Method and apparatus for providing hybrid power in vehicle

• US 7,147,072 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2004
• Issued: 12/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Botti, Jean Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Restifo, Jeff
• Application Number:
  US10/755,799
• Publication Number:
  US 20040211605A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,065 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/65.4, 180/65.8, 903/908, 903/944, 903/943, 903/942, 429/22, 429/23
• US Class Current: 180/65.25
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/32 characterised by the fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/20 AC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/40 for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/28 including control of fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/28 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/003 of fuel cells with other electrochemical devices, e.g. capacitors, electrolysers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/20 Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/407 Combination of fuel cells with mechanical energy generators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04268 Heating of fuel cells during the start-up of the fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2425 High-temperature cells with solid electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/244 with matrix-supported molten electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 : Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/944 : Characterized by control of fuel cell

Abstract

A hybrid powertrain system includes a combustion engine, a battery buffer for storing electric energy by converting it onto chemical energy, which can be converted back into electrical energy when need, a fuel cell unit having multiple fuel cells each of which is an electrochemical energy conversion device that converts hydrogen and oxygen into water, producing electricity and heat in the process, a power level control unit for capturing electrical energy from the fuel cell unit for delivering zero power, full power, or any power level in between, and an electric motor having inputs for receiving energy from the combustion engine, the battery buffer and the fuel cell auxiliary power unit, and an output for generating activation power to a transmission providing a driving force to a vehicle.

Claims

1. A hybrid powertrain system comprising

a combustion engine coupled to a motor to mechanically drive the motor;

a battery buffer for providing power to electrically drive the motor;

a solid oxide fuel cell unit having a plurality of fuel cells for providing power to electrically drive the motor; and

a power transfer control unit disposed between the combustion engine and the motor for selectively providing (i) pure electric power directly from the battery buffer to the motor during a fuel cell warm up period wherein the fuel cell is not generating a sufficient amount of power for use in the hybrid Powertrain system and (ii) pure mechanical propulsion directly from the combustion engine to the motor during a fuel cell warm up period wherein the fuel cell is not generating a sufficient amount of power for use in the hybrid Powertrain system, wherein the hybrid powertrain is disposed within a vehicle and the power provided to the motor is solely provided by the solid oxide fuel cell unit when the vehicle is traveling a speed within a range of 40 through 50 mph.

2. The hybrid Powertrain system of claim 1, wherein a fuel efficiency of the hybrid powertrain system is increased at least 25 percent from operating the hybrid powertrain system wherein the power provided to the motor is solely provided by the combustion engine when the vehicle is traveling a speed within a range of 40 through 50 mph.

4. The hybrid Powertrain system of claim 2, wherein a fuel efficiency of the hybrid powertrain system is increased at least 16 percent from operating the hybrid powertrain system wherein the power provided to the motor is solely provided by the combustion engine when the vehicle is traveling a speed within a range of 60 through 70 mph.

3. A hybrid powertrain system comprising

a combustion engine coupled to a motor to mechanically drive the motor;

a battery buffer for providing power to electrically drive the motor;

a solid oxide fuel cell unit having a plurality of fuel cells for providing power to electrically drive the motor; and

a power transfer control unit disposed between the combustion engine and the motor for selectively providing (i) pure electric power directly from the battery buffer to the motor during a fuel cell warm up period wherein the fuel cell is not generating a sufficient amount of power for use in the hybrid Powertrain system and (ii) pure mechanical propulsion directly from the combustion engine to the motor during a fuel cell warm up period wherein the fuel cell is not generating a sufficient amount of power for use in the hybrid Powertrain system, wherein the hybrid powertrain is disposed within a vehicle and the power provided to the motor is provided by the solid oxide fuel cell unit and the combustion engine when the vehicle is traveling a speed within the range of 60 through 70 mph.