Fuel cell system with a control unit

• US 7,300,716 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2005
• Issued: 11/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Saliger, Rainer, Backes, Markus
• Primary Examiner(s): Ryan; Patrick Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lewis; Ben
• Application Number:
  US11/028,369
• Publication Number:
  US 20050153181A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,058 Days
• Field of Search: 429/13, 429/23
• US Class Current: 429/430
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/00 Fuel cells for particular applications; Specific features of fuel cell system
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/20 Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/40 Combination of fuel cells with other energy production systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04119 with simultaneous supply or evacuation of electrolyte; Humidifying or dehumidifying
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04529 of the electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04649 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0485 of the electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0494 of fuel cell stacks
• 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

Disclosed is a fuel cell system with a control unit (3) for controlling and/or regulating at least one fuel cell unit (1), whereby the fuel cell unit (1) includes at least one membrane monitored by the control unit (3), and an electrical load (4) is provided, in particular an electric drive motor and/or at least one load on the vehicle electrical system, whereby the moistening of the fuel cell membrane is improved. This is achieved according to the present invention by the fact that the control unit (3) includes at least one additional electrical load (5, 7) for an additional power output from the fuel cell unit (1) which is dependent at least on the moistening of the membrane.

Claims

1. A fuel cell system with a control unit (3) for controlling and/or regulating at least one fuel cell unit (1), whereby the fuel cell unit (1) includes at least one membrane monitored by the control unit (3), and an electrical load (4) is provided, selected from the group consisting of an electric drive motor, at least one load of a vehicle electrical system, and both, wherein the control unit (3) includes at least one additional electrical load (5, 7, 9) connected with the fuel cell unit (1) for an additional withdrawal from the fuel cell unit (1) by the at least one additional electrical load (5, 7, 9) of power to be used, which additional power withdrawal is dependent at least on the moistening of the membrane, wherein an increased electrical current is withdrawn from the fuel cell unit by the at least one additional electrical load (5, 7, 9) when it is determined that the degree of hydration of the membrane is relatively poor.

2. The fuel cell system as recited in claim 1, wherein the additional load (5, 7, 9) includes at least one intermediate storage device (7) for intermediate storage of the additional power withdrawn from the fuel cell unit (1).

3. The fuel cell system as recited in claim 1, wherein the intermediate storage device (7) is designed as an electrical rechargeable battery (7), an electrical battery (7) and/or a capacitor unit.

4. The fuel cell system as recited in claim 1, wherein the control unit (3) includes at least one electrical converter device (5, 9) for changing the power withdrawal from the fuel cell unit.

5. The fuel cell system as recited in claim 1, wherein the converter device (5, 9) is designed as a DC/DC converter (5).

6. The fuel cell system as recited in claim 1, wherein the additional load (5, 7, 9) includes at least one electrical resistor (9).

7. The fuel cell system as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one supply line (6) is located between the electrical load (4) and the intermediate storage device (7) for supplying the intermediately-stored energy to the load (4).

8. The fuel cell system as recited in claim 1, wherein the control unit (3) is designed such that the supply of intermediately-stored energy from the intermediate storage device (7) to the load (4) takes place as a function of the moistening of the membrane.

9. A vehicle, in particular a passenger vehicle or a commercial vehicle, having a fuel cell system, wherein the fuel cell system is configured according to one of the preceding claims.

10. An energy center, in particular an energy-based cogenerator, with a fuel cell system, wherein the fuel cell system is configured according to one of the preceding claims.