ELECTRICAL ENERGY SYSTEM WITH FUEL-CELLS

• US 20190322183A1
• Filed: 04/18/2019
• Published: 10/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Breu, Martin, Schiedermeier, Maximilian
• Granted Patent: US 11,370,311 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/51 characterised by AC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/75 using propulsion power supplied by both fuel cells and batteries

Abstract

An electrical energy system containing fuel-cells and a method for operating an electrical energy system for a motor vehicle are disclosed. The electrical energy system includes, for example: at least one fuel-cell; at least one HV battery; a diode arranged between the at least one fuel-cell and the at least one HV battery, which diode allows current flow only in a direction from the at least one fuel-cell to the at least one HV battery; a switching element configured to reversibly disconnect or close a circuit between the at least one fuel-cell and the at least one HV battery; a control unit configured to control the switching element; and an inductor arranged between the at least one fuel-cell and the at least one HV battery and connected in series with the switching element.

Claims

1. An energy system for a vehicle, comprising:

at least one fuel-cell;

at least one HV battery;

a diode arranged between the at least one fuel-cell and the at least one HV battery, which diode allows current flow only in a direction from the at least one fuel-cell to the at least one HV battery;

a switching element configured to reversibly disconnect or close a circuit between the at least one fuel-cell and the at least one HV battery;

a control unit configured to control the switching element; and

an inductor arranged between the at least one fuel-cell and the at least one HV battery and connected in series with the switching element.

2. The energy system according to claim 1, in which the switching element is arranged between the at least one fuel-cell and the at least one HV battery.

3. The energy system according to claim 1, wherein the switching element is designed as an electromechanical switching element.

4. The energy system according to claim 1, wherein the switching element is designed as a semiconductor switch.

5. The energy system according to claim 4, wherein the switching element comprises at least one IGBT or one MOS-FET.

6. The energy system according to claim 1, wherein the inductor is a choke.

7. The energy system according to claim 6, wherein the choke is an air coil.

8. The energy system according to claim 6, wherein the choke is a storage choke.

9. The energy system according to claim 6, wherein the inductor is designed to reach a saturation magnetization during a switching operation of the switching element.

10. A method for operating an energy system with at least one fuel-cell and at least one HV battery, between which a diode is connected, a switching element configured to reversibly disconnect the circuit between the at least one fuel-cell and the at least one HV battery, and an inductor which is arranged between the at least one fuel-cell and the at least one HV battery and connected in series with the switching element, the method comprising:

disconnecting the circuit between the at least one fuel-cell and the at least one HV battery, when current flow from the at least one fuel-cell to the at least one HV battery is not desired; and

closing the circuit between the at least one fuel-cell and the at least one HV battery when current flow from the at least one fuel-cell to the at least one HV battery is desired.