Method and apparatus for providing hybrid power in vehicle

• US 20040211605A1
• Filed: 01/12/2004
• Published: 10/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Botti, Jean Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 7,147,072 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.4
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/32 characterised by the fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/20 AC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/40 for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/28 including control of fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/28 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/003 of fuel cells with other electrochemical devices, e.g. capacitors, electrolysers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/20 Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/407 Combination of fuel cells with mechanical energy generators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04268 Heating of fuel cells during the start-up of the fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2425 High-temperature cells with solid electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/244 with matrix-supported molten electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/944 : Characterized by control of fuel cell

Abstract

A hybrid powertrain system includes a combustion engine, a battery buffer for storing electric energy by converting it onto chemical energy, which can be converted back into electrical energy when need, a fuel cell unit having multiple fuel cells each of which is an electrochemical energy conversion device that converts hydrogen and oxygen into water, producing electricity and heat in the process, a power level control unit for capturing electrical energy from the fuel cell unit for delivering zero power, full power, or any power level in between, and an electric motor having inputs for receiving energy from the combustion engine, the battery buffer and the fuel cell auxiliary power unit, and an output for generating activation power to a transmission providing a driving force to a vehicle.

Claims

1. A hybrid powertrain system comprising:

a motor for generating a propulsion power;

a combustion engine for generating a mechanical power to be provided to the motor;

a fuel cell unit having a plurality of fuel cells for generating an electric power to be provided to the motor; and

a power transfer control unit disposed between the combustion engine and the motor, for controlling transfer of the mechanical power from the combustion engine to the motor.

2. The hybrid powertrain system of claim 1, further comprising a power level control unit connected between the fuel cell unit and the motor, for controlling a power level of the electric power generated from the fuel cell unit and providing the electric power having a controlled power level to the motor.

3. The hybrid powertrain system of claim 2, wherein the power level control unit controls the power level of the electric power so that the controlled power level of the electric power is within a range from a zero power level to a full power level.

4. The hybrid powertrain system of claim 1, further comprising a battery buffer for proving an electric power to the motor.

5. The hybrid powertrain system of claim 4, wherein the battery buffer is connected to an output of the power level control unit and an input of the motor.

6. The hybrid powertrain system of claim 5, wherein the motor receives the mechanical power when the combustion engine is in an active mode, and receives the electric power when the combustion engine is in an inactive mode.

7. The hybrid powertrain system of claim 6, wherein the motor receives the electric power from the fuel cell unit.

8. The hybrid powertrain system of claim 6, wherein the motor receives the electric power from the battery buffer.

9. The hybrid powertrain system of claim 8, wherein the motor receives the electric power from the battery buffer while the fuel cell unit is warmed up to a selected temperature.

10. The hybrid powertrain system of claim 6, wherein the motor receives the electric power from both the fuel cell unit and the battery buffer.

11. The hybrid powertrain system of claim 1, wherein the power transfer control unit is a clutch connected between the combustion engine and the motor.

12. The hybrid powertrain system of claim 11, wherein the mechanical power from the combustion engine is provided to the motor when the clutch is engaged, and the electric power from the fuel cell unit or the battery buffer is provided to the motor when the clutch is not engaged.

13. A hybrid powertrain system for providing a propulsion power to a transmission, comprising:

a fuel cell unit for generating an electric power;

a power level control unit for controlling a power level of the electric power provided from the fuel cell unit;

a combustion engine for generating a mechanical power; and

a motor for selectively receiving the electrical power from the power level control unit or the mechanical power from the combustion engine and providing the propulsion power to the transmission.

14. The hybrid powertrain system of claim 13, further including a battery buffer for providing an electric power to the motor.

15. The hybrid powertrain system of claim 14, wherein the battery buffer receives an electric power returned from the motor when the motor receives the mechanical power from the combustion engine.

16. The hybrid powertrain system of claim 14, wherein the battery buffer receives an electric power returned from the motor when a brake is applied to the hybrid powertrain system.

17. The hybrid powertrain system of claim 14, further including a clutch disposed between the combustion engine and the motor to selectively provide the mechanical power to the motor in response to a mode of the combustion engine.

18. The hybrid powertrain system of claim 17, wherein the clutch is engaged to provide the mechanical power to the motor when the combustion engine is in an active mode, and the clutch is not engaged not to provide the mechanical power to the motor when the combustion engine is in an inactive mode.

19. The hybrid powertrain system of claim 18, wherein the motor receives the electric power from the power level control unit or the battery buffer when the clutch is not engaged.

20. The hybrid powertrain system of claim 13, wherein the fuel cell unit includes a plurality of fuel cells that are one of such types as polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell, phosphoric acid fuel cell, direct methanol fuel cell, alkaline fuel cell, molten carbonate fuel cell, solid oxide fuel cell, and regenerative fuel cell.