Method and apparatus for fuel cell systems
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A power supply system, comprising:
- a first set of fuel cell systems electrically coupled in series to one another and operable to produce a first voltage there across; and
a second set of fuel cell systems electrically coupled in series to one another and operable to produce a voltage there across, where each of the fuel cell systems in the second set of fuel cell systems is electrically coupled in parallel to a respective one of the fuel cell systems in the first set of fuel cell systems, wherein each of the fuel cell systems comprises a fuel cell stack, an ultracapacitor electrically coupled in parallel with the fuel cell stack, a charging current limiter electrically coupled to limit a charging current from the fuel cell stack to the ultracapacitor and a charging current limiter bypass device electrically coupled to provide a discharge path from the ultracapacitor bypassing the charging current limiter.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An array of fuel cell systems are electrically couplable in series and/or parallel combinations to provide a variety of output powers, output current and/or output voltages. The fuel cell systems are “hot swappable” and redundant fuel cell systems may automatically replace faulty fuel cell systems to maintain output power, current and/or voltage, with or without switching. The configuration of fuel cell systems may be automatic and may be based on desired power, current and/or voltage, and/or based on the operating parameters of the fuel cell systems and/or power supply system.
-
Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A power supply system, comprising:
-
a first set of fuel cell systems electrically coupled in series to one another and operable to produce a first voltage there across; and
a second set of fuel cell systems electrically coupled in series to one another and operable to produce a voltage there across, where each of the fuel cell systems in the second set of fuel cell systems is electrically coupled in parallel to a respective one of the fuel cell systems in the first set of fuel cell systems, wherein each of the fuel cell systems comprises a fuel cell stack, an ultracapacitor electrically coupled in parallel with the fuel cell stack, a charging current limiter electrically coupled to limit a charging current from the fuel cell stack to the ultracapacitor and a charging current limiter bypass device electrically coupled to provide a discharge path from the ultracapacitor bypassing the charging current limiter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A power supply system, comprising:
-
a first voltage bus;
a first column of fuel cell systems electrically coupled in series to one another across the first voltage bus and operable to produce a voltage across the first voltage bus equal to a first voltage, where the number of fuel cell systems in the first column is equal to a number i and the number i is greater than 1;
a second column of fuel cell systems electrically coupled in series to one another across the first voltage bus in parallel with the first number of fuel cell systems, the second number of fuel cell systems operable to produce current at a first voltage across the first voltage bus, where the number of fuel cell systems in the second column is equal to the number i; and
a number of links electrically coupling each of the fuel cell systems in the second column in parallel with a respective one of the fuel cell systems in the first column, wherein each fuel cell system comprises a fuel cell stack, an electrical power storage device electrically coupled in parallel with the fuel cell stack, and means for controlling a flow of current from the fuel cell stack to the electrical power storage device and the first voltage bus. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A power supply system, comprising:
-
a first array of serially coupled fuel cell systems, operable to produce a first voltage there across;
a second array of serially coupled fuel cell systems, operable to produce a first voltage there across;
a third array of serially coupled fuel cell systems, operable to produce a second voltage there across; and
a fourth array of serially coupled fuel cell systems, operable to produce a third voltage there across, wherein at least one of fuel cell systems from each of the first, the second, the third and the fourth arrays are electrically coupled in parallel, at least another one of fuel cell systems from each of the first, the second and the third arrays are electrically coupled in parallel, and at least a further one of the fuel cell systems from each of the first and the second arrays are electrically coupled in parallel. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
-
Specification