METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING OUTPUT OF FUEL CELL

• US 20170203665A1
• Filed: 04/26/2016
• Published: 07/20/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Lee, Seung Heon, Yoon, Sung Gone, Jung, Jae Won
• Granted Patent: US 10,065,524 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/00 Supplying electric power to auxiliary equipment of vehicles circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/10 DC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/20 having different nominal voltages
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/40 for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

A method and apparatus for controlling output of a fuel cell are provided. The apparatus includes a communicator that is configured to receive state information of a fuel cell and a controller that is configured to terminate charge of a battery by a power converting apparatus when a first voltage of the fuel cell is less than a preset second voltage as air supply of the fuel cell is stopped. Additionally, the controller is configured to activate a relay between the fuel cell and the battery to charge the battery when the first voltage is less than the second voltage.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling a fuel cell, comprising:

a communicator configured to receive state information of a fuel cell; and

a controller configured to terminate a charge of a battery by a power converting apparatus when a first voltage of the fuel cell is less than a preset second voltage as air supply of the fuel cell is stopped,

wherein the controller is configured to activate a relay between the fuel cell and the battery to charge the battery when the first voltage is less than the second voltage.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to activate the relay when a first voltage of the fuel cell is less than a preset second voltage and first current of the fuel cell is less than preset second current.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the relay is connected in series between the fuel cell and the battery.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the second voltage is a voltage of a main bus node for connection of the fuel cell, the battery, and the motor.

5. A method for controlling a fuel cell, comprising:

receiving, by a communicator, state information of a fuel cell;

terminating, by a controller, a charge of a battery by a power converting apparatus when a first voltage of the fuel cell is less than a preset second voltage as air supply of the fuel cell is stopped; and

activating, by the controller, a relay between the fuel cell and the battery to charge the battery when the first voltage is less than the second voltage.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the activation of the relay to charge the battery includes:

activating, by the controller, the relay when a first voltage of the fuel cell is less than a preset second voltage and first current of the fuel cell is less than preset second current.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the relay is connected in series between the fuel cell and the battery.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the second voltage is a voltage of a main bus node for connection of the fuel cell, the battery, and the motor.

9. A non-transitory computer readable recording medium containing program instructions executed by a processor or controller, the computer readable medium comprising:

program instructions that control a communicator to receive state information of a fuel cell;

program instructions that terminate a charge of a battery by a power converting apparatus when a first voltage of the fuel cell is less than a preset second voltage as air supply of the fuel cell is stopped; and

program instructions that activate a relay between the fuel cell and the battery to charge the battery when the first voltage is less than the second voltage.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the program instructions that activate the relay to charge the battery include:

program instructions that activate the relay when a first voltage of the fuel cell is less than a preset second voltage and first current of the fuel cell is less than preset second current.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the relay is connected in series between the fuel cell and the battery.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the second voltage is a voltage of a main bus node for connection of the fuel cell, the battery, and the motor.