FUEL CELL SYSTEM HAVING BYPASS CIRCUIT AND METHOD OF DRIVING THE SAME
First Claim
1. A fuel cell system comprising:
- a plurality of bundles, each of the plurality of bundles being connected to one or more adjacent others of the plurality of bundles, and comprised of one or more unit cells configured to generate electricity;
a detecting unit for detecting a defective bundle from among the plurality of bundles;
a bypass circuit for bypassing the defective bundle;
a switching circuit between adjacent ones of the plurality of bundles and for connecting and disconnecting the adjacent ones of the plurality of bundles to each other and to the bypass circuit; and
a controller for controlling the switching circuit to bypass the defective bundle.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is a fuel cell system, which bypasses a cell, bundle, or stack. The fuel cell system includes a stack, which includes at least one unit cell including an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte formed between the anode and the cathode. The unit cell produces electricity via an electrochemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen provided from the anode and the cathode. The fuel cell system includes switches connected in series for connecting the unit cells in series or for short-circuiting one unit cell with adjacent unit cells, and a bypass switch to connect two unit cells separated by at least one unit cell. The fuel cell system reduces or minimizes influence of a defective cell, bundle, or stack on another normal cell, bundle, or stack, and thus the fuel cell system may operate for a long time and have excellent durability.
8 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A fuel cell system comprising:
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a plurality of bundles, each of the plurality of bundles being connected to one or more adjacent others of the plurality of bundles, and comprised of one or more unit cells configured to generate electricity; a detecting unit for detecting a defective bundle from among the plurality of bundles; a bypass circuit for bypassing the defective bundle; a switching circuit between adjacent ones of the plurality of bundles and for connecting and disconnecting the adjacent ones of the plurality of bundles to each other and to the bypass circuit; and a controller for controlling the switching circuit to bypass the defective bundle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of driving a fuel cell system, the method comprising:
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driving a fuel cell comprising a plurality of unit cells; detecting a defective cell of the unit cells while the fuel cell is being driven; and bypassing the detected cell using a bypass circuit and a switching circuit. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification