Power supply device

• US 20080036432A1
• Filed: 08/08/2007
• Published: 02/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Takada, Masahiro, Ichinose, Toshihiko
• Granted Patent: US 7,994,765 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 323/234
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/006 of fuel cells with rechargeable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/10 Fuel cells in stationary systems, e.g. emergency power source in plant
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04559 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04589 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0491 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04955 Shut-off or shut-down of fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/30 The power source being a fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/34 Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering H02J7/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/10 Applications of fuel cells in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/13 Energy storage using capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A power supply device, comprising first and second lead terminals for connection with a load, a fuel cell, an energy storage element connected between the first and second lead terminals, a synchronous-rectification switching power-source portion for converting the output voltage of the fuel cell to the output voltage of the energy storage element and outputting it to the first and second lead terminals, and a current-detecting portion for detecting the output current of the fuel cell, the switching power-source portion further comprising a first switching element connected to the energy storage element in series, a second switching element connected to the energy storage element in parallel, and a simultaneous-turn-off controller for turning off the first and second switching elements simultaneously when the output current detected by the current-detecting portion is not larger than a preset current threshold.

Claims

1. A power supply device, comprising:

a first lead terminal and a second lead terminal for connection with a load;

a fuel cell;

an energy storage element connected between the first and second lead terminals;

a synchronous-rectification switching power-source portion for converting an output voltage of the fuel cell to an output voltage of the energy storage element and output it to the first and second lead terminals; and

a current-detecting portion for detecting an output current of the fuel cell,

wherein the switching power-source portion includes;

a first switching element connected to the energy storage element in series;

a second switching element connected to the energy storage element in parallel; and

a controller for executing a simultaneous-turn-off control of turning off the first and second switching elements simultaneously when an output current detected by the current-detecting portion is not larger than a preset current threshold.

2. The power supply device according to claim 1, further comprising a voltage-detecting portion for detecting an output voltage of the fuel cell, wherein the controller makes the switching power-source portion execute a voltage-converting operation by turning the first and second switching elements on and off alternately when a voltage detected by the voltage-detecting portion is larger than a preset voltage threshold,

3. The power supply device according to claim 1, wherein the controller includes a suspension controlling portion for suspending the simultaneous-turn-off control according to the output current detected by the current-detecting portion for a preset period after starting the voltage-converting operation of the switching power-source portion.

4. The power supply device according to claim 1, wherein the controller adjusts the current flowing from the fuel cell to the switching power-source portion by controlling the duty ratio of turning the first and second switching elements on and off alternately to keep the output voltage of the fuel cell at a set output voltage.

5. The power supply device according to claim 4, wherein the switching power-source portion further includes a coil, wherein one electrode of the fuel cell is connected via the coil and the first switching element to the first lead terminal, and the other electrode of the fuel cell is connected to the secondary lead terminal;

and the second switching element is connected between a connection point of the coil and the first switching element and the other electrode of the fuel cell.

6. The power supply device according to claim 5, wherein the duty ratio is an on-duty ratio D of the second switching element;

and the controller adjusts the on-duty ratio D so that the output voltage Vin becomes equal to the set output voltage in the following Equation (A) wherein Vout denotes an output voltage of the energy storage element and Vin denotes an output voltage of the fuel cell;

Vout/Vin=1/(1−

D)  

 

(A).

7. A power supply device, comprising:

a first terminal and a second lead terminal for connection with a load;

a fuel cell;

an energy storage element connected between the first and second lead terminals;

a synchronous-rectification switching power-source portion for converting an output voltage of the fuel cell to an output voltage of the energy storage element and outputting it to the first and second lead terminals;

a current-detecting portion for detecting an output current of the fuel cell; and

a voltage-detecting portion for detecting an output voltage of the fuel cell, wherein the switching power-source portion includes;

a first switching element connected to the energy storage element in series,

a second switching element connected to the energy storage element in parallel, and

a controller for executing a simultaneous-turn-off control of turning the first and second switching elements off simultaneously when the output current detected by the current-detecting portion is not larger than a preset current threshold, and executing adjustment of adjusting the current flowing from the fuel cell to the switching power-source portion by controlling the duty ratio of turning the first and second switching elements on and off alternately to keep the output voltage of the fuel cell at a set output voltage, and suspends the simultaneous-turn-off control for a preset period when the voltage detected by the voltage-detecting portion is larger than a preset voltage threshold, and executes the voltage-converting operation by the switching power-source portion by turning the first and second switching elements on and off alternately.