Fuel cell power system performing AC inversion, method of distributing AC power, and method of operating a fuel cell power system
First Claim
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1. A fuel cell power system, comprising:
- a fuel cell which generates DC voltage;
a plurality of energy storage devices selectively electrically coupled with the fuel cell; and
circuitry for sequentially selectively electrically coupling and decoupling the respective energy storage devices to a load in a manner which approximates a voltage sine wave.
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Abstract
A fuel cell power system, comprising a fuel cell which generates DC voltage; a plurality of energy storage devices selectively electrically coupled with the fuel cell; and circuitry for sequentially selectively electrically coupling and decoupling the respective energy storage devices to a load in a manner which approximates a voltage sine wave.
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Citations
50 Claims
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1. A fuel cell power system, comprising:
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a fuel cell which generates DC voltage;
a plurality of energy storage devices selectively electrically coupled with the fuel cell; and
circuitry for sequentially selectively electrically coupling and decoupling the respective energy storage devices to a load in a manner which approximates a voltage sine wave. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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12. A fuel cell power system, comprising:
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means for electrochemically converting hydrogen to DC voltage;
a plurality of means defining capacitances selectively electrically coupled with the means for electrochemically converting hydrogen;
electrochemical energy storage means coupled in parallel to each capacitance defining means and means for sequentially selectively electrically coupling and decoupling the respective energy storage devices to a load in a manner which approximates a voltage sine wave.
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21. A fuel cell power system, comprising:
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a plurality of fuel cells which respectively generate DC voltage while operating;
a plurality of ultracapacitors, each ultracapacitor having a voltage condition;
circuitry which, when operating, electrically couples a fuel cell to an ultracapacitor in response to the voltage of that ultracapacitor being less than a first predetermined voltage, and electrically de-couples the fuel cell from the ultracapacitor in response to the voltage of that ultracapacitor being greater than a second predetermined voltage; and
circuitry which, when operating, selectively electrically couples and decouples ultracapacitors to and from a load at different times, the times and number of ultracapacitors electrically coupled to the load at any of those times being selected by the circuitry so as to approximate a voltage sine wave, whereby the fuel cell power system performs AC inversion. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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28. A fuel cell power system comprising:
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a plurality of fuel cells, each fuel cell being defined by a plurality of fuel cell subsystems electrically coupled together in series, each fuel cell subsystem, in operation, producing direct current electrical energy;
a plurality of ultracapacitors, the ultracapacitors being associated with respective fuel cells, each ultracapacitor having a voltage condition;
a switch electrically coupled to each fuel cell to selectively electrically couple the fuel cell to its associated ultracapacitor; and
control circuitry to cause the switches, for each fuel cell, to electrically couple the fuel cell to the associated ultracapacitor in response to the voltage of that ultracapacitor being less than a first predetermined voltage, and to electrically de-couple the fuel cell from the associated ultracapacitor in response to the voltage of that ultracapacitor being greater than a second predetermined voltage, the control circuitry further causing the switches couple and de-couple ultracapacitors to and from a load at different times, the times and number of ultracapacitors electrically coupled to the load at any of those times being selected by the control circuitry so as to approximate a voltage sine wave.
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36. A method of operating a fuel cell power system, comprising:
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providing a plurality of fuel cells which, in operation, respectively produce direct current electrical energy;
providing a plurality of ultracapacitors, each ultracapacitor having a voltage condition;
electrically coupling a fuel cell to an ultracapacitor when the voltage of that ultracapacitor is less than a first predetermined voltage, and electrically decoupling the fuel cell from the ultracapacitor when the voltage of that ultracapacitor is greater than a second predetermined voltage; and
selectively coupling and de-coupling the individual ultracapacitors to and from a load at different times, the times and number of ultracapacitors electrically coupled to the load at any of those times being selected so as to approximate a voltage sine wave.
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43. A method of distributing electrical AC power, which is generated by a fuel cell power system, to a load, comprising:
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defining a plurality of fuel cells by electrically coupling a plurality of fuel cell subsystems together in series to define each fuel cell;
providing a plurality of ultracapacitors, the ultracapacitors being associated with respective fuel cells, and each ultracapacitor having a voltage condition;
providing a switch associated with each fuel cell, and which selectively electrically couples the fuel cell to its associated ultracapacitor; and
selectively controlling the switches to electrically couple a fuel cell to the associated ultracapacitor when the voltage of that ultracapacitor is less than a first predetermined voltage, and to electrically de-couple the fuel cell from the associated ultracapacitor when the voltage of that ultracapacitor is greater than a second predetermined voltage, and further causing the switches to couple and de-couple the respective ultracapacitors to and from a load at different times, the times and number of ultracapacitors electrically coupled to the load at any of those times being selected by the control circuitry so as to approximate a voltage sine wave. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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Specification