Control valves and fuel cell systems

The control valve in the fuel cell system addresses reliability issues by adjusting flow rates through distinct operational regions, ensuring stable and efficient anode gas supply to the jet pump, thereby improving system performance and reducing wear.

JP2026073745APending Publication Date: 2026-05-01ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
Filing Date
2024-10-18
Publication Date
2026-05-01

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing fuel cell systems with jet pumps in the anode gas supply circuit face reliability issues due to pressure oscillations, wear, and difficulty in flow rate control, particularly in low flow rate ranges, which are exacerbated by the use of conventional on/off and proportional control valves.

Method used

A control valve with a valve body that adjusts flow rate based on current value, featuring first and second drive regions to maintain or change flow rate independently of lift amount, ensuring stable operation and reducing wear.

Benefits of technology

The control valve enhances the reliability of the fuel cell system by maintaining high flow rates and reducing wear, even at low power generation levels, while efficiently drawing in anode off-gas.

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Abstract

This improves the reliability of fuel cell systems that incorporate a jet pump in the anode gas supply circuit. [Solution] A jet pump (35) mixes anode off gas discharged from a fuel cell (10) with anode gas supplied from a gas supply source (31) and delivers it. A control valve (50) that controls the flow rate of anode gas supplied from the gas supply source (31) includes a valve body (54, 90) whose lift amount (L_v) changes according to the supplied current value (C_v), and has a first drive region (Ad1) in which the flow rate of anode gas (F_g) changes according to the change in the lift amount (L_v) of the valve body (54, 90), and a second drive region (Ad2) in which the flow rate of anode gas (F_g) is maintained regardless of the change in the lift amount (L_v) of the valve body (54).
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Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • Fuel cell anode system and fuel cell anode system control method

    WO2016080110A1