Fuel cell system and related control method
First Claim
1. A fuel cell system comprising:
- a fuel cell stack supplied with fuel gas and oxidant gas to generate an electric power which is supplied through a diode to a load installed on a fuel cell powered vehicle;
a secondary battery by which an electric power is charged and discharged;
an electric power converter connected to the fuel cell stack through the diode to convert an electric power level, charged in the secondary battery, and supplying a converted electric power to the load; and
a controller operative to control the electric power converter in a way to allow a voltage level of the electric power, to be supplied from the secondary battery to the load, to lie at a value equal to or greater than an open voltage level of the fuel cell stack during start-up of the fuel cell stack, and to control the electric power converter in a way to allow an electric power level supplied to the load through the electric power converter to be detected for permitting the electric power to be supplied to the load from the secondary battery at an electric power level less than a detected electric power level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fuel cell system and a related control method are disclosed wherein, during start-up of a fuel cell stack 1, a controller 21 operates a DC/DC converter 13 in a voltage control mode to allow an electric power to be supplied from a secondary battery 7 to a load 6 at an output voltage managed by the DC/DC converter. Under such a condition, an electric power level appearing when a voltage level of the electric power to be supplied from the secondary battery to the load lies at a value greater than an open voltage level of the fuel cell stack 1. Next, the DC/DC converter 13 is operative in an electric power control mode to allow the electric power to be supplied from the secondary battery to the load at a managed electric power output. Then, a level of the electric power to be supplied to the load is detected with the DC/DC converter 13, which permits the electric power to be supplied from the secondary battery to the load at an electric power level less than a resulting detected electric power level.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A fuel cell system comprising:
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a fuel cell stack supplied with fuel gas and oxidant gas to generate an electric power which is supplied through a diode to a load installed on a fuel cell powered vehicle;
a secondary battery by which an electric power is charged and discharged;
an electric power converter connected to the fuel cell stack through the diode to convert an electric power level, charged in the secondary battery, and supplying a converted electric power to the load; and
a controller operative to control the electric power converter in a way to allow a voltage level of the electric power, to be supplied from the secondary battery to the load, to lie at a value equal to or greater than an open voltage level of the fuel cell stack during start-up of the fuel cell stack, and to control the electric power converter in a way to allow an electric power level supplied to the load through the electric power converter to be detected for permitting the electric power to be supplied to the load from the secondary battery at an electric power level less than a detected electric power level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A fuel cell system comprising:
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a fuel cell stack supplied with fuel gas and oxidant gas to generate an electric power which is supplied through a diode to a load installed on a fuel cell powered vehicle;
a secondary battery by which an electric power is charged and discharged;
electric power converter means connected to the fuel cell stack through the diode and converting an electric power level, charged in the secondary battery, to be supplied to the load; and
control means operative to control the electric power converter means in a way to allow a voltage level of the electric power, to be supplied from the secondary battery to the load, to lie at a value equal to or greater than an open voltage level of the fuel cell stack during start up of the fuel cell stack, and to control the electric power converter means in a way to allow an electric power level supplied to the load through the electric power converter to be detected for permitting the electric power to be supplied to the load from the secondary battery at an electric power level less than a detected electric power level.
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7. A method of controlling a fuel cell system, which has a fuel cell stack supplied with fuel gas and oxidant gas to generate an electric power which is supplied through a diode to a load installed on a fuel cell powered vehicle, and a secondary battery by which an electric power is charged and discharged, the method comprising:
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converting a level of an electric power of the secondary battery to supply the electric power from the secondary battery to the load at a converted electric power level;
controlling such that, when starting up the fuel cell stack, a voltage level of the electric power to be supplied from the secondary battery to the load lies at a value equal to or greater than an open voltage level of the fuel cell stack; and
controlling such that the level of the electric power supplied to the load is detected to permit the electric power to be supplied to the load from the secondary battery at an electric power level less than a detected electric power level.
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Specification