Electrical power distribution system for a fuel cell vehicle

• US 6,447,939 B1
• Filed: 05/04/2000
• Issued: 09/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Iwasaki, Yasukazu
• Primary Examiner(s): KALAFUT, STEPHEN J
• Application Number:
  US09/563,854
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• Field of Search: 429/9, 429/22, 429/23, 180/65.3
• US Class Current: 429/9
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/31 for starting of fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/34 by heating
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/20 Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04225 during start-up
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04947 of auxiliary devices, e.g. batteries, capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0612 from carbon-containing material
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

When a kick-down operation by a driver is detected during the startup of a fuel reforming system, the amount of electrical power required for startup of the fuel reforming system is limited, and the amount of electrical power distributed to a motor is increased, thereby giving priority to powering the motor.

Claims

1. An electrical power distribution system for a fuel cell vehicle, comprising:

a fuel reformer generating reformed gas from fuel, wherein the fuel reformer comprises an electrical vaporizer;

an air supply source supplying air to the fuel reformer and to a fuel cell;

the fuel cell generating electrical power from the reformed gas and the air;

a battery storing electrical power generated by the fuel cell and discharging electrical power; and

an electrical motor providing drive to the vehicle by electrical power supplied from the fuel cell and the battery,

wherein the electrical power distribution system is operative in response to operation of an accelerator for distribution of electrical power from the fuel cell and the battery to the fuel reformer, the air supply source, and the motor, and further comprises;

an operation detector detecting a kick-down operation of an accelerator pedal; and

a controller which in the case of a kick-down operation being detected during startup of the fuel reforming system, including the fuel reformer and the air supply source, performs control so as to limit the electrical power required for startup of the fuel reforming system and increase the amount of electrical power distributed to the motor.

2. An electrical power distribution system according to claim 1, further comprising a hydrogen storage system storing hydrogen contained in the reformed gas generated by the fuel reformer, wherein after the hydrogen storage system is started, the controller does not limit the electrical power required for operation of the hydrogen storage system, and wherein during startup of the hydrogen storage system, the controller limits the electrical power required for startup of the hydrogen storage system.

3. An electrical power distribution system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an electrical power detector detecting insufficient electrical power for starting of the fuel reforming system; and

an alarm provider issuing an alarm, in response to a detection result from the electrical power detector, to the effect that electrical power is insufficient to start the fuel reforming system.

4. The electrical power distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the air supply source comprises a compressor.

5. An electrical power distribution system for a fuel cell vehicle, comprising:

a fuel reformer generating reformed gas from fuel, wherein the fuel reformer comprises an electrical vaporizer;

an air supply source supplying air to the fuel reformer and to a fuel cell;

the fuel cell generating electrical power from the reformed gas and the air;

a battery storing electrical power generated by the fuel cell and discharging electrical power; and

an electrical motor providing drive to the vehicle by electrical power supplied from the fuel cell and the battery,

wherein the electrical power distribution system is operative in response to operation of an accelerator for distribution of electrical power from the fuel cell and the battery to the fuel reformer, the air supply source, and the motor, and further comprises;

operation detecting means for detecting a kick-down operation of an accelerator pedal; and

control means operative in the case of a kick-down operation being detected during startup of the fuel reforming system, including the fuel reformer and the air supply source, for performing control so as to limit the electrical power required for startup of the fuel reforming system and increase the amount of electrical power distributed to the motor.

6. The electrical power distribution system according to claim 5, wherein the air supply source comprises a compressor.