Fuel cell power system having a master control unit and a plurality of fuel cell power units

• US 7,482,778 B1
• Filed: 01/16/2007
• Issued: 01/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intelligent Energy Limited (Lb-shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Jadoo Power Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Arikara, Muralidharan P., Berger, William Jackson, Bawden, Jr., Lawrence R., Van Fleet, Barbara H.
• Primary Examiner(s): TSO, EDWARD H
• Application Number:
  US11/654,262
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• Field of Search: 320/101, 320/107, 320/114, 320/116, 320/132, 429/12, 429/13, 429/18
• US Class Current: 320/101
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/10 Fuel cells in stationary systems, e.g. emergency power source in plant
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04089 of gaseous reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04679 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0488 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/10 Applications of fuel cells in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A fuel cell power module is provided. The module comprises (a) power production unit, (b) a power conditioning and protection unit, and (c) a control unit, each unit being modules and integrated into a module for independent removal. Multiple modules are networked so that each module is connected to a master controller so that if one module is removed from operation, the other is able to continue operation.

Claims

1. A fuel cell power system comprising:

a plurality of fuel cell power units, coupled to one or more power busses, to provide electrical power on the one or more power busses, wherein each fuel cell power unit includes;

a fuel cell stack;

a voltage conditioning device, coupled to the fuel cell stack, to output power on the one or more power busses; and

a control unit;

one or more hydrogen storage sources coupled to each fuel cell power unit; and

wherein, in response to a cessation of operation of a master control unit, the control unit of at least one of the other fuel cell power units of the plurality of fuel cell power units controls the operation of the fuel cell power system.

2. The fuel cell power system of claim 1 wherein the voltage conditioning device of each fuel cell power unit includes a DC-DC converter or a DC-AC inverter.

3. The fuel cell power system of claim 1 further including a plurality of back planes, wherein each back plane includes connections to communicate with plurality of fuel cell power units.

4. The fuel cell power system of claim 3 wherein each back plane includes one or more of a fluid, data and power interfaces that connect to an associated fluid, data and power interface of the plurality of fuel cell power units.

5. The fuel cell power system of claim 3 wherein each back plane is a module.

6. The fuel cell power system of claim 3 wherein each back plane includes two or more of a fluid, data and power interfaces that connect to an associated fluid, data and power interface of the plurality of fuel cell power units.

7. The fuel cell power system of claim 1 wherein the master control unit controls or manages operation of at least one aspect of the plurality of fuel cell power units.

8. The fuel cell power system of claim 7 wherein the at least one aspect of the operation of the plurality of fuel cell power units includes power production.

9. The fuel cell power system of claim 1 wherein the fuel cell stack, the voltage conditioning device, and the control unit of each fuel cell power unit are independently removable during operation of the fuel cell power system.

10. The fuel cell power system of claim 1 wherein the one or more hydrogen storage sources include a plurality of local hydrogen storage sources wherein at least one local hydrogen storage source is coupled to the fuel cell stack of an associated fuel cell power unit.

11. The fuel cell power system of claim 10 wherein the one or more hydrogen storage sources further include a common hydrogen storage source coupled to the fuel cell stack of a plurality of fuel cell power units.

12. The fuel cell power system of claim 1 wherein the one or more hydrogen storage sources include a common hydrogen storage source coupled to the fuel cell stack of a plurality of fuel cell power units.

13. The fuel cell power system of claim 11 wherein the local hydrogen storage source and/or the common hydrogen storage source (i) contains hydrogen, in gas or liquid form, and/or (ii) derives hydrogen from any hydrogen containing compound.

14. The fuel cell power system of claim 1 wherein the one or more hydrogen storage sources include a common hydrogen storage source, coupled to the fuel cell stack of a plurality of fuel cell power units, and wherein the fuel cell power system further includes:

a dual feed hydrogen supply manifold to connect the common hydrogen storage source to the plurality of fuel cell power units; and

a first set of valves, disposed within the supply manifold, to segment the supply manifold, wherein the first set of valves, in response to control signals, isolates one or more sections of the supply manifold.

15. The fuel cell power system of claim 1 further including:

a dual hydrogen exhaust manifold coupled to the fuel cell power units; and

a set of valves, disposed within the dual hydrogen exhaust manifold, to segment the dual hydrogen exhaust manifold, wherein the set of valves, in response to control signals, isolates one or more sections of the dual hydrogen exhaust manifold.

16. The fuel cell power system of claim 1 wherein the one or more hydrogen storage sources include a common hydrogen storage source, coupled to the fuel cell stacks of a plurality of fuel cell power units, and wherein the fuel cell power system further includes:

a dual feed hydrogen supply manifold to connect the common hydrogen storage source to the plurality of fuel cell power units;

a first set of valves, disposed within the supply manifold, to segment the supply manifold, wherein the first set of valves, in response to control signals, isolates individual sections of the supply manifold;

a dual hydrogen exhaust manifold coupled to the fuel cell power units; and

a second set of valves, disposed within the exhaust manifold, to segment the exhaust manifold, wherein the second set of valves, in response to control signals, isolates one or more sections of the exhaust manifold.

33. The fuel cell power system of claim 1 wherein each fuel cell power unit of the plurality of fuel cell power unit is a modular.

17. A fuel cell power system comprising:

a plurality of fuel cell power units, coupled to one or more power busses, to provide electrical power on the one or more power busses, wherein each fuel cell power unit includes;

a fuel cell stack;

a voltage conditioning device, coupled to the fuel cell stack, to output power on the one or more power busses; and

a control unit;

one or more hydrogen storage sources coupled to each fuel cell power unit; and

wherein, in response to a cessation of operation of one or more of the fuel cell power units, at least one of the other fuel cell power units of the plurality of fuel cell power units automatically adjust its output power.

18. The fuel cell power system of claim 17 wherein the voltage conditioning device of each fuel cell power unit includes a DC-DC converter or a DC-AC inverter.

19. The fuel cell power system of claim 17 further including a plurality of back planes, wherein each back plane includes connections to communicate with plurality of fuel cell power units.

20. The fuel cell power system of claim 19 wherein each back plane includes one or more of a fluid, data and power interfaces that connect to an associated fluid, data and power interface of the plurality of fuel cell power units.

21. The fuel cell power system of claim 19 wherein each back plane is a module.

22. The fuel cell power system of claim 19 wherein each back plane includes two or more of a fluid, data and power interfaces that connect to an associated fluid, data and power interface of the plurality of fuel cell power units.

23. The fuel cell power system of claim 17 wherein the master control unit controls or manages operation of at least one aspect of the plurality of fuel cell power units.

24. The fuel cell power system of claim 23 wherein the at least one aspect of the operation of the plurality of fuel cell power units includes power production.

25. The fuel cell power system of claim 17 wherein the fuel cell stack, the voltage conditioning device, and the control unit of each fuel cell power unit are independently removable during operation of the fuel cell power system.

26. The fuel cell power system of claim 17 wherein the one or more hydrogen storage sources include a plurality of local hydrogen storage sources wherein at least one local hydrogen storage source is coupled to the fuel cell stack of an associated fuel cell power unit.

27. The fuel cell power system of claim 26 wherein the one or more hydrogen storage sources further include a common hydrogen storage source coupled to the fuel cell stack of a plurality of fuel cell power units.

28. The fuel cell power system of claim 17 wherein the one or more hydrogen storage sources include a common hydrogen storage source coupled to the fuel cell stack of a plurality of fuel cell power units.

29. The fuel cell power system of claim 28 wherein:

the one or more hydrogen storage sources further include a plurality of local hydrogen storage sources wherein at least one local hydrogen storage source is coupled to the fuel cell stack of an associated fuel cell power unit, and

the local hydrogen storage source and/or the common hydrogen storage source (i) contains hydrogen, in gas or liquid form, and/or (ii) derives hydrogen from any hydrogen containing compound.

30. The fuel cell power system of claim 17 wherein the one or more hydrogen storage sources include a common hydrogen storage source, coupled to the fuel cell stack of a plurality of fuel cell power units, and wherein the fuel cell power system further includes:

a dual feed hydrogen supply manifold to connect the common hydrogen storage source to the plurality of fuel cell power units; and

a first set of valves, disposed within the supply manifold, to segment the supply manifold, wherein the first set of valves, in response to control signals, isolates one or more sections of the supply manifold.

31. The fuel cell power system of claim 17 further including:

a dual hydrogen exhaust manifold coupled to the fuel cell power units; and

a set of valves, disposed within the dual hydrogen exhaust manifold, to segment the dual hydrogen exhaust manifold, wherein the set of valves, in response to control signals, isolates one or more sections of the dual hydrogen exhaust manifold.

32. The fuel cell power system of claim 17 wherein the one or more hydrogen storage sources include a common hydrogen storage source, coupled to the fuel cell stacks of a plurality of fuel cell power units, and wherein the fuel cell power system further includes:

a dual feed hydrogen supply manifold to connect the common hydrogen storage source to the plurality of fuel cell power units;

a first set of valves, disposed within the supply manifold, to segment the supply manifold, wherein the first set of valves, in response to control signals, isolates individual sections of the supply manifold;

a dual hydrogen exhaust manifold coupled to the fuel cell power units; and

a second set of valves, disposed within the exhaust manifold, to segment the exhaust manifold, wherein the second set of valves, in response to control signals, isolates one or more sections of the exhaust manifold.

34. The fuel cell power system of claim 17 wherein each fuel cell power unit of the plurality of fuel cell power unit is a modular.