System and Method for Initiating Operation of a Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle
First Claim
1. A fuel cell hybrid electric vehicle comprising:
- a high-voltage DC bus;
an ultracapacitor-based propulsion energy storage electrically coupled to the high-voltage bus;
an air delivery compressor electrically coupled to the high-voltage bus;
a battery selectably electrically coupled to the high-voltage bus;
a fuel cell selectably electrically coupled to the high-voltage bus;
at least one electric propulsion motor selectably electrically coupled to the high-voltage bus; and
,a system controller configured to perform the steps of;
electrically connecting the battery to the ultracapacitor-based propulsion energy storage, charging the ultracapacitor-based propulsion energy storage with the battery to a predetermined voltage level associated with powering an air delivery for a predetermined amount of time, disconnecting the battery from the ultracapacitor-based propulsion energy storage, electrically connecting the ultracapacitor-based propulsion energy storage to the air delivery compressor, operating the air delivery compressor using the charge on the ultracapacitor-based propulsion energy storage to provide a predetermined quantity of air to the fuel cell, and causing the fuel cell to generate electricity.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure provides a method and system for powering a hybrid electric vehicle with a fuel cell, and in particular, efficiently initiating power generation in the fuel cell, the method and system comprising electrically connecting a battery to an ultracapacitor-based propulsion energy storage; using the battery to charge the propulsion energy storage to a predetermined voltage level for powering an air delivery compressor for a predetermined amount of time; disconnecting the battery from the propulsion energy storage; electrically connecting the propulsion energy storage to the air delivery compressor; operating the air delivery compressor using the charge on the propulsion energy storage to provide a predetermined quantity of air to the fuel cell; and causing the fuel cell to generate electricity.
12 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A fuel cell hybrid electric vehicle comprising:
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a high-voltage DC bus; an ultracapacitor-based propulsion energy storage electrically coupled to the high-voltage bus; an air delivery compressor electrically coupled to the high-voltage bus; a battery selectably electrically coupled to the high-voltage bus; a fuel cell selectably electrically coupled to the high-voltage bus; at least one electric propulsion motor selectably electrically coupled to the high-voltage bus; and
,a system controller configured to perform the steps of;
electrically connecting the battery to the ultracapacitor-based propulsion energy storage, charging the ultracapacitor-based propulsion energy storage with the battery to a predetermined voltage level associated with powering an air delivery for a predetermined amount of time, disconnecting the battery from the ultracapacitor-based propulsion energy storage, electrically connecting the ultracapacitor-based propulsion energy storage to the air delivery compressor, operating the air delivery compressor using the charge on the ultracapacitor-based propulsion energy storage to provide a predetermined quantity of air to the fuel cell, and causing the fuel cell to generate electricity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification