressor and a fuel cell stack having a plurality of fuel cells. The system also includes a plurality of pipes and a pressure sensor designed to detect pressure at a first location. The system also includes a memory to store a model of the fuel cell circuit and an ECU. The ECU determines a control signal corresponding to desirable operation of the compressor and determines flow values of the gas through each component based on the detected pressure and the model of the fuel cell circuit. The ECU also determines pressure values of each component based on the determined flow values and the model of the fuel cell circuit. The ECU also controls operation of the compressor based on the control signal, at least one of the flow values, and at least one of the pressure values.

US Patent:

20190181477, Jun 13, 2019

Filed:

Dec 8, 2017

Appl. No.:

15/836716

Inventors:

- Erlanger KY, US
Daniel Folick - Long Beach CA, US
Shigeki Hasegawa - Aichi, JP
Naoki Tomi - Aichi, JP

International Classification:

H01M 8/04992
H01M 8/04746
H01M 8/24

Abstract:

A system for controlling airflow through a fuel cell circuit includes a fuel cell stack. The system also includes a valve having a valve position that affects a pressure of the gas and a valve area corresponding to a cross-sectional area of the valve through which the gas may flow. The system also includes a memory designed to store a map or function that correlates the valve area to the valve position. The system also includes an ECU to determine or receive a desired mass flow rate of the gas through the valve, and calculate a desired valve area to achieve the desired mass flow rate. The ECU is also designed to compare the desired valve area to the map or function to determine a desired valve position that provides the desired valve area, and to control the valve to have the desired valve position.

US Patent:

20190165387, May 30, 2019

Filed:

Nov 28, 2017

Appl. No.:

15/824904

Inventors:

- Erlanger KY, US
Daniel Folick - Long Beach CA, US
Naoki Tomi - Aichi, JP
Shigeki Hasegawa - Aichi, JP
Kentaro Fukuda - Aichi, JP

International Classification:

H01M 8/04029
H01M 8/04119
B60L 11/18
H01M 8/0432

Abstract:

A system includes a fuel cell stack having a plurality of fuel cells and designed to receive a fluid and to heat the fluid. The system also includes an actuator to increase or decrease a fluid temperature of the fluid and an ECU. The ECU can determine a temperature control signal corresponding to a desired temperature of the fluid and perform a feedforward control of the actuator to increase or decrease the fluid temperature towards the desired temperature. The ECU can also determine a temperature difference between the fluid temperature and the desired temperature, and can determine a sensitivity that corresponds a change in a parameter value or the actuator position to a change in the fluid temperature. The ECU can also apply the sensitivity to the temperature difference to determine an error signal, and control the actuator based on the error signal.

US Patent:

20190165396, May 30, 2019

Filed:

Nov 28, 2017

Appl. No.:

15/824934

Inventors:

- Erlanger KY, US
Daniel Folick - Long Beach CA, US
Shigeki Hasegawa - Aichi, JP
Kentaro Fukuda - Aichi, JP

International Classification:

H01M 8/04701
H01M 8/0432
H01M 8/04992
H01M 8/04746

Abstract:

A system for heating or cooling a fuel cell circuit includes a fuel cell stack designed to receive a fluid. The system also includes a temperature sensor to detect a fluid temperature of the fluid, an actuator to increase or decrease the fluid temperature, and an electronic control unit (ECU). The ECU is designed to receive a target fuel cell temperature corresponding to the fuel cell stack and based on a power request, to determine a temperature rate of change corresponding to a desired rate of temperature change of a current fuel cell temperature of the fuel cell stack to achieve the target fuel cell temperature based on the target fuel cell temperature, and to control the actuator to increase or decrease the fluid temperature based on the temperature rate of change to cause the current fuel cell temperature to increase or decrease to the target fuel cell temperature.