Electrochemical cell system output control method and apparatus

Abstract

In one embodiment, a storage medium encoded with machine-readable program instructions for controlling a gas output from an electrochemical cell electrically connected to an electrical source, can include instructions for causing a machine to implement a method. The method can comprise: receiving a sensed signal indicating a parameter of the gas output, comparing the sensed signal to a predetermined value, and providing an information signal to the electrical source when the sensed signal differs from the predetermined value by an amount greater than a predetermined variance.

1 . A storage medium encoded with machine-readable program instructions for controlling a gas output from an electrochemical cell electrically connected to an electrical source, the storage medium including instructions for causing a machine to implement a method comprising: 
 receiving a sensed signal indicating a parameter of said gas output;    comparing said sensed signal to a predetermined value; and    providing an information signal to said electrical source when said sensed signal differs from said predetermined value by an amount greater than a predetermined variance.    
     
     
         2 . The storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein said parameter is a pressure of said gas output, and said predetermined value is indicative of a predetermined pressure.  
     
     
         3 . The storage medium  claim 1 , further comprising instructions for causing a computer to implement: 
 receiving said predetermined value and said predetermined variance from a remote computer.    
     
     
         4 . The storage medium of  claim 1 , further comprising instructions for causing a computer to implement: 
 adjusting a variable based on feedback from said electrical source, wherein said variable is selected from the group consisting of said predetermined value, said predetermined variance, and a combination thereof.    
     
     
         5 . A storage medium encoded with machine-readable program instructions for controlling a gas output from an electrochemical cell electrically connected to an electrical source, the storage medium including instructions for causing a machine to implement a method comprising: 
 receiving a sensed signal indicative of a parameter of said gas output;    retrieving a predetermined upper value from a memory device;    comparing said sensed signal to said predetermined upper value; and    providing a lower signal to said electrical source when said sensed signal is greater than said predetermined upper value.    
     
     
         6 . The storage medium of  claim 5 , further comprising instructions for causing a computer to implement: 
 retrieving a predetermined lower value from a memory device;    comparing said sensed signal to said predetermined lower value; and    providing an increase signal to said electrical source when said sensed signal is less than said predetermined lower value.    
     
     
         7 . The storage medium of  claim 6 , wherein said parameter is a pressure of said gas output, said predetermined upper value is indicative of an upper limit set point for gas output pressure, and said predetermined lower value is indicative of a lower limit set point for gas output pressure.  
     
     
         8 . The storage medium of  claim 6 , further comprising instructions for causing a computer to implement: 
 receiving said predetermined upper value from a remote computer.    
     
     
         9 . The storage medium of  claim 6 , further comprising instructions for causing a computer to implement: 
 adjusting a variable based on feedback from said electrical source, wherein said variable is selected from the group consisting of said predetermined upper value, said predetermined lower value, and a combination thereof.    
     
     
         10 . A storage medium encoded with machine-readable program instructions for controlling a gas output from an electrochemical cell electrically connected to an electrical source, the storage medium including instructions for causing a machine to implement a method comprising: 
 receiving a sensed signal indicating a parameter of said gas output;    retrieving a predetermined value from a memory device, wherein said predetermined value is indicative of an expected increase in said parameter over a period of time;    monitoring said sensed signal over said period of time to determine an increase in said parameter; and    providing an information signal when said increase in said parameter is less than said expected increase in said parameter, wherein said information signal is provided to a device selected from the group consisting of an alarm, said electrical source, and a combination thereof.    
     
     
         11 . The storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein said parameter is a pressure of said gas output.  
     
     
         12 . The storage medium of  claim 10 , further comprising instructions for causing a computer to implement: 
 receiving said predetermined value from a remote computer.    
     
     
         13 . The storage medium of  claim 10 , further comprising instructions for causing a computer to implement: 
 adjusting said predetermined value based on feedback from said electrical source.    
     
     
         14 . The storage medium of  claim 10 , further comprising instructions for causing a computer to implement: 
 determining said predetermined value based on a quantity of energy supplied to said electrochemical cell.    
     
     
         15 . A method of controlling a gas output from an electrochemical cell electrically connected to an electrical source, the method comprising: 
 sensing a parameter of said gas output;    creating a sensed signal indicative of said parameter;    providing a predetermined value to a memory device from a remote computer, wherein said predetermined value is indicative of an expected increase in said parameter over a period of time;    monitoring change in said sensed signal over said period of time;    determining whether said change in said sensed signal is less than said expected increase; and    if said change is less than said expected increase, providing an information signal to said electrical source.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said parameter is a pressure of said gas output, and wherein said expected increase is a predetermined increase in pressure over time.  
     
     
         17 . A storage medium encoded with machine-readable program instructions for controlling a gas output from an electrochemical cell electrically connected to an electrical source, the storage medium including instructions for causing a machine to implement a method comprising: 
 receiving a sensed signal indicative of a pressure of said gas output;    remotely providing a predetermined pressure value and a predetermined variance;    comparing said sensed signal to said predetermined pressure value; and    providing an information signal to said electrical source when said sensed signal differs from said predetermined pressure value by an amount greater than said predetermined variance.