Power converter architecture and method for integrated fuel cell based power supplies
First Claim
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1. A circuit to selectively provide power between a power source and a load, the circuit comprising:
- a main power converter comprising a primary side and a secondary side, the primary side of the main power converter electrically coupled directly to the power source Without at least one of a switch and a diode therebetween, and the secondary side of the main power converter electrically couplable to the load; and
at least one controller coupled to control the main power converter.
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Abstract
A fuel cell based power supply comprises a main power converter architecture that allows the fuel cell stack to operate independently of a desired output voltage. The fuel cell stack may be directly connected to the main power converter eliminating high current switches and diodes. Switches are operable to selectively power an auxiliary component such as a cooling fan to the fuel cell stack or to a storage device via an auxiliary power converter. A single auxiliary power converter can replace a dedicated cooling fan power supply. The power supply operates in a variety of states.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A circuit to selectively provide power between a power source and a load, the circuit comprising:
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a main power converter comprising a primary side and a secondary side, the primary side of the main power converter electrically coupled directly to the power source Without at least one of a switch and a diode therebetween, and the secondary side of the main power converter electrically couplable to the load; and
at least one controller coupled to control the main power converter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A power supply that selectively provides power to a load, the power supply comprising:
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a fuel cell stack;
a main isolated DC/DC converter comprising a transformer, a primary side, and a secondary side, the primary side of the main isolated DC/DC converter electrically connected directly to the fuel cell stack;
a power storage device electrically coupled to the secondary side of the main isolated DC/DC converter to receive power therefrom; and
at least a first auxiliary fuel cell system component load alternatively electrically couplable to;
the fuel cell stack to receive power therefrom, and the power storage device to receive power therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A power supply that selectively provides power to a load via a voltage bus, the power supply comprising:
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a fuel cell stack;
a power bus to electrically couple at least one external load to the fuel cell stack, the power bus comprising a main isolated DC/DC converter wherein the main isolated DC/DC converter is the only ON/OFF switching device between the fuel cell stack and the load; and
at least one controller coupled to control the main isolated DC/DC converter. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A method of selectively providing power to a load from a fuel cell stack, comprising:
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electrically directly connecting a fuel cell stack to a main isolated DC/DC converter;
selectively operating the main isolated DC/DC converter to supply power to the load at a first time, and selectively stopping operation of the main isolated DC/DC converter to stop supplying power to the load at a second time. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of operating a fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell stack, a fan, a main isolated power converter, an auxiliary power converter, and a power converter controller, the method comprising:
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electrically coupling a power storage device in parallel across an output side of the main isolated power converter;
supplying power to the power converter controller via the auxiliary power converter;
supplying power to the fan via the auxiliary power converter at a first time; and
supplying power to the fan directly from the fuel cell stack without the use of the auxiliary power converter at a second time. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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30. A method of operating a fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell stack, a fan, a main isolated power converter, an auxiliary power converter, and a power converter controller, the method comprising:
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electrically coupling a power storage device in parallel across an output side of the main isolated power converter;
supplying power to the power converter controller via the auxiliary power converter;
supplying power to the fan via the auxiliary power converter at a first time;
supplying power to the fan directly from the fuel cell stack without the use of the auxiliary power converter at a second time; and
operating the fuel cell stack at an approximately maximum efficiency polarization curve without regard to a desired output voltage.
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31. A method of operating a power supply comprising a fuel cell stack, a fan and at least one power storage device, the method comprising:
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in a startup state, supplying power to the fan from the power storage device via an auxiliary power converter; and
in a boost state, supplying power to the fan from the fuel cell stack, and enabling a main power converter to supply power to a load from the fuel cell stack via the main power converter. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A power supply system, comprising:
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a power bus;
a first power supply comprising a first fuel cell stack, a first fan, a first main power converter selectively operable to supply power to the power bus, a first power converter controller coupled to control the first main power converter, a first auxiliary power converter coupled to supply power to the first power converter controller and to selectively supply power to the first fan wherein the first fuel cell stack is selectively couplable to directly supply power to the first fan; and
at least a second power supply comprising a second fuel cell stack, a second fan, a second main power converter selectively operable to supply power to the power bus, a second power converter controller coupled to control the second main power converter, a second auxiliary power supply coupled to supply power to the second power converter controller and to selectively supply power to the second fan wherein the second fuel cell stack is selectively couplable to directly supply power to the second fan, wherein the first and the second power supplies are electrically coupled to the power bus. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39)
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40. A method of forming a power supply system, the method comprising:
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determining a desired voltage output of the power supply system;
selecting a DC/DC converter based on the determined desired voltage output;
determining a desired power output of the power supply system;
determining a number of power supply modules required based on the desired power output of the power supply system, each of the power supply modules comprising a respective fuel cell stack and a respective DC/DC converter;
for each of the determined number of power supply modules, electrically coupling an input of a respective one of the DC/DC converters to an output of the respective fuel cell stack; and
electrically coupling an output of each of the DC/DC converters to a power bus. - View Dependent Claims (41)
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Specification