Modular fuel cell power system, and technique for controlling and/or operating same

• US 20060210841A1
• Filed: 01/26/2006
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intelligent Energy Limited (Lb-shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Jadoo Power Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Arikara, Muralidharan P., Wallace, Andrew Paul, Sparks, Rodney
• Granted Patent: US 7,691,502 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/430
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/003 of fuel cells with other electrochemical devices, e.g. capacitors, electrolysers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/00 Fuel cells for particular applications; Specific features of fuel cell system
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/30 Fuel cells in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04201 Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0432 Temperature; Ambient temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04619 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04664 Failure or abnormal function
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04701 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04925 Power, energy, capacity or load
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04955 Shut-off or shut-down of fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04992 characterised by the implementation of mathematical or computational algorithms, e.g. feedback control loops, fuzzy logic, neural networks or artificial intelligence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/249 comprising two or more groupings of fuel cells, e.g. modular assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/10 Applications of fuel cells in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

There are many inventions described and illustrated herein. In one aspect, the inventions relate to power systems (for example, fuel cell power systems) and architectures having an integration plane to incorporate various technology modules therein including, for example, one or more fuel cell stacks, fuel storage containers/tanks (for example, hydrogen, methanol and/or hydrogen containing compounds or substances from which hydrogen can be extracted on demand (e.g., a hydride)), power unit having a power management unit to provide a conditioned and/or regulated electrical power using electrical power provided by a fuel cell, fuel cartridge having one or more fuel storage containers/tanks and electrical circuitry to monitor and/or store one or more parameters of the fuel storage container(s)/tank(s), super-capacitors, batteries, and/or electrical or electronic devices such as mobile communications (for example, phones and/or modems), data processor circuitry, and/or monitoring or surveillance device (for example, a imaging sensing device (for example, camera) and/or audio sensing device).

Claims

1. A fuel cell system comprising:

an integration plane, comprising,

a fluid bus;

an electrical bus;

a power management bus;

a plurality of module bays, each module bay including;

a fluid interface coupled to the fluid bus;

an electrical interface coupled to the electrical bus;

a power management interface coupled to the power management bus;

wherein;

the fluid interface of each module bay is the same type of interface,

the electrical interface of each module bay is the same type of interface, and

power management interface of each module bay is the same type interface; and

a resident processor, disposed on the integration plane and coupled to the electrical bus, to control at least one technology module which is capable of being disposed in, and connected to one or more interfaces of, one of the plurality of module bays.

2. The fuel cell system of claim 1 further including a first technology module, which includes a hydrogen fuel cell stack, disposed in a first module bay of the plurality of module bays of the integration plane and connected to (i) the fluid bus of the integration plane via the fluid interface of the first module bay and (ii) the power management bus of the integration plane via the power management interface of the first module bay, to generate unconditioned electrical power using hydrogen.

3. The fuel cell system of claim 2 further including a resident power management unit, disposed on the integration plane and coupled to the power management bus, to generate conditioned electrical power from the unconditioned electrical power generated by the first technology module.

4. The fuel cell system of claim 2 further including a second technology module, which includes power management circuitry, disposed in a second module bay of the plurality of module bays of the integration plane and connected to the power management bus of the integration plane via the power management interface of the second module bay, to generate conditioned electrical power from the unconditioned electrical power generated by the first technology module.

5. The fuel cell system of claim 4 further including a third technology module, which includes a supply of hydrogen, disposed in a third module bay of the plurality of module bays of the integration plane and connected to the fluid bus via the fluid interface of the third module bay, to provide hydrogen to the first technology module.

6. The fuel cell system of claim 5 further including a fourth technology module, disposed in a fourth module bay of the plurality of module bays of the integration plane and connected to the electrical bus of the integration plane via the electrical interface of the fourth module bay, to use the conditioned electrical power generated by the second technology module.

7. The fuel cell system of claim 2 further including an external electrical interface, disposed on the integration plane and coupled to the electrical bus of the integration plane.

8. The fuel cell system of claim 2 further including an external fluid interface, disposed on the integration plane and coupled to the fluid bus of the integration plane.

9. The fuel cell system of claim 1 further including:

a first technology module, which includes a hydrogen fuel cell stack, disposed in a first module bay of the plurality of module bays of the integration plane and connected to (i) the fluid bus of the integration plane via the fluid interface of the first module bay and (ii) the power management bus of the integration plane via the power management interface of the first module bay, to generate unconditioned electrical power using hydrogen;

a second technology module, which includes a hydrogen fuel cell stack, disposed in a second module bay of the plurality of module bays of the integration plane and connected to (i) the fluid bus of the integration plane via the fluid interface of the second module bay and (ii) the power management bus of the integration plane via the power management interface of the second module bay, to generate unconditioned electrical power using hydrogen; and

wherein the resident processor enables the second technology module based on at least one predetermined event.

10. The fuel cell system of claim 9 wherein the at least one predetermined event is one of a need for additional electrical power, an operational failure of the first technology module, and a removal of the first technology module from the first module bay of the integration plane.

11. The fuel cell system of claim 1 further including:

a first technology module, which includes a hydrogen fuel cell stack, disposed in a first module bay of the plurality of module bays of the integration plane and connected to (i) the fluid bus of the integration plane via the fluid interface of the first module bay and (ii) the power management bus of the integration plane via the power management interface of the first module bay, to generate unconditioned electrical power, using hydrogen, on the power management bus; and

a second technology module, which includes a battery or an ultra-capacitor, disposed in a second module bay of the plurality of module bays of the integration plane and connected to the power management bus of the integration plane via the power management interface of the second module bay, to provide electrical power on the power management bus.

12. The fuel cell system of claim 11 further including:

a third technology module, which includes power management circuitry, disposed in a third module bay of the plurality of module bays of the integration plane and connected to the power management bus of the integration plane via the power management interface of the third module bay, to generate conditioned electrical power from the unconditioned electrical power; and

a fourth technology module, which includes a supply of hydrogen, disposed in a fourth module bay of the plurality of module bays of the integration plane and connected to the fluid bus via the fluid interface of the fourth module bay, to provide hydrogen to the first technology module.

13. A fuel cell system comprising:

an integration plane, comprising,

a fluid bus;

an electrical bus;

a power management bus;

a plurality of module bays, each module bay including;

a fluid interface coupled to the fluid bus;

an electrical interface coupled to the electrical bus;

a power management interface coupled to the power management bus;

wherein;

the fluid interface of each module bay is the same type of interface,

the electrical interface of each module bay is the same type of interface, and

power management interface of each module bay is the same type interface;

a resident processor, disposed on the integration plane and coupled to the electrical bus; and

a resident power management unit, disposed on the integration plane and coupled to the power management bus, to generate conditioned electrical power from unconditioned electrical power on the power management bus.

14. The fuel cell system of claim 13 further including a first technology module, which includes a hydrogen fuel cell stack, disposed in a first module bay of the plurality of module bays of the integration plane and connected to (i) the fluid bus of the integration plane via the fluid interface of the first module bay and (ii) the power management bus of the integration plane via the power management interface of the first module bay, to generate unconditioned electrical power using hydrogen.

15. The fuel cell system of claim 14 further including a second technology module, which includes a supply of hydrogen, disposed in a second module bay of the plurality of module bays of the integration plane and connected to the fluid bus via the fluid interface of the second module bay, to provide hydrogen to the first technology module.

16. The fuel cell system of claim 15 further including a third technology module, having electrical circuitry which is connected to the electrical bus, disposed in the third module bay of the plurality of module bays of the integration plane, to use the conditioned electrical power generated by the resident power management unit.

17. The fuel cell system of claim 14 further including an external electrical interface, disposed on the integration plane and coupled to the electrical bus of the integration plane.

18. The fuel cell system of claim 14 further including an external fluid interface, disposed on the integration plane and coupled to the fluid bus of the integration plane.

19. The fuel cell system of claim 13 further including:

a first technology module, which includes a hydrogen fuel cell stack, disposed in a first module bay of the plurality of module bays of the integration plane and connected to (i) the fluid bus of the integration plane via the fluid interface of the first module bay and (ii) the power management bus of the integration plane via the power management interface of the first module bay, to generate unconditioned electrical power using hydrogen;

a second technology module, which includes a hydrogen fuel cell stack, disposed in a second module bay of the plurality of module bays of the integration plane and connected to (i) the fluid bus of the integration plane via the fluid interface of the second module bay and (ii) the power management bus of the integration plane via the power management interface of the second module bay, to generate unconditioned electrical power using hydrogen; and

wherein the resident processor enables the second technology module based on at least one predetermined event.

20. The fuel cell system of claim 19 wherein the at least one predetermined event is one of a need for additional electrical power, an operational failure of the first technology module, and a removal of the first technology module from the first module bay of the integration plane.

21. The fuel cell system of claim 13 further including:

a first technology module, which includes a hydrogen fuel cell stack, disposed in a first module bay of the plurality of module bays of the integration plane and connected to (i) the fluid bus of the integration plane via the fluid interface of the first module bay and (ii) the power management bus of the integration plane via the power management interface of the first module bay, to generate unconditioned electrical power, using hydrogen, on the power management bus; and

a second technology module, which includes a battery or an ultra-capacitor, disposed in a second module bay of the plurality of module bays of the integration plane and connected to the power management bus of the integration plane via the power management interface of the second module bay, to provide electrical power on the power management bus.

22. The fuel cell system of claim 21 further including:

a third technology module, which includes power management circuitry, disposed in a third module bay of the plurality of module bays of the integration plane and connected to the power management bus of the integration plane via the power management interface of the third module bay, to generate conditioned electrical power from the unconditioned electrical power; and

a fourth technology module, which includes a supply of hydrogen, disposed in a fourth module bay of the plurality of module bays of the integration plane and connected to the fluid bus via the fluid interface of the fourth module bay, to provide hydrogen to the first technology module.

23. A fuel cell system comprising:

an integration plane, comprising,

a fluid bus;

an electrical bus;

a power management bus;

a plurality of module bays, each module bay including;

a fluid interface coupled to the fluid bus;

an electrical interface coupled to the electrical bus;

a power management interface coupled to the power management bus;

wherein;

the fluid interface of each module bay is the same type of interface,

the electrical interface of each module bay is the same type of interface, and

power management interface of each module bay is the same type interface; and

a resident power management unit, disposed on the integration plane and coupled to the power management bus, to generate conditioned electrical power from unconditioned electrical power on the power management bus.

24. The fuel cell system of claim 23 further including a first technology module, which includes a hydrogen fuel cell stack, disposed in a first module bay of the plurality of module bays of the integration plane and connected to (i) the fluid bus of the integration plane via the fluid interface of the first module bay and (ii) the power management bus of the integration plane via the power management interface of the first module bay, to generate unconditioned electrical power using hydrogen.

25. The fuel cell system of claim 24 further including a second technology module, which includes a supply of hydrogen, disposed in a second module bay of the plurality of module bays of the integration plane and connected to the fluid bus via the fluid interface of the second module bay, to provide hydrogen to the first technology module.

26. The fuel cell system of claim 25 further including a third technology module, having electrical circuitry, disposed in a third module bay of the plurality of module bays of the integration plane and connected to the electrical bus via the electrical interface of the third module bay, to use the conditioned electrical power generated by the resident power management unit.

27. The fuel cell system of claim 24 further including an external electrical interface, disposed on the integration plane and coupled to the electrical bus of the integration plane.

28. The fuel cell system of claim 24 further including an external fluid interface, disposed on the integration plane and coupled to the fluid bus of the integration plane.

29. The fuel cell system of claim 23 further including:

a first technology module, which includes a hydrogen fuel cell stack, disposed in a first module bay of the plurality of module bays of the integration plane and connected to (i) the fluid bus of the integration plane via the fluid interface of the first module bay and (ii) the power management bus of the integration plane via the power management interface of the first module bay, to generate unconditioned electrical power using hydrogen;

a second technology module, which includes a processor, disposed in a second module bay of the plurality of module bays of the integration plane and connected to the electrical bus of the integration plane via the electrical interface of the second module bay, to control at least one technology module when disposed in one of the plurality of module bays.

30. The fuel cell system of claim 29 further including:

a third technology module, which includes a hydrogen fuel cell stack, disposed in a third module bay of the plurality of module bays of the integration plane and connected to (i) the fluid bus of the integration plane via the fluid interface of the third module bay and (ii) the power management bus of the integration plane via the power management interface of the third module bay, to generate unconditioned electrical power using hydrogen; and

wherein the second technology module enables the third technology module based on at least one predetermined event.

31. The fuel cell system of claim 30 wherein the at least one predetermined event is one of a need for additional electrical power, an operational failure of the first technology module, and a removal of the first technology module from the first module bay of the integration plane.

32. The fuel cell system of claim 23 further including:

a first technology module, which includes a hydrogen fuel cell stack, disposed in a first module bay of the plurality of module bays of the integration plane and connected to (i) the fluid bus of the integration plane via the fluid interface of the first module bay and (ii) the power management bus of the integration plane via the power management interface of the first module bay, to generate unconditioned electrical power, using hydrogen, on the power management bus;

a second technology module, which includes a battery or an ultra-capacitor, disposed in a second module bay of the plurality of module bays of the integration plane and connected to the power management bus of the integration plane via the power management interface of the second module bay, to provide electrical power on the power management bus; and

a third technology module, which includes a supply of hydrogen, disposed in a third module bay of the plurality of module bays of the integration plane and connected to the fluid bus via the fluid interface of the third module bay, to provide hydrogen to the first technology module.