FUEL CELL SYSTEM INCLUDING SOFT SWITCHING BOOST CONVERTER

• US 20120295174A1
• Filed: 12/16/2010
• Published: 11/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National University Corporation Yokohama National University, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: National University Corporation Yokohama National University, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Imanishi, Hiroyuki, Manabe, Kota, Kitamura, Nobuyuki, Hasegawa, Takahiko, Kawamura, Atsuo, Tsuruta, Yukinori
• Granted Patent: US 9,029,030 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/428
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 17/04 with magnetic core
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/245 made from sheets, e.g. grain-oriented H01F27/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 29/146 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/34 Snubber circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/342 Active non-dissipative snubbers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/10 Technologies improving the efficiency by using switched-mode power supplies [SMPS], i.e. efficient power electronics conversion e.g. power factor correction or reduction of losses in power supplies or efficient standby modes

Abstract

A voltage boost converter includes: a main voltage boost portion that has a first switch and a first coil, and that raises output voltage of a direct-current power source by using counter electromotive force of the coil caused by the switch performing a switching action on the coil; and a subsidiary voltage boost portion which has a capacitor that adjusts potential difference between two poles of the switch by amount of electricity stored, and which reduces switching loss of the switch by adjusting the amount of electricity in the capacitor during the switching action, and which has a second switch and a second coil. The second coil is formed by winding a wire around at least a portion of a core formed of a magnetic body. The core is provided with a gap formed of a non-magnetic body. A core region formed of a magnetic body is adjacent to the gap.

Claims

1. A fuel cell system comprising:

a fuel cell that is a direct-current power source, and

a voltage boost converter that raises output voltage of the fuel cell and supplies electricity to a load,

wherein the voltage boost converter includes;

a main voltage boost portion that has a first switch and a first coil, and that raises the output voltage of the fuel cell by using counter electromotive force of the first coil which is caused by the first switch performing a switching action on the first coil; and

a subsidiary voltage boost portion which has a capacitor that adjusts potential difference between two poles of the first switch by an amount of electricity stored in the capacitor and which reduces switching loss of the first switch by adjusting the amount of electricity stored in the capacitor during the switching action, and

the subsidiary voltage boost portion has a second switch and a second coil,

the second coil is formed by winding a winding wire around at least a portion of a core that is formed of a magnetic body,

the core is provided with a gap that is formed of a non-magnetic body, and a core region formed of a magnetic body is provided adjacent to the gap,

the core has a plurality of core members; and

the gap and the core region are provided in each of spaces between the core members.

2. The fuel cell system according to claim 1, wherein

the core region is provided adjacent to the gap so as to form a magnetic path that has smaller magnetic resistance than the core.

3. The fuel cell system according to claim 1, wherein:

4. The fuel cell system according to claim 1, wherein

the core region is in contact with the core.

5. (canceled)

6. A direct-current power source system comprising:

a direct-current power source, and

a voltage boost converter that raises output voltage of the direct-current power source and supplies electricity to a load,

wherein the voltage boost converter includes;

a main voltage boost portion that has a first switch and a first coil, and that raises the output voltage of the direct-current power source by using counter electromotive force of the first coil which is caused by the first switch performing a switching action on the first coil; and

a subsidiary voltage boost portion which has a capacitor that adjusts potential difference between two poles of the first switch by an amount of electricity stored in the capacitor and which reduces switching loss of the first switch by adjusting the amount of electricity stored in the capacitor during the switching action, and

wherein the subsidiary voltage boost portion has a second switch and a second coil,

the second coil is formed by winding a winding wire around at least a portion of a core that is formed of a magnetic body, and

the core is provided with a gap that is formed of a non-magnetic body, and a core region formed of a magnetic body is provided adjacent to the gap.