Fuel cell and control unit in a detachable housing

• US 7,057,306 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2001
• Issued: 06/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NuCellSys GmbH (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: NuCellSys GmbH (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Belschner, Werner, Sonntag, Anton, Blutbacher, Reinhold, Sonntag, Josef
• Primary Examiner(s): Sircus, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Squires, Brett
• Application Number:
  US10/203,934
• Publication Number:
  US 20030137193A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,956 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1, 335/202, 361/626
• US Class Current: 307/9.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/30 for monitoring or controlling fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/33 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/34 by heating
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/006 of fuel cells with rechargeable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/20 Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0444 Concentration; Density H01M8/04492 takes precedence
• 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 8/04589 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/247 Arrangements for tightening a stack, for accommodation of a stack in a tank or for assembling different tanks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• 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

The invention relates to a vehicle with a fuel cell for producing power. The vehicle has a monitoring and switching unit which is enclosed in a housing that is detachably connected to the fuel cell housing.

Claims

1. Apparatus having a fuel cell for producing electrical power that is distributed to electrical loads in a high-voltage line network connected to the fuel cell, and to further electrical loads in a low-voltage line network that is connected to the high-voltage line network via a DC/DC converter, said apparatus further comprising:

a central monitoring and switching unit having a first housing which can be mounted detachably on a fuel cell housing of the fuel cell;

electrical conductors which are arranged in said first housing and are connected to respective electrical outputs of the fuel cell via contact means and bushings in a wall of said first housing;

wherein,

at least one of said conductors includes a fuel cell circuit breaker;

said conductors are connected to loads via branches which are provided with fuses in at least one pole, and via bushings in a wall of said first housing and contact means;

the low-voltage line network is connected via a bushing to a control and evaluation unit which is associated with the central monitoring and switching unit;

the control and evaluation unit is connected via bushings in a wall of said first housing and contact means to sensors for detecting operating states of the apparatus;

the bushings in a wall of said first housing are dust-tight and water-tight; and

the contact means are detachable.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the control and evaluation unit closes the fuel cell circuit breaker when the fuel cell reaches operational readiness; and

the control and evaluation unit opens the fuel cell circuit breaker upon detection of operating states, measured by said sensors, which correspond to predetermined critical operating states.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control and evaluation unit is arranged in an interior of the first housing, together with the other components of the central monitoring and switching unit.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control and evaluation unit is arranged in a second housing, which is fitted as a cover for an opening in a third housing which encloses a switching and distribution unit for the central monitoring and switching unit.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second housing is thermally insulated from the third housing with the components of the switching and distribution unit for the central monitoring and switching unit.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein:

the control and evaluation unit has a printed circuit board that is fitted with electronic components and is arranged in an interior of the second housing; and

the second housing is in the form of a trough-shaped cover and has an opening facing the opening of the third housing.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a motor vehicle.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the dust-tight and water-tight bushings and the easily detachable contact means are plug connectors.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the control and evaluation unit is connected to

gas sensors arranged outside the housing for detecting leaks in units of the mobile device that produce hydrogen, store hydrogen or carry hydrogen;

a sensor for detecting fuel cell current;

at least one sensor for detecting an impact between the mobile apparatus and an obstruction;

a sensor for measuring insulation resistance of the high-voltage line network;

a sensor for detecting fuel cell voltage; and

a sensor for measurement of the voltage of the low-voltage line network; and

the control and evaluation unit opens the fuel cell circuit breaker when a measured value is detected by any of said sensors that is undesirable or unacceptable for safety reasons.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the control and evaluation unit monitors:

the voltages of the high-voltage network and of the low-voltage network to detect values which exceed predeterminable limits;

the fuel cell output current for overshooting a predeterminable limit; and

the insulation resistance of the high-voltage network for undershooting a predeterminable limit.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first housing is arranged at a point which is substantially unaffected by mechanical destruction of the mobile device.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control and evaluation unit comprises integrated circuits which are arranged on a printed circuit board in the first and second housings.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fuel cell is disconnected from the supply networks via a line which is disconnected when the first housing is removed.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second housings and the fuel cell housing has centering or guide means for interlocking attachment.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second housings are attachable to the fuel cell housing by screws or by latching means.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second housings are rigidly attachable to the fuel cell housing.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a dedicated housing for fuses in the branches is arranged in the first and second housings of the monitoring and switching unit.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the fuses of the high-voltage line network are arranged in a fuse housing, and are accessible via a closeable opening, from outside the first housing.

19. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the fuses are arranged on a printed circuit board underneath a sealable cover of the first housing.

20. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the converter for a drive motor for the mobile device is protected by a fuse in the first housing.

21. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second housings are composed of metal.

22. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second housings are composed of plastic.

23. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first housing comprises metal and plastic parts.

24. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first housing has a switch or sensor on a housing opening, which opens the fuel cell circuit breaker.

25. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein fuses for the circuits of the low-voltage line network are arranged in the first housing.

26. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein fuses for the circuits of the low-voltage line network are arranged in fuse holders on a printed circuit board.

27. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein components for precharging the DC/DC converter are arranged in a fourth housing on the first housing.

28. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a manually operable off switch is arranged in at least one of the first and second housings, upstream of the fuel cell circuit breaker in the conductors.

29. Apparatus for distributing electric power from a fuel cell to loads which are connected to a high voltage network that is connectable to the fuel cell, and to further loads in a low voltage network that is coupled to the high voltage network, said apparatus comprising:

a central monitoring and switching unit;

a control and evaluation unit associated with the central monitoring and switching unit;

a first housing that is detachably mountable on a fuel cell housing of the fuel cell, said central monitoring and switching unit being situated within said first housing; and

electrical conductors which enter into said first housing, are connected at outer ends thereof to respective electrical outputs of the fuel cell, and are coupled at inner ends thereof to said high voltage network;

wherein

said conductors are connected to said loads via electrical contacts and branch lines which include fuses in at least one pole thereof, and which pass through a wall of said first housing via bushings;

the low voltage network is connected to said control and evaluation unit via electrical contacts and at least one bushing in a wall of said first housing;

the control and evaluation unit is connected to sensors for detecting operating states of the apparatus, via electrical contacts and bushings in a wall of the first housing;

the bushings are dust and water-tight; and

the electrical contacts are disconnectable.