Efficient load-following power generating system
First Claim
1. A power generating system for providing electrical power to an external load, the system comprising a fuel cell having a reactant inlet, a reactant processor for processing a reactant raw material into a reactant stream for the fuel cell, the reactant processor having an inlet for receiving the reactant raw material and an outlet fluidly connected to the reactant inlet of the fuel cell, a rate determiner for determining the rate that reactant is supplied from the reactant processor outlet to the reactant inlet of the fuel cell, a DC-DC current converter having current inputs and current outputs, the fuel cell being electrically connected across the current inputs of the DC-DC current converter, a rechargeable storage battery being electrically connected across the current outputs of the DC-DC current converter, a current determiner for determining a desired output current from the DC-DC current converter, and system power outputs for outputting power to the external load, wherein an output signal from the current determiner is provided as a setpoint input to the reactant processor, and an output signal from the rate determiner is provided as a setpoint input of the DC-DC current converter.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A power generating system which comprises a fuel cell and a rechargeable storage battery coupled together via a DC-DC converter. A reactant for the fuel cell is obtained by processing a suitable raw material. The processor is controlled on the basis of the current demanded by the external load and by the storage battery, and the fuel cell current drawn by the DC-DC converter is controlled on the basis of the amount of reactant available from the processor.
116 Citations
22 Claims
- 1. A power generating system for providing electrical power to an external load, the system comprising a fuel cell having a reactant inlet, a reactant processor for processing a reactant raw material into a reactant stream for the fuel cell, the reactant processor having an inlet for receiving the reactant raw material and an outlet fluidly connected to the reactant inlet of the fuel cell, a rate determiner for determining the rate that reactant is supplied from the reactant processor outlet to the reactant inlet of the fuel cell, a DC-DC current converter having current inputs and current outputs, the fuel cell being electrically connected across the current inputs of the DC-DC current converter, a rechargeable storage battery being electrically connected across the current outputs of the DC-DC current converter, a current determiner for determining a desired output current from the DC-DC current converter, and system power outputs for outputting power to the external load, wherein an output signal from the current determiner is provided as a setpoint input to the reactant processor, and an output signal from the rate determiner is provided as a setpoint input of the DC-DC current converter.
Specification