Fuel-cell based power source having internal series redundancy
First Claim
1. A fuel-cell based power source for supplying electrical power to first and second power source terminals, comprising:
- a first plurality, having a value v, of fuel cell stacks, each fuel cell stack for generating electrical power;
a second plurality, having a value w in the range from 1 to v, of power converters, each power converter being operably coupled to at least one of the first plurality of fuel cell stacks for receiving input electrical power from the fuel cell stack(s) and converting the input electrical power to output electrical power at a predetermined output voltage, wherein the second plurality of power converters are connected in series between the first and second power source terminals such that the voltage across the first and second power source terminals is the sum of the output voltages of the second plurality of power converters; and
a third plurality, having a value x in the range from 1 to w, of bypass devices, each bypass device being operably coupled to at least one of the second plurality of power converters for providing a current path around the respective power converter(s) if the respective power converter(s) do(es) not provide output electrical power.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention can be embodied in a power source having internal redundancy for allowing continued operation of a load such as an electric vehicle, as well as related methods. The power source comprises a first plurality of fuel cell stacks, a second plurality of fuel cells, and a third plurality of bypass devices. Each power converter can receive input electrical power from one of the fuel cell stacks and generates output electrical power at a predetermined output voltage. The power converters can be connected in series between terminals of the power source. Each bypass device can be coupled to one of the power converters for providing a current path if the power converter is unable to provide output electrical power. Each power converter can have selectable output voltages for increasing its output voltage if one of the power converters is not supplying power for the power source.
45 Citations
41 Claims
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1. A fuel-cell based power source for supplying electrical power to first and second power source terminals, comprising:
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a first plurality, having a value v, of fuel cell stacks, each fuel cell stack for generating electrical power;
a second plurality, having a value w in the range from 1 to v, of power converters, each power converter being operably coupled to at least one of the first plurality of fuel cell stacks for receiving input electrical power from the fuel cell stack(s) and converting the input electrical power to output electrical power at a predetermined output voltage, wherein the second plurality of power converters are connected in series between the first and second power source terminals such that the voltage across the first and second power source terminals is the sum of the output voltages of the second plurality of power converters; and
a third plurality, having a value x in the range from 1 to w, of bypass devices, each bypass device being operably coupled to at least one of the second plurality of power converters for providing a current path around the respective power converter(s) if the respective power converter(s) do(es) not provide output electrical power. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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14. A fuel-cell based power source for supplying electrical power to first and second power source terminals, comprising:
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a first plurality, having a value v, of fuel cell stacks, each fuel cell stack for generating electrical power;
a second plurality, having a value w in the range from 1 to v, of power converters, each power converter comprising input terminals that are operably coupled to at least one of the fuel cell stacks for receiving input electrical power from the fuel cell stack(s), and a positive output terminal and a negative output terminal for providing output electrical power at a predetermined output voltage, the power converter being capable of converting the input electrical power to the output electrical power;
a third plurality, having a value x in the range from 1 to w, of bypass diodes, each bypass diode comprising a cathode that is operably coupled to the positive output terminal and an anode that is operably coupled to the negative output terminal of each of at least one of the power converters for providing a current path between each power converter'"'"'s output terminals if the respective power converter is unable to provide output electrical power;
wherein the second plurality of power converters are connected in series between the first and second power source terminal such that the voltage across the first and second power source terminals is the sum of the voltages at the output terminals of the power converters. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method for modulating the voltage of a fuel-cell based power source for supplying electrical power to first and second power source terminals, the method comprising:
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a. identifying at least one power converter of the power source that is unable to provide output electrical power at a predetermined output voltage across a positive output terminal and a negative output terminal of the power converter, wherein each of the power converter(s) is operably coupled to at least one fuel cell stack of the fuel-cell based power source for receiving input electrical power from the fuel cell stack(s) and is capable of providing output electrical power at the predetermined output voltage; and
b. providing a current path between the positive output terminal and the negative output terminal of at least one of the identified power converters that are not supplying power. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification