Fuel cell based rechargable power pack system and associated methods for controlling same
First Claim
1. A power supply for a battery pack containing two or more isolated batteries, comprising:
- a. one or more direct oxidation fuel cells;
b. one or more rechargeable batteries;
c. a DC-DC converter associated with each fuel cell and being coupled to its respective fuel cell so as to receive the output of the fuel cell, and coupled to said battery through an associated battery protection circuit such that said DC-DC converter provides a current to either charge the battery or to power a load; and
d. one or more system controller and balance of plant assembly configured to control operating characteristics of each fuel cell.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A power pack system for charging a set of isolated batteries is provided. In an illustrative embodiment of the invention, a single fuel cell, a single DC-DC converter and a single system controller device comprises the power-generation side of the power pack. A set of switches is used to connect the power-generation side of the Power pack to one of the isolated batteries in the power pack, thereby recharging that particular battery in the battery power pack set. A battery protection and powerpath control device communicates with the system controller to determine which switches are to be closed depending upon which battery requires recharging. During normal operation the switches will follow the direction from the system controller. If a fault is detected by the battery protection circuit, the protection circuit will take priority and turn off the appropriate switch(es).
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A power supply for a battery pack containing two or more isolated batteries, comprising:
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a. one or more direct oxidation fuel cells;
b. one or more rechargeable batteries;
c. a DC-DC converter associated with each fuel cell and being coupled to its respective fuel cell so as to receive the output of the fuel cell, and coupled to said battery through an associated battery protection circuit such that said DC-DC converter provides a current to either charge the battery or to power a load; and
d. one or more system controller and balance of plant assembly configured to control operating characteristics of each fuel cell. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A rechargeable power pack comprising:
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a. a fuel cell stack;
b. a DC-DC converter coupled to receive the output of said fuel cell;
c. a first battery and associated battery protection circuit;
d. a second battery and associated battery protection circuit;
e. a system controller and balance of plant assembly configured to receive a signal indicative of a charge characteristic of each battery and to control operating characteristics of said fuel cell; and
f. a switch network defining one or more power paths, such that in a first position, the switch network allows current to flow from the fuel cell to the first battery to charge the battery, and in a second position allows current to the second battery to charge the second battery. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 18, 19, 20)
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10. A battery protection circuit for use with a power pack containing one or more fuel cells and DC-DC converter, comprising:
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a rechargeable battery coupled to receive an output current from said DC-DC converter; and
two current sense resistors coupled to one side of said rechargeable battery so as to define two paths leading to or from said battery, one path leading to a load to be charged and the second path allowing the rechargeable battery to be charged. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A battery protection circuit for use with a power pack containing one or more fuel cells and DC-DC converter, comprising:
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a rechargeable battery coupled to receive an output current from said DC-DC converter; and
an OEM battery protection circuit having one internal switch and one current sense resistor coupled to one side of said rechargeable battery, and a switch which when closed allow the rechargeable battery power an associated load. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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21. A method of maintaining a desired charge on a set of isolated batteries the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a fuel cell as a power source;
using a DC-DC converter to adjust the output of said fuel cell to the battery to be charged;
providing two batteries in the power pack each with its own respective battery protection circuit;
measuring an characteristic of each battery including current or voltage;
selecting one of said batteries for recharging based upon a whether the measured characteristic exceeds a threshold value; and
adjusting associated switches in a switch network in said power pack to allow current to flow to the battery to be charged.
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Specification