VEHICLE POWER SYSTEM WITH FUEL CELL AUXILIARY POWER UNIT (APU)
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A vehicle power system comprising:
- a plurality of electrical loads that consume electrical energy from the vehicle power system;
an energy storage device for storing electrical energy from the vehicle power system and providing stored electrical energy to the vehicle power system, the energy storage device having a state of charge;
an internal combustion engine;
an alternator, the alternator comprising a first power mode wherein the alternator is driven by the engine to convert mechanical energy from the engine into electrical energy that is provided to the vehicle power system, the alternator comprising a second non-power mode in which the alternator is not providing electrical energy to the vehicle power system;
a fuel cell having a plurality of fuel cell modes comprising a Power Mode wherein the fuel cell converts fuel into electrical energy that is at least selectively provided to the vehicle power system, and at least a second mode wherein the fuel cell does not provide electrical energy to the vehicle power system; and
a vehicle power system controller coupled to the alternator and to the fuel cell and operable to control the production and distribution of electrical energy in the vehicle power system, the controller being configured to, based upon the electrical energy consumption of the electrical loads and the state of charge of the energy storage device, shift the alternator between the first power mode and the second non-power mode and to shift the fuel cell between plural fuel cell modes.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A power distribution system comprises at least one fuel cell that is selectively operated in response to conditions to provide power to electrical loads and/or to charge an electrical storage device such as a vehicle battery. One form of an alternator can be selectively engaged or disengaged to provide power to the electrical loads and/or to charge the electrical storage device. Either or both of the fuel cell and alternator can be operated to provide electrical power.
-
Citations
49 Claims
-
1. A vehicle power system comprising:
-
a plurality of electrical loads that consume electrical energy from the vehicle power system; an energy storage device for storing electrical energy from the vehicle power system and providing stored electrical energy to the vehicle power system, the energy storage device having a state of charge; an internal combustion engine; an alternator, the alternator comprising a first power mode wherein the alternator is driven by the engine to convert mechanical energy from the engine into electrical energy that is provided to the vehicle power system, the alternator comprising a second non-power mode in which the alternator is not providing electrical energy to the vehicle power system; a fuel cell having a plurality of fuel cell modes comprising a Power Mode wherein the fuel cell converts fuel into electrical energy that is at least selectively provided to the vehicle power system, and at least a second mode wherein the fuel cell does not provide electrical energy to the vehicle power system; and a vehicle power system controller coupled to the alternator and to the fuel cell and operable to control the production and distribution of electrical energy in the vehicle power system, the controller being configured to, based upon the electrical energy consumption of the electrical loads and the state of charge of the energy storage device, shift the alternator between the first power mode and the second non-power mode and to shift the fuel cell between plural fuel cell modes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 38)
-
-
19. A vehicle power system comprising:
-
an internal combustion engine; a starter coupled to the internal combustion engine and that is operable to crank the engine in response to delivery of a crank engine current to the starter; a switchable power output alternator that is operable in response to an alternator control signal to shift from a first power mode in which the alternator is driven by the engine to produce output power at an alternator output and a second non-power mode in which the alternator is not driven by the engine to produce output power; an energy storage device coupled to the alternator output and to vehicle electrical loads; a fuel cell coupled to the energy storage device and to the vehicle electrical loads; a system controller coupled to the fuel cell and to the energy storage device, the system controller being operable to selectively provide alternator control signals to the alternator to control the shifting of the alternator from the first power mode to the second non-power mode and from the second non-power mode to the first power mode, the system controller also being operable to selectively provide an engine start signal to cause the engine to start, the system controller selectively controlling the shifting of the alternator to the first power mode and the starting of the engine so as to control the production of alternator output current, the fuel cell being operable to produce electrical power when the fuel cell is in a Power Mode, the system controller being operable to selectively control the delivery of power from the alternator, power from the fuel cell, and power from both the alternator and the fuel cell to the energy storage device and to the electrical loads.
-
-
20. A vehicle power system comprising:
-
an internal combustion engine; a starter coupled to the internal combustion engine, the starter being operable to crank the engine to start the engine in response to the delivery of engine cranking electrical current to the starter; an alternator coupled to the engine and operable to produce an alternator current output when driven by the engine; an energy storage device that is coupled to the alternator output and to vehicle electrical loads; a fuel cell that is coupled to the energy storage device and to the vehicle electrical loads, the fuel cell having an electrically powered fuel cell cooler that is selectively operable to cool the fuel cell, the fuel cell comprising an Off Mode in which the fuel cell is not producing output power;
a Startup Mode in which the fuel cell is shifted toward an operational state wherein the fuel cell produces output power, a Power Mode in which the fuel cell is at least selectively operable to produce output power;and a Shutdown Mode in which the fuel cell is shifted toward the Off Mode, the fuel cell being responsive to fuel cell mode control signals to shift to selected fuel cell modes; a system controller coupled to the fuel cell and to the energy storage device, the system controller being operable to provide the fuel cell mode control signals to the fuel cell to control the shifting in the fuel cell to the selected modes; and wherein the system controller blocks the shifting of the fuel cell from the Off Mode to the Startup Mode under conditions comprising there is not at least enough power in the energy storage device to start the engine from a stopped state. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
-
-
46. A vehicle power system comprising:
-
an internal combustion engine; a starter coupled to the internal combustion engine, the starter being operable to crank the engine to start the engine in response to the delivery of an engine cranking electrical current to the starter; an alternator coupled to the engine and operable to produce power at an alternator output; an energy storage device that is coupled to the alternator output and to vehicle electrical loads; a fuel cell that is coupled to the energy storage device and to the vehicle electrical loads, the fuel cell having an electrically powered fuel cell cooler that is selectively operable to cool the fuel cell, the fuel cell comprising fuel cell modes comprising an Off Mode in which the fuel cell is not producing output power;
a Startup Mode in which the fuel cell is shifted toward an operational state wherein the fuel cell produces output power, a Power Mode in which the fuel cell is at least selectively operable to produce output power; and
a Shutdown Mode in which the fuel cell is shifted toward the Off Mode;the fuel cell being responsive to fuel cell mode control signals to initiate or block shifting between fuel cell modes; a system controller coupled to the fuel cell and to the energy storage device, the system controller being operable to provide the fuel cell mode control signals to the fuel cell to control the initiating of shifting and blocking of shifting of the fuel cell to at least selected modes of the fuel cell modes; and wherein the system controller provides a fuel cell mode control signal to cause blocking of the shifting of the fuel cell from the Off Mode to the Startup Mode if the engine is not running. - View Dependent Claims (47)
-
-
48. A method of controlling a vehicle power system, the vehicle power system comprising a plurality of electrical loads, a battery having a state of charge (SOC), an internal combustion engine with an alternator, a fuel cell having at least an Off Mode, a Startup Mode, a Power Mode and a Shutdown Mode, and an input for receiving commands to switch the fuel cell to the Power Mode or the Off Mode, the method comprising:
-
when the fuel cell is in the Off Mode; if a received command is to switch the fuel cell on Power Mode and the SOC is less than or equal to a first threshold value or the engine is not running , then leaving the fuel cell in the Off Mode; if a received command is to switch the fuel cell on Power Mode, the engine is running, and the SOC is greater than the first threshold value , then switching the fuel cell to the Startup Mode; when the fuel cell is in the Startup Mode; if the SOC is less than or equal to a second threshold value, then switching the fuel cell to the Shutdown Mode; if the SOC is less than or equal to a third threshold greater than the second threshold value and the engine is not running, then starting the engine; if the SOC is less than or equal to the third threshold value and the engine is running and the electrical energy consumption of the electrical loads is greater than a first level, then reducing the electrical energy consumption of the electrical loads below the first level; if the temperature of the fuel cell reaches a fuel cell operating temperature, then switching the fuel cell to the Power Mode; when the fuel cell is in the Power Mode; if the SOC is less than or equal to the third threshold value, then reducing the electrical energy consumption of the electrical loads until the SOC reaches a fourth threshold value that is greater than the first threshold value; if a received command is to switch the fuel cell off and the SOC is less than or equal to a fifth threshold value, then leaving the fuel cell in the Power Mode; if a received command is to switch the fuel cell Power Mode off and the SOC is greater than the fifth threshold value, then switching the fuel cell to the Shutdown Mode; if the fuel level is less than a low fuel threshold level, then switching the fuel cell to the Shutdown Mode; when the fuel cell is in the Shutdown Mode; if the temperature of the fuel cell reaches a second temperature at which a fuel cell cooling mechanism can be turned off without damaging the fuel cell, then switching the fuel cell to the Off Mode; and if the received command is to switch the fuel cell on, the SOC is greater than the first threshold, the engine is running and the fuel is not less than a low fuel level, switching the fuel cell to the Startup Mode. - View Dependent Claims (49)
-
Specification