Methods for utilizing the electrical and non electrical outputs of fuel cell powered vehicles

• US 6,107,691 A
• Filed: 06/15/1998
• Issued: 08/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Grow International Corporation
• Original Assignee: Grow International Corporation
• Inventors: Roman, Harry T., Gore, Gerald E., Gore, Robert A., Wittman, Wayne K., Gore, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ponomarenko, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US09/094,836
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 290/1 R, 290/4 R, 290/4 A, 290/40 R, 290/40 B, 60/639, 320/109, 320/116, 320/125
• US Class Current: 290/1.00R
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/28 Trailers
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/20 AC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/71 Arrangement of fuel cells within vehicles specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/72 Constructional details of fuel cells specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 55/00 Arrangements for supplying energy stored within a vehicle to a power network, i.e. vehicle-to-grid [V2G] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/33 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/34 by heating
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/40 for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: F02G 1/043 the engine being operated by expansion and contraction of a mass of working gas which is heated and cooled in one of a plurality of constantly communicating expansible chambers, e.g. Stirling cycle type engines
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 2101/30 for aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/04 Control effected upon non-electric prime mover and dependent upon electric output value of the generator
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/126 : the energy generation units being or involving electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV], i.e. power aggregation of EV or HEV, vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G]

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for generating electrical power from multiple vehicles powered by fuel cells while the vehicles are parked in a parking lot. A plurality of spaced-apart electrical receptacles are provided for receiving an electric cable for connection to a parked vehicle for electrically connecting the fuel cell in each of the parked vehicles to the plurality of electrical receptacles. An electric power grid is electrically connected to the plurality of electrical receptacles for transferring D.C. electrical power from the fuel cells in the parked vehicles to the electric power grid. At least one electric power collection station is electrically connected to the electric power grid for collecting at a common point the D.C. electric power in the electric power grid. In addition, at least one inverter is electrically connected to the electric power collection station for converting the D.C. electric power to A.C. electric power. Apparatus is provided for supplying the A.C. electric power to a load or a utility grid.

Claims

1. Apparatus for connecting a fuel cell powered vehicle to a building for supplying electric power from the fuel cell in the vehicle to the building, comprising:

a) a plurality of lines including a water line and an electric line for connecting the fuel cell in the vehicle to the building;

b) means for connecting the electric line from the vehicle to an electric power panel of the building;

c) means for connecting the water line from the building to the vehicle water tank or water heater; and

d) a fuel line and means for connecting the fuel cell to said fuel line.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further including a vent line or vent and means for connecting the fuel cell to said vent or vent line.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further including a fuel regulator or other means for allowing the fuel cell to vary its electrical output.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3, further including communications means for allowing the fuel cell to be load following and dispatchable.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further including a switch or other means for energizing the fuel cell when the vehicle is not in locomotion.

6. A method of generating, transmitting, and distributing electric power from a plurality of vehicle to the catenary system of the train, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a generation system including a plurality of fuel cell powered vehicles for generating electricity;

b) providing means for connecting said vehicles electrically to said catenary system;

c) providing an electric transmission and distribution system being said catenary, and

d) connecting said catenary system to a load or a conventional electric utility.

7. A method of generating, transmitting, and distributing electric power from a plurality of vehicles in a parking lot to a load, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a generation system including a plurality of fuel cell powered vehicles for generating electricity;

b) connecting said vehicles electrically to a transmission and distribution system;

c) providing an electric transmission and distribution system being the electric connections between the vehicles and electric receptacles in said parking lot; and

d) connecting said parking lot electric system to a load or a conventional electric utility.

8. Apparatus for the widespread production and distribution of electricity by a plurality of vehicles connected to a utility grid, comprising:

a) a plurality of fuel cell powered vehicles in a parking lot generating electricity;

b) means for connecting said vehicles into a vehicle network at said parking lot;

c) electric lines for transferring electricity from said vehicle network to the utility grid;

d) a plurality of parking lots; and

e) means for connecting the electrical output from said vehicle networks of said plurality of parking lots and transferring said electrical output to said utility grid.