Power control unit of fuel cell hybrid vehicle

• US 20040017175A1
• Filed: 12/17/2002
• Published: 01/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Kim, Tae-Woo, Lee, Sang-Don
• Granted Patent: US 6,975,091 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/104
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/32 characterised by the fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/10 DC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/34 by heating
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/40 for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/006 of fuel cells with rechargeable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0494 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04947 of auxiliary devices, e.g. batteries, capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/34 Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering H02J7/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

A power control unit of a fuel cell hybrid vehicle includes a first switching unit, a second switching unit, and a control unit. One terminal of the first switching unit is connected to a fuel cell stack and to an anode of a DC/DC converter in parallel, and the other terminal is connected to an inverter. One terminal of the second switching unit is connected to the inverter and to a cathode of the DC/DC converter in parallel, and the other terminal is connected to a cathode of the fuel cell stack. The control unit switches contact points of the first and the second switching units to selectively supply a voltage from one of the fuel cell stack and a battery to a motor.

Claims

1. A power control unit of a fuel cell hybrid vehicle, comprising:

a first switching unit having one terminal connected to an anode of a fuel cell stack and to an anode of a DC/DC converter in parallel, and having a second terminal connected to an inverter;

a second switching unit having one terminal connected to the inverter and to a cathode of the DC/DC converter in parallel, and having a second terminal connected to a cathode of the fuel cell stack; and

a control unit for switching contact points of the first and the second switching units to selectively supply a voltage from one of the fuel cell stack and a battery to a motor.

2. The power control unit of claim 1, further comprising:

a diode connected forward of the anode of the fuel cell stack for blocking flow of electromotive force of the motor into the fuel cell stack.

3. The power control unit of claim 1, wherein the first and the second switching units comprise a plurality of on/off switching elements.

4. The power control unit of claim 3, wherein the switching elements of the first and the second switching units are relays, which are switched on/off depending on a control signal from the control unit.

5. The power control unit of claim 4, wherein the relays of both the first and the second switching units are connected to each other in parallel.

6. The power control unit of claim 1, wherein the control unit controls switching of the first and the second switching units so that the motor is driven by power generated from the fuel cell stack.

7. The power control unit of claim 1, wherein the control unit controls switching of the first and the second switching units so that the motor is driven by power generated from the battery.

8. The power control unit of claim 1, wherein the control unit controls switching of the first and the second switching units so that power generated from the fuel cell stack is supplied to the battery as charging power.

9. The power control unit of the fuel cell hybrid vehicle of claim 1, wherein the control unit controls switching of the first and the second switching units so that power generated from the fuel cell stack and power generated from the battery are supplied to the motor concurrently.

10. The power control claim 1, further comprising a fuse protecting the battery from overcurrent, the fuse being connected between the first switching unit and the DC/DC converter to block flow of electromotive force into the battery.

11. A method for selectively providing drive power to a load in a fuel cell hybrid vehicle having a fuel cell stack and a battery, the method comprising:

receiving a first control signal at a controller;

based on the first control signal, conducting a first action of opening or closing a first switching unit, the first switching unit having one terminal in electrical communication with an anode of the fuel cell stack and with an anode of the battery in parallel, and a second terminal in electrical communication with the load; and

based on the first control signal, conducting a second action of opening or closing a second switching unit, the second switching unit having a first terminal in electrical communication with the load and with a cathode of the battery in parallel, and a second terminal in electrical communication with a cathode of the fuel cell stack;

wherein the first control signal determines which of the fuel cell stack or the battery provides the drive power to the load.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein, when the first action is closing and the second action is closing, the drive power is provided from the fuel cell stack to the load.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein, when the first action is closing and the second action is opening, the drive power is provided from the battery to the load.

14. A power control unit of a fuel cell hybrid vehicle comprising:

a first switching unit having one terminal in electrical communication with an anode of a fuel cell stack and with an anode of a battery in parallel, and having a second terminal in electrical communication with a load;

a second switching unit having one terminal in electrical communication with the load and with a cathode of the battery in parallel, and having a second terminal in electrical communication with a cathode of the fuel cell stack; and

a control unit for switching contact points of the first and the second switching units to selectively supply a voltage from one of the fuel cell stack and the battery to the load.