POWER CONTROLLING APPARATUS FOR FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREOF

• US 20070128483A1
• Filed: 12/01/2006
• Published: 06/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Chem Limited (LG Corporation), LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Chem Limited (LG Corporation), LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: KO, Seung-Tae, GU, Bon-Gwan
• Granted Patent: US 8,133,625 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/430
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/30 The power source being a fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/28 Arrangements for balancing of the load in a network by storage of energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/40 Fuel cell technologies in production processes

Abstract

A power controlling apparatus for a fuel cell system includes a fuel cell controller which analyzes power state information of a fuel cell system, transmits a power state information signal based on the analysis to a power conversion controller, receives a load request power information signal from the power conversion controller, analyzes the received load request power information signal, and changes an outputtable power amount based on the analysis. The power controlling apparatus also includes a power conversion controller which transmits a load request power information signal based on power information requested by a load to the fuel cell controller, analyzes the power state information signal transmitted by the fuel cell controller, and controls a power convert amount based on the analysis.

Claims

1. A power controlling apparatus for a fuel cell system, comprising:

a fuel cell controller which analyzes power state information of a fuel cell system, transmits a power state information signal to a power conversion controller in accordance with the analysis, receives a load request power information signal from the power conversion controller, and analyzes the received load request power information signal, and changes an outputtable power amount based on the analysis; and

a power conversion controller which transmits a load request power information signal based on power information requested by a load to the fuel cell controller, analyzes the power state information signal transmitted by the fuel cell controller, and controls a power convert amount based on the analysis.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fuel cell controller comprises:

a controller which calculates outputtable power state information based on an amount of hydrogen and oxygen supplied to a stack, outputs the power state information signal, which includes calculated power state information, and controls the amount of hydrogen and oxygen supplied to the stack, based on the load request power information signal; and

a first wireless communicator which receives the load request power information signal, converts the power state information signal into a wireless communication signal, and transmits the converted wireless communication signal to the power conversion controller.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first wireless communicator comprises an RF signal generator which converts the power state information signal into an RF power state information signal, and transmits the converted RF power state information signal to the power conversion controller.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first wireless communicator communicates using a wireless LAN protocol.

5. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first wireless communicator communicates using a Bluetooth protocol.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power state information signal includes an error check code for detecting a communication error.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the load request power information signal includes an error check code for detecting a communication error.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fuel cell controller comprises:

a controller which calculates an outputtable power state information based on an amount of hydrogen and oxygen supplied to a stack, outputs the power state information signal, which includes calculated power state information, and controls the amount of hydrogen and oxygen supplied to the stack based on the load request power information signal; and

a first wire communicator which receives the load request power information signal, converts the power state information signal into a wire communication signal, and transmits the converted wire communication signal to the power conversion controller through a wire cable.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the first wire communicator communicates using a USB protocol.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power conversion controller comprises:

a wireless communicator which receives the power state information signal; and

a controller which generates a control signal to control a power amount outputted from the fuel cell based on the power state information signal, analyzes power information requested by a load, and outputs the load request power information signal based on the analysis,

wherein the wireless communicator converts the load request power information signal into a wireless communication signal, and transmits the converted wireless communication signal to the fuel cell controller.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the wireless communicator communicates RF signals.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the wireless communicator communicates using a wireless LAN protocol.

13. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the second wireless communicator communicates using a Bluetooth protocol

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power conversion controller comprises:

a wire communicator which receives the power state information signal; and

a controller which generates a control signal to control a power amount outputted from the fuel cell based on the power state information signal, analyzes power information requested by a load, and outputs the load request power information signal based on the analysis,

wherein the wire communicator converts the load request power information signal into a wire communication signal, and transmits the converted wire communication signal to the fuel cell controller through a wire cable.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the wire communicator communicates using a USB protocol.

16. A power controlling method for a fuel cell system, comprising:

generating a power state information signal based on power state information of a fuel cell system;

transmitting the generated power state information signal;

extracting outputtable power information from the power state information signal;

and controlling a power convert amount based on the extracted outputtable power information.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising extracting an error check code from the power state information signal, and determining whether a transmission error exists based on the extracted error check code.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein transmitting the generated power state information signal comprises converting the power state information signal into a wireless communication signal and wirelessly transmitting it to a power conversion controller.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein transmitting the generated power state information signal comprises converting the power state information signal into a wire communication signal and transmitting it to a power conversion controller through a wire cable.

20. A power controlling method for a fuel cell system, comprising:

generating a load request power information signal based on power information requested by a load;

transmitting the load request power information signal;

extracting load request power information from the load request power information signal; and

controlling a fuel amount and an air amount applied to a fuel cell based on the extracted load request power information signal, thus changing an outputtable power amount of the fuel cell.

21. The method according to claim 20, further comprising extracting an error check code from the load request power information signal, and determining whether a transmission error exists based on the extracted error check code.

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein transmitting the load request power information signal comprises converting the load request power information signal into a wireless communication signal and wirelessly transmitting it to a fuel cell controller.

23. The method according to claim 20, wherein transmitting the load request power information signal comprises converting the load request power information signal into a wire communication signal and transmitting it to a fuel cell controller through a wire cable.