Method and apparatus for controlling voltage from a fuel cell system

• US 6,841,275 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2001
• Issued: 01/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Ballard Power Systems Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Pearson, Martin T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cantelmo, Gregg
• Application Number:
  US10/017,470
• Publication Number:
  US 20030113594A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,124 Days
• Field of Search: 429/9, 429/13, 429/12, 429/22, 429/23, 429/25, 320/101
• US Class Current: 429/9
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/006 of fuel cells with rechargeable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04007 related to heat exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04119 with simultaneous supply or evacuation of electrolyte; Humidifying or dehumidifying
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04373 of auxiliary devices, e.g. reformers, compressors, burners
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04559 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04567 of auxiliary devices, e.g. batteries, capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04597 of auxiliary devices, e.g. batteries, capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04626 of auxiliary devices, e.g. batteries, capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04753 of fuel cell reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04798 of fuel cell reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0488 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/082 Plural DC voltage, e.g. DC supply voltage with at least two different DC voltage levels
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/30 The power source being a fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A fuel cell system electrically couples a battery in parallel with the fuel cell stack to power a load. An operational condition of the battery is compared to a desired operating condition and a partial pressure of a reactant flow to at least a portion of the fuel cell stack is adjusted based on the determined amount of deviation. The operational condition can include voltage, charge of the battery. Individual fuel cell systems can be combined in series and/or parallel to produce a combined fuel cell system having a desired output voltage and current.

Claims

1. A fuel cell system for providing power to a load, comprising:

a voltage bus;

a first fuel cell stack having a number of fuel cells electrically couplable across the voltage bus;

a first battery having a number of battery cells electrically couplable in parallel across the first fuel cell stack on the voltage bus;

a first reactant delivery system for delivering reactant to the fuel cells of the first fuel cell stack, the first reactant delivery system including at least a first control element adjustable to control a partial pressure in a flow of a reactant to at least some of the fuel cells of the first fuel cell stack;

a first control circuit coupled to receive signals corresponding to an operating condition of the first battery and configured to determine a deviation of the operating condition of the first battery from a desired operational condition of the first battery based on the received signals, the first control circuit further coupled to control the at least first control element based on the determined deviation;

a second fuel cell stack having a number of fuel cells electrically couplable across the voltage bus;

a second battery having a number of battery cells electrically couplable in parallel across the second fuel cell stack on the voltage bus;

a second reactant delivery system for delivering reactant to the fuel cells of the second fuel cell stack, the second reactant delivery system including at least a second control element adjustable to control a partial pressure in a flow of a reactant to at least some of the fuel cells of the second fuel cell stack;

a second control circuit coupled to receive signals corresponding to an operating condition of the second battery and configured to determine a deviation of the operating condition of the second battery from a desired operational condition of the second battery based on the received signals, the second control circuit further coupled to control the at least second control element based on the determined deviation.

2. The fuel cell system of claim 1 wherein the second fuel cell stack and the second battery are electrical coupled in series with the first fuel cell stack and the first battery.

3. The fuel cell system of claim 1 wherein the second fuel cell stack and the second battery are electrical coupled in parallel with the first fuel cell stack and the first battery.

4. The fuel cell system of claim 1, further comprising:

a third fuel cell stack having a number of fuel cells electrically couplable across the voltage bus;

a third battery having a number of battery cells electrically couplable in parallel across the third fuel cell stack on the voltage bus;

a third reactant delivery system for delivering reactant to the fuel cells of the third fuel cell stack, the third reactant delivery system including at least a third control element adjustable to control a partial pressure in a flow of a reactant to at least some of the fuel cells of the third fuel cell stack;

a third control circuit coupled to receive signals corresponding to an operating condition of the third battery and configured to determine a deviation of the operating condition of the third battery from a desired operational condition of the third battery based on the received signals, the third control circuit further coupled to control the at least third control element based on the determined deviation.

5. The fuel cell system of claim 1, further comprising:

a third fuel cell stack having a number of fuel cells electrically couplable across the voltage bus;

a third battery having a number of battery cells electrically couplable in parallel across the third fuel cell stack on the voltage bus;

a third reactant delivery system for delivering reactant to the fuel cells of the third fuel cell stack, the third reactant delivery system including at least a third control element adjustable to control a partial pressure in a flow of a reactant to at least some of the fuel cells of the third fuel cell stack;

a third control circuit coupled to receive signals corresponding to an operating condition of the third battery and configured to determine a deviation of the operating condition of the third battery from a desired operational condition of the third battery based on the received signals, the third control circuit further coupled to control the at least third control element based on the determined deviation, wherein the second fuel cell stack and the second battery are electrical coupled in series with the first fuel cell stack and the first battery, and with the third fuel cell stack and the third battery.

6. The fuel cell system of claim 1, further comprising:

a third fuel cell stack having a number of fuel cells electrically couplable across the voltage bus;

a third battery having a number of battery cells electrically couplable in parallel across the third fuel cell stack on the voltage bus;

a third reactant delivery system for delivering reactant to the fuel cells of the third fuel cell stack, the third reactant delivery system including at least a third control element adjustable to control a partial pressure in a flow of a reactant to at least some of the fuel cells of the third fuel cell stack;

a third control circuit coupled to receive signals corresponding to an operating condition of the third battery and configured to determine a deviation of the operating condition of the third battery from a desired operational condition of the third battery based on the received signals, the third control circuit further coupled to control the at least third control element based on the determined deviation, wherein the second fuel cell stack and the second battery are electrical coupled in series with the first fuel cell stack and the first battery, and wherein the third fuel cell stack and the third battery are electrically coupled in parallel with the first and the second fuel cell stack and the first and the second battery.