Fuel cell and control unit in a detachable housing

• US 20030137193A1
• Filed: 11/25/2002
• Published: 07/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NuCellSys GmbH (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: NuCellSys GmbH (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Belschner, Werner, Sonntag, Josef, Sonntag, Anton, Blutbacher, Reinhold
• Granted Patent: US 7,057,306 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/9.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/30 for monitoring or controlling fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/33 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/34 by heating
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/006 of fuel cells with rechargeable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/20 Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0444 Concentration; Density H01M8/04492 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04559 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04567 of auxiliary devices, e.g. batteries, capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04589 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/247 Arrangements for tightening a stack, for accommodation of a stack in a tank or for assembling different tanks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle (1) with a fuel cell (2) for producing power. The vehicle has a monitoring and switching unit (18) which is detachably attached to the fuel cell housing, in a housing (19).

Claims

1. Apparatus having a fuel cell for producing electrical power and with the electrical power being distributed to electrical loads which are arranged in a high-voltage line network which is connected to the fuel cell, and being distributed to further electrical loads which are arranged in a low-voltage line network, which is connected to the high-voltage line network via a DC/DC converter, characterized in that a central monitoring and switching unit (18) has a housing (19) which can be mounted detachably on the fuel cell housing (20) and in which electrical conductors (25, 32;

26, 33), which are connected via bushings in one housing wall (19) and contact means to in each case one electrical output (21, 22) of the fuel cell (2), are arranged, and of which conductors at least one (25, 32) has a contact (28) of a fuel cell circuit breaker (29), in that the conductors (32, 33) are connected to loads via outgoers (37-46), which (37-41) are provided with fuses in at least one pole, and via bushings in one housing wall (19) and contact means, in that the low-voltage line network (8) is connected via a bushing to a control and evaluation unit (52) which is associated with the central monitoring and switching unit (18), in that the control and evaluation unit (52) is connected via bushings in one housing wall (19) and contact means to sensors for detecting operating states (2) of the apparatus, and in that the bushings in the housing walls (19) are dust-tight and water-tight and the contact means are detachable.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the control and evaluation unit (52) closes the fuel cell circuit breaker (28, 29) when the fuel cell (2) reaches operational readiness and/or, on detection of operating states, which are measured by the sensors and correspond to critical operating states which can be predetermined, opens the fuel cell circuit breaker (28, 29).

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the control and evaluation unit (52) is arranged in the interior of the housing (19), together with the other components of the central monitoring and switching unit (18).

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the control and evaluation unit (52) is arranged in its own housing (88, 99), which is fitted as a cover for an opening on a housing (87, 97) in which a switching and distribution unit (89) for the central monitoring and switching unit (86, 98) is located.

5. Apparatus according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (88, 99) of the control and evaluation unit is thermally insulated from the housing (87, 97) with the components of the switching and distribution unit (89) for the central monitoring and switching unit (86, 98).

6. Apparatus according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control and evaluation unit (52) has a printed circuit board (51) which is fitted with electronic components and is arranged in the interior of the housing. (88, 99) which is in the form of a trough-shaped cover and has an opening facing the opening of the housing (87, 97) with the components of the switching and distribution unit (89).

7. Apparatus according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said apparatus is in the form of a motor vehicle.

8. Apparatus according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dust-tight and water-tight bushings and the easily detachable contact means are plug connectors (23, 24, 47, 56, 59, 70, 72).

9. Apparatus according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control and evaluation unit (52) is connected to gas sensors, which are arranged outside the housing, for the detection of leaks in units of the mobile device which produce hydrogen, store hydrogen or carry hydrogen, to a sensor (35) for the fuel cell current, to at least one sensor which detects an impact between the mobile apparatus and an obstruction, to a device (74) for measurement of the insulation resistance of the electrically insulated high-voltage line network (3), to a sensor for the fuel cell voltage and to a sensor for measurement of the voltage of the low-voltage line network (8), and opens the fuel cell circuit breaker (28) when a measured value is detected which is undesirable or unacceptable for safety reasons.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the control and evaluation unit (52) monitors the voltages of the high-voltage network (3) and of the low-voltage network (8) for limit values which can be predetermined being overshot or undershot, the fuel cell output current for overshooting a limit value which can be predetermined, and the insulation resistance of the high-voltage network (3) for undershooting a limit value which can be predetermined.

11. Apparatus according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (19) is arranged at a point which is not adversely affected, or is adversely affected only to a minor extent, in the event of mechanical destruction of the mobile device.

12. Apparatus according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control and evaluation unit (52) comprises integrated circuits which are arranged on a printed circuit board (51) in the housing (19;

88;

99).

13. Apparatus according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fuel cell (2) can be switched off via a line (85) which can be disconnected from the connection to the fuel cell housing (20) when the housing (19) is removed.

14. Apparatus according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (19;

88;

99) and/or the fuel cell housing (20) have centring or guide means for interlocking attachment of the housing (19) to the fuel cell housing (20).

15. Apparatus according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (19;

88;

99) can be screwed to the fuel cell housing (20), or can be attached by latching means.

16. Apparatus according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (19;

88;

99) can be rigidly attached to the fuel cell housing (20).

17. Apparatus according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a dedicated housing (34) for fuses in the outgoers (37-42) is arranged in the housing (19;

88;

99) of the monitoring and switching unit (18).

18. Apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that the fuses of the high-voltage line network (3) are arranged in a fuse housing, and are accessible via an opening, which can be closed, from outside the housing (19) of the monitoring and switching unit (18).

19. Apparatus according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that the fuses are arranged on a printed circuit board underneath the cover, which can be sealed, of the housing (19) of the monitoring and switching unit (18).

20. Apparatus according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the converter for the drive motor (5) for the mobile device (1) is protected by a fuse in the housing (19).

21. Apparatus according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (19;

88;

99) is composed of metal.

22. Apparatus according to at least one of claims 1 to 20, characterized in that the housing (19;

88;

99) is composed of plastic.

23. Apparatus according to at least one of claims 1 to 20, characterized in that the housing (19) is composed of metal and plastic parts.

24. Apparatus according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (19) of the monitoring and switching unit (18) has a switch (71) or sensor on the housing opening, which responds when the housing cover is opened and opens the fuel cell circuit breaker (28, 30).

25. Apparatus according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fuses for the circuits of the low-voltage line network (8) are arranged in the housing (19).

26. Apparatus according to at least one of claims 24, 25, characterized in that the fuses for the circuits of the low-voltage line network (8) are arranged in fuse holders on a printed circuit board.

27. Apparatus according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that components for the precharging of the DC/DC converter (7) are arranged in a housing (80a) on the housing (19) of the monitoring and switching unit (16).

28. Apparatus according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a manually operable off switch (27) is arranged in the housing (19;

88;

99), upstream of the fuel cell circuit breaker (29, 30) in the course of the conductors (25, 32;

26, 33).