Method and apparatus for controlling a fuel cell system
First Claim
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1. A fuel cell system, comprising:
- a fuel cell unit having a fuel cell stack, said fuel cell unit producing a fuel cell voltage and a fuel cell current;
a power conditioner electrically connected to said fuel cell unit, said power conditioner including a power switching device, said power switching device selectively connecting and disconnecting said fuel cell voltage to at least one load dependent at least in part upon at least one of an operating temperature of said fuel cell stack, said fuel cell voltage, and said fuel cell current to thereby produce an output voltage.
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Abstract
A method of operating a fuel cell includes the step of selectively connecting and disconnecting the fuel cell to at least one electrical load dependent at least in part upon at least one of a fuel cell voltage, a fuel cell current and a fuel cell temperature.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A fuel cell system, comprising:
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a fuel cell unit having a fuel cell stack, said fuel cell unit producing a fuel cell voltage and a fuel cell current;
a power conditioner electrically connected to said fuel cell unit, said power conditioner including a power switching device, said power switching device selectively connecting and disconnecting said fuel cell voltage to at least one load dependent at least in part upon at least one of an operating temperature of said fuel cell stack, said fuel cell voltage, and said fuel cell current to thereby produce an output voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A power conditioner for use with a fuel cell, said fuel cell generating a fuel cell voltage and a fuel cell current, said power conditioner comprising:
at least one power switching device, said power switching device configured for selectively connecting and disconnecting said fuel cell voltage to at least one load dependent at least in part upon at least one of an operating temperature of said fuel cell stack, said fuel cell voltage, and said fuel cell current to thereby produce an output voltage. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of operating a fuel cell, said fuel cell generating a fuel cell voltage and a fuel cell current and having a fuel cell temperature, said method comprising the steps of:
selectively connecting and disconnecting the fuel cell to at least one electrical load dependent at least in part upon at least one of said fuel cell voltage, said fuel cell current and said fuel cell temperature. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
Specification