METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONFIGURING POWER ELECTRONICS IN AN ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL SYSTEM

• US 20040160216A1
• Filed: 02/05/2004
• Published: 08/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Proton Energy Systems, Inc. (NEL ASA)
• Original Assignee: Proton Energy Systems, Inc. (NEL ASA)
• Inventors: Barabas, Neil J., Speranza, A. John
• Application Number:
  US10/708,051
• Publication Number:
  US 20040160216A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/140
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/30 The power source being a fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/10 Arrangements incorporating converting means for enabling loads to be operated at will from different kinds of power supplies, e.g. from ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/285 Single converters with a plurality of output stages connected in parallel parallel operation of a plurality of converters in dc distribution networks H02J1/10

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a method and system for configuring power electronics in an electrochemical cell system. Exemplary embodiments include power electronics having a power converter for an electrochemical cell system. The power converter includes a plurality of interchangeable power converter modules and a motherboard configured to receive the plurality of interchangeable power converter modules. A power rating of the power converter is capable of being changed by adjusting a number of the interchangeable power converter modules attached to the mother-board.

Claims

1. Power electronics for an electrochemical cell system, the power electronics comprising:

a first power converter including;

a plurality of interchangeable power converter modules, and

a first motherboard configured to receive the plurality of interchangeable power converter modules;

wherein a power rating of the first power converter is capable of being changed by adjusting a number of the interchangeable power converter modules attached to the first motherboard.

2. The power electronics of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller configured to adjust a current output from the interchangeable power converter modules attached to the first motherboard.

3. The power electronics of claim 2, further comprising:

a second power converter including;

a second motherboard configured to receive at least a portion of the plurality of interchangeable power converter modules;

wherein a power rating of the second power converter is capable of being adjusted by changing a number of the interchangeable power converter modules attached to the second motherboard.

4. The power electronics of claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured to adjust a current output from the interchangeable power converter modules attached to the second motherboard.

5. The power electronics of claim 4, wherein the first power converter is one of an AC-to-DC converter and a DC-to-DC converter, and the second power converter is one of an AC-to-DC converter and a DC-to-DC converter.

6. The power electronics of claim 2, wherein each power converter module in the plurality of power converter modules includes:

a first chopping circuit configured to receive a first DC input and provide a first AC output;

a first transformer configured to adjust a power of the first AC output and provide a first transformed AC output; and

a first rectifier configured to receive the first transformed AC output and provide a first DC output.

7. The power electronics of claim 6, wherein the each power converter module in the plurality of power converter modules includes:

a first half-module including the first chopping circuit, the first transformer, and the first rectifier; and

a second half-module including;

a second chopping circuit configured to receive a second DC input and provide a second AC output;

a second transformer configured to adjust a power of the second AC output and provide a second transformed AC output; and

a second rectifier configured to receive the second transformed AC output and provide a second DC output.

8. The power electronics of claim 7, wherein the first DC output from the first half-module and the second DC output from the second half-module are controlled by the controller.

9. The power electronics of claim 4, wherein the first motherboard, the second motherboard, and the controller are mounted in a common power converter box.

10. The power electronics of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to receive signals from the interchangeable power converter modules attached to the first motherboard, the signals indicating at least one of:

an output current, a temperature, a fuse status, an output voltage, an input voltage, and combinations including two or more of the foregoing.

28. The power electronics of claim 2, further comprising:

a second power converter including;

at least a portion of the plurality of interchangeable power converter modules attached to the first motherboard, wherein a power rating of the second power converter is capable of being adjusted by changing a number of the interchangeable power converter modules attached to the first motherboard.

11. An electrochemical cell system, comprising:

a first power source;

an electrochemical cell; and

a modular power electronics system electrically connected between the first power source and the electrochemical cell, the modular power electronics system including;

a first power converter adapted for conditioning electrical current flow between the first power source and the electrochemical cell, the first power converter including;

a plurality of interchangeable power converter modules, and

a first motherboard configured to receive the plurality of interchangeable power converter modules;

wherein a power rating of the first power converter is capable of being adjusted by changing a number of the interchangeable power converter modules attached to the first motherboard.

12. The electrochemical cell system of claim 11, wherein the modular power electronics system further includes:

a controller configured to adjust a current output from the interchangeable power converter modules attached to the first motherboard.

13. The electrochemical cell system of claim 12, further comprising:

a second power source, wherein the modular power electronics system is electrically connected between the second power source and the electrochemical cell; and

wherein the modular power electronics system further includes;

a second power converter adapted for conditioning electrical current flow between the second power source and the electrochemical cell, the second power converter including;

a second motherboard configured to receive at least a portion of the plurality of interchangeable power converter modules;

wherein a power rating of the second power converter is capable of being adjusted by changing a number of the interchangeable power converter modules attached to the second motherboard.

14. The electrochemical cell system of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to adjust a current output from the interchangeable power converter modules attached to the second motherboard.

15. The electrochemical cell system of claim 14, wherein the first power converter is one of an AC-to-DC converter and a DC-to-DC converter, and the second power converter is one of an AC-to-DC converter and a DC-to-DC converter.

16. The electrochemical cell system of claim 12, wherein each power converter module in the plurality of power converter modules includes:

a first chopping circuit configured to receive a first DC input and provide a first AC output;

a first transformer configured to adjust a power of the first AC output and provide a first transformed AC output; and

a first rectifier configured to receive the first transformed AC output and provide a first DC output.

17. The electrochemical cell system of claim 16, wherein the each power converter module in the plurality of power converter modules includes:

a first half-module including the first chopping circuit, the first transformer, and the first rectifier; and

a second half-module including;

a second chopping circuit configured to receive a second DC input and provide a second AC output;

a second transformer configured to adjust a power of the second AC output and provide a second transformed AC output; and

a second rectifier configured to receive the second transformed AC output and provide a second DC output.

18. The electrochemical cell system of claim 17, wherein the first DC output from the first half-module and the second DC output from the second half-module are controlled by the controller.

19. The electrochemical cell system of claim 14, wherein the first motherboard, the second motherboard, and the controller are mounted in a common power converter box.

20. The electrochemical cell system of claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to receive signals from the interchangeable power converter modules attached to the first motherboard, the signals indicating at least one of:

an output current, a temperature, a fuse status, an output voltage, an input voltage, and combinations including two or more of the foregoing.

21. The electrochemical cell system of claim 12, wherein the controller is in operable communication with a controller for the electrochemical cell.

29. The electrochemical cell system of claim 12, further comprising:

a second power source, wherein the modular power electronics system is electrically connected between the second power source and the electrochemical cell; and

wherein the modular power electronics system further includes;

a second power converter adapted for conditioning electrical current flow between the second power source and the electrochemical cell, the second power converter including;

at least a portion of the plurality of interchangeable power converter modules attached to the first motherboard, wherein a power rating of the second power converter is capable of being adjusted by changing a number of the interchangeable power converter modules attached to the first motherboard.

22. A method of configuring power electronics for an electrochemical cell system, the power electronics including a first power converter, the method comprising:

configuring the first power converter such that its power rating is adjustable by changing a number of interchangeable power converter modules attached to a first motherboard of the first power converter.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

configuring a plurality of the interchangeable power converter modules attached to the first motherboard such that an associated current output is adjustable using a single controller.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the power electronics are housed within a power converter box and include a second power converter, the method further comprising:

configuring the power converter box housing the first motherboard and the single controller such that a second motherboard may be included therein; and

configuring the second power converter such that its power rating is adjustable by changing a number of the interchangeable power converter modules attached to the second motherboard.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

configuring a plurality of the interchangeable power converter modules attached to the second motherboard such that an associated current output is adjustable using the single controller.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the first power converter is one of an AC-to-DC converter and a DC-to-DC converter, and the second power converter is one of an AC-to-DC converter and a DC-to-DC converter.

27. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

configuring the interchangeable power converter modules attached to the first motherboard to provide signals to the controller, the signals indicating at least one of;

an output current, a temperature, a fuse status, an output voltage, an input voltage, and combinations including two or more of the foregoing.

30. The method of claim 22, wherein the power electronics include a second power converter, the method further comprising:

configuring the second power converter such that its power rating is adjustable by changing a number of the interchangeable power converter modules attached to the first motherboard.