Apparatus and method for hybrid power module systems
First Claim
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1. A hybrid power module suitable for use in an array of hybrid power modules, the hybrid power module comprising:
- a module power bus comprising at least a first terminal and a second terminal;
a plurality of fuel cells electrically coupled to one another as a fuel cell stack, the fuel cell stack comprising a first pole and a second pole, the fuel cell stack selectively operable to produce electrical power, and electrically couplable to provide the electrical power on the module power bus;
a plurality of battery cells electrically coupled to one another as a battery, the battery comprising a first pole and a second pole; and
operable to store and release electrical power;
a charger circuit electrically coupled across the battery and operable to supply electrical power to the battery at approximately a defined voltage, the charger circuit comprising a first pole and a second pole, the first pole of the charger circuit electrically couplable to the first pole of the fuel cell stack and electrically couplable to the first terminal of the module power bus;
a stack disconnect switch operable to selectively provide and remove an electrical path between the second terminal of the module power bus and the fuel cell stack in a first state and a second state, respectively; and
a unidirectional current flow device electrically coupled to provide a unidirectional current path from the second pole of the charger circuit to the second terminal of the module power bus when the unidirectional current flow device is forward biased.
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Abstract
A hybrid power module suitable for use in an array of hybrid power modules comprises a fuel cell stack, an energy storage device, charger circuit operable to charge the energy storage device from the fuel cell stack and/or an external power source at approximately a defined voltage; a stack disconnect switch operable to provide and remove an electrical path between the fuel cell stack and a terminal of the power module, and a unidirectional current flow device electrically coupled to provide a unidirectional current path from the charger circuit to the terminal of the power module when forward biased.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A hybrid power module suitable for use in an array of hybrid power modules, the hybrid power module comprising:
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a module power bus comprising at least a first terminal and a second terminal;
a plurality of fuel cells electrically coupled to one another as a fuel cell stack, the fuel cell stack comprising a first pole and a second pole, the fuel cell stack selectively operable to produce electrical power, and electrically couplable to provide the electrical power on the module power bus;
a plurality of battery cells electrically coupled to one another as a battery, the battery comprising a first pole and a second pole; and
operable to store and release electrical power;
a charger circuit electrically coupled across the battery and operable to supply electrical power to the battery at approximately a defined voltage, the charger circuit comprising a first pole and a second pole, the first pole of the charger circuit electrically couplable to the first pole of the fuel cell stack and electrically couplable to the first terminal of the module power bus;
a stack disconnect switch operable to selectively provide and remove an electrical path between the second terminal of the module power bus and the fuel cell stack in a first state and a second state, respectively; and
a unidirectional current flow device electrically coupled to provide a unidirectional current path from the second pole of the charger circuit to the second terminal of the module power bus when the unidirectional current flow device is forward biased. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of operating a hybrid power module comprising a fuel cell stack including a first pole and a second pole, an energy storage device including a first pole and a second pole, and a charger circuit, the hybrid power module electrically couplable e via a first terminal and a second terminal to an external power bus of an array of hybrid power modules, the method comprising:
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during one time, providing an electrical current path from the first pole of the fuel cell stack to the first terminal;
providing an electrical current path from the second terminal to the second pole of the fuel cell stack via a stack disconnect switch in a closed state;
producing electrical power from the fuel cell stack while the electrical current path from the second terminal to the second pole of the fuel cell stack is provided via the stack disconnect switch; and
converting electrical power from the fuel cell stack to approximately a defined voltage via the charger circuit; and
during another time, removing the electrical current path from the second terminal to the second pole of the fuel cell stack via the stack disconnect switch in an open state; and
providing a unidirectional electrical current path from the second pole of the charger circuit to the second terminal of the module power bus via a unidirectional current flow device while the unidirectional current flow device is forward biased; and
converting electrical power received via the first and the second terminals to approximately the defined voltage via the charger circuit;
from time-to-time, storing electrical power converted by the charger circuit to the energy storage device; and
from time-to-time, releasing the electrical power stored in the energy storage device. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of operating a hybrid power module comprising a fuel cell stack, an energy storage device, a charger circuit electrically coupled in parallel with the fuel cell stack and electrically coupled in parallel with the energy storage device, a first terminal and a second terminal to make electrical connections with an external power bus, the method comprising:
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operating a stack disconnect switch to selectively provide a bidirectional current path between a floating ground node and the second terminal in a first state of the stack disconnect switch and a unidirectional current path from the floating ground node to the second terminal in a second state of the stack disconnect switch, where the floating ground node is an electrical coupling between the second pole of the fuel cell stack and the second pole of the charger circuit;
providing electrical power from the fuel cell stack to the charger circuit during at least a portion of a time when the stack disconnect switch is in the first state; and
providing electrical power from the external power bus to the charger circuit during at least a portion of a time when the stack disconnect switch is in the second state. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A power system, comprising:
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a housing comprising a plurality of positions, each of the positions sized and dimensioned to mount a respective one of a number of hybrid power modules;
a system power bus carried by the housing, the system power bus comprising at least a first and a second current path, and a plurality of pairs of selectively releasable connectors, each pair of selectively releasable connectors located with respect to a respective one of the positions to permit electrical couplings between the current paths of the system power bus and a respective one of the hybrid power modules mounted at the position; and
a plurality of unidirectional circuit elements, each of the unidirectional circuit elements electrically coupled across a respective pair of the selectively releasable connectors to provide a series bypass of the respective pair of selectively releasable connectors. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification