Fuel cell power generating system, method for controlling fuel cell power generation, and fuel cell power generating apparatus

• US 7,794,887 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2004
• Issued: 09/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Hirata, Kuninori
• Primary Examiner(s): Yuan; Dah-Wei D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Laios; Maria J
• Application Number:
  US10/563,632
• Publication Number:
  US 20070111045A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,265 Days
• Field of Search: 429/13, 700/286
• US Class Current: 429/428
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/67 to the maximum power available from a generator, e.g. from solar cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04425 at auxiliary devices, e.g. reformers, compressors, burners
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04604 Power, energy, capacity or load
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04619 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04634 Other electric variables, e.g. resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04753 of fuel cell reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0488 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0494 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A fuel cell power generating system which is advantageous not only in that steady power supply can be achieved according to the load, but also in that the power supply can be flexibly controlled even when different types of loading apparatus utilize the electric power generated. The fuel cell power generating system includes a fuel cell power generating apparatus (10) for electrochemically reacting a predetermined fuel, such as hydrogen or methanol, and air to allow a power generator to generate electric power, and a loading apparatus (20) connected to the fuel cell power generating apparatus (10) through a predetermined electric cable (30) for supplying the electric power generated by the fuel cell power generating apparatus. The fuel cell power generating apparatus (10) receives loading apparatus power information on electric power required for the loading apparatus (20) through the electric cable (30) upon supplying the electric power to the loading apparatus (20) through the electric cable (30), and controls power generation according to the loading apparatus power information received.

Claims

1. A fuel cell power generating system characterized by comprising:

a fuel cell power generating apparatus for electrochemically reacting a predetermined fuel and air to allow a power generator to generate electric power; and

a loading apparatus connected to said fuel cell power generating apparatus through a predetermined electric cable for supplying the electric power generated by said fuel cell power generating apparatus, said loading apparatus utilizing the electric power to operate,

wherein,

said fuel cell power generating apparatus receives loading apparatus power information on electric power required for said loading apparatus through the electric cable upon supplying the electric power to said loading apparatus through the electric cable, and controls power generation according to the loading apparatus power information received, and

in case the loading apparatus cannot be directly connected to the fuel cell power generating apparatus to send or receive information, a predetermined transduction means is attached to the fuel cell power generating apparatus, and the electric cable is connected to the transduction means to connect said fuel cell power generating apparatus and said loading apparatus.

2. The fuel cell power generating system as described in claim 1 characterized in that said transduction means comprises:

a plug portion for power reception for receiving the electric power generated by said fuel cell power generating apparatus;

a connector portion for power information communication for sending the loading apparatus power information to said fuel cell power generating apparatus; and

a socket portion for loading apparatus for inserting the electric cable extending from said loading apparatus.

3. The fuel cell power generating system as described in claim 2 characterized in that:

said fuel cell power generating apparatus has an electric power output means having a socket portion for power supply corresponding to said plug portion for power reception in said transduction means, and a socket portion for power information communication corresponding to said connector portion for power information communication in said transduction means.

4. The fuel cell power generating system as described in claim 3 characterized in that:

said electric power output means has a wrong insertion prevention means for preventing an error in insertion or fitting for said plug portion for power reception and said connector portion for power information communication in said transduction means.

5. The fuel cell power generating system as described in claim 3 characterized in that:

said fuel cell power generating apparatus has a plurality of electric power output means.

6. The fuel cell power generating system as described in claim 3 characterized in that:

said transduction means has incorporated a resistance element exhibiting a resistance corresponding to the power consumption of said loading apparatus, and said connector portion for power information communication is directly connected to said resistance element.

7. The fuel cell power generating system as described in claim 6 characterized in that:

said fuel cell power generating apparatus flows a fine electric current to said connector portion for power information communication in said transduction means, and detects the resistance as loading apparatus power information.

8. The fuel cell power generating system as described in claim 7 characterized in that:

said fuel cell power generating apparatus recognizes electric power required for said loads device, with said resistance detected being referred to a table of correlation between the power consumption and the resistance of said loading apparatus.

9. A fuel cell power generating apparatus for electrochemically reacting a predetermined fuel and air to allow a power generator to generate electric power, said apparatus characterized by comprising:

a power generator for generating electric power using the fuel fed; and

a control means for receiving loading apparatus power information on electric power required for a loading apparatus through a predetermined electric cable for supplying the electric power generated by the power generator upon supplying the electric power to the loading apparatus through the electric cable,

wherein,

the loading apparatus is connected through the electric cable and utilizes the electric power to operate, and for controlling power generation according to the loading apparatus power information received, and

in case the loading apparatus cannot be directly connected to the fuel cell power generating apparatus to send or receive information, a predetermined transduction means is attached to the fuel cell power generating apparatus, and the electric cable is connected to the transduction means to connect said control means and said loading apparatus.

10. The fuel cell power generating apparatus as described in claim 9 characterized in that said transduction means comprises:

a plug portion for power reception for receiving the electric power generated by said fuel cell power generating apparatus;

a connector portion for power information communication for sending the loading apparatus power information to said fuel cell power generating apparatus; and

a socket portion for loading apparatus for inserting the electric cable extending from said loading apparatus.

11. The fuel cell power generating apparatus as described in claim 10 characterized by having an electric power output means having a socket portion for power supply corresponding to said plug portion for power reception in said transduction means, and a socket portion for power information communication corresponding to said connector portion for power information communication in said transduction means.

12. The fuel cell power generating apparatus as described in claim 11 characterized in that:

said electric power output means has a wrong insertion prevention means for preventing an error in insertion or fitting for said plug portion for power reception and said connector portion for power information communication in said transduction means.

13. The fuel cell power generating apparatus as described in claim 11 characterized by having a plurality of electric power output means.

14. The fuel cell power generating apparatus as described in claim 11 characterized in that:

said transduction means has incorporated a resistance element exhibiting a resistance corresponding to the power consumption of said loading apparatus, and said connector portion for power information communication is directly connected to said resistance element.

15. The fuel cell power generating apparatus as described in claim 14 characterized in that:

said control means flows a fine electric current to said connector portion for power information communication in said transduction means, and detects the resistance as loading apparatus power information.

16. The fuel cell power generating apparatus as described in claim 15 characterized in that:

said control means recognizes electric power required for said loads device, with said resistance detected being referred to a table of correlation between the power consumption and the resistance of said loading apparatus.