Fuel cell system and method for controlling operation of the fuel cell system

• US 7,884,567 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2007
• Issued: 02/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Inventors: Kim, Dong-rak, Jeong, Sung-won
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): DIAO, M BAYE
• Application Number:
  US11/874,819
• Publication Number:
  US 20080116843A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,209 Days
• Field of Search: 320/101
• US Class Current: 320/101
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/006 of fuel cells with rechargeable batteries
• 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 8/0488 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04888 of auxiliary devices, e.g. batteries, capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1011 Direct alcohol fuel cells [DAFC], e.g. direct methanol fuel cells [DMFC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/30 The power source being a fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/34 Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering H02J7/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

Fuel cell systems and methods for controlling fuel cell systems. In one embodiment, the method includes supplying power produced by operating the fuel cell stack in a maximum output mode to the load while concurrently charging the secondary cell with the produced power when an amount of charge of the secondary cell is smaller than a first standard value, supplying both power produced by operating the fuel cell stack in a stable output mode and the power discharged by the secondary cell to the load when the amount of charge of the secondary cell is larger than a second standard value, and maintaining an existing output mode among the output modes when the amount of charge of the secondary cell is larger than the first standard value and smaller than the second standard value.

Claims

1. A fuel cell system comprising:

a fuel cell stack for producing power using an electrochemical reaction between fuel and an oxidizer;

a secondary cell for storing and discharging power;

a stack voltage converting circuit for converting a voltage produced by the fuel cell stack and for transferring the converted voltage to a load node, where an output terminal of the secondary cell and a load are connected to the load node;

a voltage converting controller for controlling a conversion ratio of the stack voltage converting circuit so that a voltage on an output line of the stack voltage converting circuit and a voltage on an output line of the secondary cell are the same at the load node;

a charging circuit for charging the secondary cell with power produced from the fuel cell stack; and

a driving controller for controlling at least two output modes of the fuel cell stack and operation of the charging circuit,

wherein the fuel cell stack is operated in one of the at least two output modes at which the fuel cell stack outputs power at different levels.

2. The fuel cell system according to claim 1, wherein the driving controller is adapted to control operation of the fuel cell according to the following method:

supplying power produced by operating the fuel cell stack in a maximum output mode to the load while concurrently charging the secondary cell with the power produced by operating the fuel cell when an amount of charge of the secondary cell is smaller than a first standard value;

supplying both power produced by operating the fuel cell stack in a stable output mode and the power discharged by the secondary cell to the load when the amount of charge of the secondary cell is larger than a second standard value; and

maintaining an existing output mode among the output modes when the amount of charge of the secondary cell is larger than the first standard value and smaller than the second standard value.

3. The fuel cell system according to claim 1, further comprising a load switch disposed between an output of the secondary cell and the load.

4. The fuel cell system according to claim 1, further comprising a first voltage measuring apparatus for measuring an output voltage of the secondary cell, and a second voltage measuring apparatus for measuring voltage at the load.

5. The fuel cell system according to claim 1, further comprising a secondary cell voltage converting circuit for converting a discharged voltage of the secondary cell and transferring the converted voltage to the load node.

6. A fuel cell system comprising:

a fuel cell stack for producing power by an electrochemical reaction between fuel and an oxidizer;

a secondary cell for storing and discharging power;

a secondary cell voltage converting circuit for converting a voltage discharged from the secondary cell and for transferring the converted voltage to a load node where an output terminal of the fuel cell stack and a load are connected to the load node;

a voltage converting controller for controlling a conversion ratio of the secondary cell voltage converting circuit so that a voltage on an output line of the secondary cell voltage converting circuit and a voltage on an output line of the fuel cell stack are the same at the load node;

a charging circuit for charging the secondary cell with power produced from the fuel cell stack; and

a driving controller for controlling at least two output modes of the fuel cell stack and operation of the charging circuit,

wherein the fuel cell stack is operated in one of the at least two output modes at which the fuel cell stack outputs power at different levels.

7. The fuel cell system according to claim 6, wherein the driving controller controls operation of the fuel cell according to the following method:

supplying power produced by operating the fuel cell stack in a maximum output mode to the load while concurrently charging the secondary cell with the power produced by operating the fuel cell when an amount of charge of the secondary cell is smaller than a first standard value;

supplying both power produced by operating the fuel cell stack in a stable output mode and the power discharged by the secondary cell to the load when the amount of charge of the secondary cell is larger than a second standard value; and

maintaining an existing output mode among the output modes when the amount of charge of the secondary cell is larger than the first standard value and smaller than the second standard value.

8. The fuel cell system according to claim 6, further comprising a load switch disposed between an output of the secondary cell and the load.

9. The fuel cell system according to claim 6, further comprising a first voltage measuring apparatus for measuring an output voltage of the secondary cell;

and a second voltage measuring apparatus for measuring voltage at the load.

10. The fuel cell system according to claim 6, further comprising a third voltage measuring apparatus for measuring a voltage at the output of the fuel cell stack.

11. The fuel cell system according to claim 6, further comprising:

a first diode in the electrical path between the fuel cell stack and the load node; and

a second diode in the electrical path between the secondary cell and the load node.