Patent ID: 9726635
Date: 2017-08-08
CPC Classifications: B01D,C01B,G01N,H01M,Y02E

Claim:
1. A hydrogen purity monitor having a controller to process output voltages from at least two fuel cells utilizing the comparison result to indicate fuel purity comprising: a first fuel cell configured to generate electrical current from the electrochemical reaction of hydrogen and oxidant, having a first fuel inlet configured to receive hydrogen from a first hydrogen source; a second fuel cell configured to generate electrical current from the electrochemical reaction of hydrogen and oxidant, having a second fuel inlet configured to receive hydrogen from a second hydrogen source; a control system configured to apply an electrical load to each fuel cell and determine an electrical output of each fuel cell, the control system including a comparator for comparing the electrical outputs of the first and second fuel cells; and a purity monitor output configured to give an indication of hydrogen purity based on an output of the comparator; wherein the first hydrogen source comprises a reference hydrogen source of higher purity and the second hydrogen source comprises a test hydrogen source of lower purity; and wherein the first fuel cell and the second fuel cell are disposed within the hydrogen purity monitor such that the ambient conditions for operation of the first fuel cell and the second fuel cell are substantially the same; wherein the ambient conditions for operation of the first fuel cell and the second fuel cell that are substantially the same comprise at least one factor that affects fuel cell performance; wherein the at least one factor that affects fuel cell performance comprises at least one of humidity, temperature, pressure, and air contamination.