Fuel cell

• US 20030138682A1
• Filed: 10/10/2002
• Published: 07/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emergent Power Inc. (Plug Power Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Relion Incorporated (Plug Power Inc.)
• Inventors: Huravitch, Wade A., Lott, David R., Bai, Lijun, Martin, Vanell L.
• Granted Patent: US 6,828,050 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/22
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/08 Structural combinations, e.g. assembly or connection, of hybrid or EDL capacitors with other electric components, at least one hybrid or EDL capacitor being the main component
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04559 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04589 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04626 of auxiliary devices, e.g. batteries, capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0488 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0491 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A fuel cell is disclosed and which includes an anode and a cathode and which produces a voltage output which is supplied to a load; an electrical energy storage device is provided; and a controller is electrically coupled to the fuel cell, and which periodically shunts the voltage output of the fuel cell between the anode and cathode by electrically coupling the electrical energy storage device to the anode and cathode of the fuel cell.

Claims

1. A fuel cell comprising:

a fuel cell having an anode and a cathode and which produces a voltage output which is supplied to a load;

an electrical energy storage device; and

a controller electrically coupled to the fuel cell, and which periodically shunts the voltage output of the fuel cell between the anode and cathode by electrically coupling the electrical energy storage device to the anode and cathode of the fuel cell.

2. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 1, and wherein the electrical energy storage device comprises a capacitor.

3. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 1, and wherein the electrical energy storage device comprises an inductor.

4. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 1, and wherein the electrical energy storage device comprises an inductor and a capacitor.

5. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising:

an electrical circuit which electrically couples the load with the fuel cell, electrical energy storage device, and the controller.

6. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising;

an electrical circuit for selectively electrically coupling and decoupling the voltage output of the fuel cell to the load, and the electrical energy storage device, and wherein the electrical energy storage device has an electrically charged condition, and wherein the controller is coupled in electrical charge sensing relation relative to the electrical energy storage device, and wherein the controller, upon sensing an electrical charged condition of the electrical energy storage device controllably discharges the electrical energy storage device to effect the delivery of the voltage stored by the electrical energy storage device to the load.

7. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising:

an electrical circuit for selectively electrically coupling and decoupling the voltage output of the fuel cell to the load, and the electrical energy storage device, and wherein the electrical energy storage device has an electrically charged condition; and

a voltage charge limiter made integral with the electrical circuit, and which regulates the amount of electrical charge stored by the energy storage device by selectively discharging the electrical energy storage device when the electrical energy storage device has a predetermined electrically charged condition.

8. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 1, and wherein the controller electrically couples the electrical energy storage device to the voltage output of the fuel cell at predetermined intervals.

9. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 1, and wherein the controller shunts the voltage output of the fuel cell between the anode and the cathode at predetermined intervals and for predetermined periods of time, and wherein the controller selectively discharges the electrical energy storage device.

10. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising:

a voltage sensor electrically coupled to the controller and disposed in voltage sensing relation relative to the fuel cell; and

an electric current sensor electrically coupled to the controller and disposed in current sensing relation relative to the fuel cell, and wherein the fuel cell has performance parameters comprising current and voltage outputs, and a duty cycle, and wherein during the duty cycle the controller shunts the voltage output of the fuel cell between the anode and cathode to cause a resulting increase in the voltage and current output of the fuel cell.

11. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising:

a voltage sensor electrically coupled to the controller and disposed in voltage sensing relation relative to the fuel cell; and

an electric current sensor electrically coupled to the controller, and disposed in current sensing relation relative to the fuel cell, and wherein the fuel cell has performance parameters comprising current and voltage outputs, and a duty cycle, and wherein in a first operational condition, the voltage output of the fuel cell is less than the performance parameters; and

wherein in a second operational condition the controller periodically shunts the voltage output of the fuel cell during the duty cycle between the anode and cathode to cause a resulting increase in the voltage and current output of the fuel cell.

12. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising:

a voltage sensor electrically coupled to the controller and disposed in voltage sensing relation relative to the fuel cell; and

an electric current sensor electrically coupled to the controller, and disposed in current sensing relation relative to the fuel cell, and wherein the fuel cell has performance parameters comprising current and voltage outputs, and operating and duty cycles, and wherein the controller periodically shunts the voltage output of the fuel cell between the anode and cathode during the operating and duty cycles, and wherein the operating and duty cycles are individually and selectively adjusted by the controller at least in part by reference to the performance parameters of the fuel cell.

13. A fuel cell having an anode and a cathode and which produces an electrical current having a voltage output, and which is delivered to a load, comprising:

an electrical energy storage device which is selectively electrically coupled to the fuel cell and which is further electrically coupled to the load; and

a controller for selectively delivering the voltage output of the fuel cell to the load, and periodically shunting the voltage output between the anode and cathode by selectively electrically coupling the electrical energy storage device to the anode and cathode, and wherein the voltage output of the fuel cell during the shunting is stored as an electrical charge by the electrical energy storage device, and wherein the electrical energy storage device is selectively discharged to deliver the stored electrical charge to the load.

14. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 13, and further comprising:

an electrical circuit which electrically couples the load with the fuel cell, electrical energy storage device and the controller.

15. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 14, and further comprising:

an output bus which is electrically coupled with the electrical circuit and which electrically couples the voltage output of the fuel cell with the load.

16. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 15, and wherein the electrical energy storage device is electrically coupled by the electrical circuit to the output bus.

17. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 16, and wherein the electrical energy storage device has an electrically charged condition, and wherein the controller is coupled in electrical charge sensing relation relative to the electrical energy storage device by way of the electrical circuit, and wherein the controller, upon sensing an electrical charged condition of the electrical energy storage device controllably discharges the electrical energy storage device to effect the delivery of the voltage stored by the electrical energy storage device to the load.

18. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 16, and further comprising:

a voltage charge limiter made integral with the electrical circuit, and wherein the energy storage device has an electrically charged state, and wherein the voltage charge limiter regulates the amount of the electrical charge stored by the energy storage device by selectively discharging the electrical energy storage device when the electrical energy storage device has a predetermined electrically charge condition.

19. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 13, and wherein the energy storage device has an electrically charged state, and wherein the controller shunts the voltage output of the fuel cell between the anode and the cathode at predetermined intervals and for predetermined periods of time, and wherein the controller selectively discharges the electrical energy storage device when the electrical energy storage device has a predetermined electrically charged condition.

20. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 19, and wherein the predetermined intervals and predetermined periods of time for the shunting are substantially fixed.

21. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 19, and wherein the predetermined intervals, and predetermined periods of time for the shunting are variable.

22. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 19, and wherein the fuel cell has performance parameters comprising current and voltage outputs, and a duty cycle, and wherein the controller periodically shunts the voltage output of the fuel cell between the anode and the cathode by electrically coupling the electrical energy storage device to the anode and cathode of the fuel cell when the fuel cell has declining performance characteristics.

23. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 22, and wherein the electrical energy storage device when electrically coupled to the anode and the cathode during the periodic shunting electrically stores the voltage output of the fuel cell to cause the electrical energy storage device to have an electrically charged state, and wherein the controller selectively discharges the electrical energy storage device when the electrical energy storage device has a predetermined electrical charge.

24. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 23, and wherein the electrical energy storage device includes a plurality of electrical energy storage devices.

25. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 24, and wherein the load has a voltage and current demand, and wherein the plurality of electrical energy storage devices are selectively electrically discharged in a manner to provide electrical power, which, when additively combined with the voltage and current output of the fuel cell does not exceed the voltage and current demand of the load.

26. A fuel cell having an anode and a cathode and which produces an electric power output which is delivered to a load, comprising:

first electrical circuitry which selectively electrically couples a fuel cell having a voltage and an electric current output to a load;

an output bus which is electrically coupled with each of the first electrical circuitry and with the load;

second electrical circuitry which is electrically coupled to the first electrical circuitry and, wherein the first electrical circuitry shunts the electrical current and voltage output of the fuel cell between the anode and cathode thereof;

a controller electrically coupled in controlling relation relative to the first and second electrical circuitry and in voltage and electric current sensing relation relative to the electrical output of the fuel cell, and the voltage and current demand of the load; and

an electrical energy storage device which is selectively electrically coupled with the second electrical circuitry and which stores the voltage and electric current output of the fuel cell when the first electrical circuitry shunts the voltage and electric current output of the fuel cell between the anode and cathode thereof, and wherein the electrical energy storage device is selectively electrically discharged by the second electrical circuitry to deliver the stored voltage and electric current output to the load.

27. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 26, and wherein the electrical energy storage device comprises a capacitor.

28. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 26, and wherein the electrical energy storage device comprises an inductor.

29. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 26, and wherein the electrical energy storage device comprises and inductor and a capacitor.

30. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 26, and wherein the first electrical circuitry comprises:

a first electrical switch which is made integral with the first electrical circuitry and which is under the influence of the controller, and which selectively electrically couples and decouples the electrical current and voltage output of the fuel cell to the output bus; and

a second electrical switch which is made integral with the first electrical circuitry and which is under the influence of the controller, and wherein the controller causes the second electrical switch to be placed in an electrical condition wherein the electrical current and the voltage output of the fuel cell is electrically coupled to the electrical energy storage device to effect the shunt.

31. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 30, and wherein the first electrical switch has a first closed electrical state which facilitates the delivery of the electrical current and voltage output of the fuel cell to the output bus, and a second open electrical state which substantially prohibits the delivery of the electrical current and voltage output of the fuel cell to the fuel cell, and wherein the second electrical switch has a first closed electrical state which facilitates the shunting of the electrical current output of the fuel cell between the anode and cathode thereof by electrically coupling the energy storage device to the fuel cell, and a second open electrical state which substantially prohibits the shunting of the electrical current and voltage output of the fuel cell between the anode and cathode thereof, and wherein the controller causes the respective first and second electrical switches to be periodically placed into opposite alternative electrical states one relative to the other.

32. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 31, and wherein the shunting of the electrical current and the voltage output of the fuel cell between the anode and cathode thereof occurs for periodic time periods, and wherein during the shunting time period the controller causes the first electrical switch to be placed in the second open electrical state, and the second electrical switch to be placed in the first closed electrical state, and wherein after the time period for shunting the controller causes the first electrical switch to be placed in the first closed electrical state, and the second electrical switch to be placed in the second open electrical condition.

33. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 26, and wherein the electrical energy storage device has an electrically charged condition, and wherein the second electrical circuitry further comprises:

a voltage charge limiter made integral with the second electrical circuitry and which regulates the amount of the electrical charge which is stored by the electrical energy storage device by selectively electrically discharging the electrical energy storage device when the electrical energy storage device has a predetermined electrically charged condition.

34. A fuel, cell as claimed in claim 26, and wherein the load has a voltage and electrical current demand, and wherein the electrical energy storage device includes a plurality of electrical energy storage devices, and wherein the plurality of electrical energy storage devices are selectively electrically discharged in a manner to provide electrical power, which, when additively combined with the voltage and current output of the fuel cell does not exceed the voltage and electrical current demand of the load.

35. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 26, and wherein the controller periodically shunts the current and voltage output of the fuel cell between the anode and cathode to cause a resulting increase in the voltage and current output of the fuel cell.

36. A fuel cell as claimed in claim 26, and wherein the fuel cell has predetermined performance parameters, and wherein the controller periodically shunts the voltage and electrical current output of the fuel cell between the anode and cathode thereof when the predetermined performance parameters are declining.