Power configuration system for fuel cell hybrid vehicle and method for controlling the same

• US 8,215,428 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2009
• Issued: 07/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Lee, Nam Woo, Kwon, Sang Uk, Ryu, Seong Pil, Jung, Jae Won, Park, Sun Soon
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, HAU VAN
• Application Number:
  US12/508,124
• Publication Number:
  US 20100089672A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,083 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.21, 180/65.275, 180/65.265, 701/22, 429/9, 429/13, 429/432, 429/431, 429/429, 429/483
• US Class Current: 180/65.275
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/33 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/34 by heating
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/40 for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/16 for vehicles comprising converters between the power source and the motor
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/003 of fuel cells with other electrochemical devices, e.g. capacitors, electrolysers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04029 Heat exchange using liquids
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04097 with recycling of the reactants H01M8/04119, H01M8/04104 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04225 during start-up
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04228 during shut-down
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04302 applied during start-up
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04303 applied during shut-down
• 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: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

The present invention provides a power configuration system for a fuel cell hybrid vehicle and a method for controlling the same, in which a second blocking diode is installed in a main bus terminal at an output terminal of a fuel cell (in front of a first blocking diode) separately from the existing first blocking diode installed in the main bus terminal, the positions of high voltage components for driving the fuel cell are changed from the rear of the first blocking diode to the front of the first blocking diode, and the operations of the high voltage components are appropriately controlled during regenerative braking such that the voltage of the fuel cell may be maintained below that of the supercapacitor.

Claims

1. A power configuration system of a fuel cell hybrid vehicle equipped with a fuel cell as a main power source and storage means as an auxiliary power source, wherein high voltage components for driving the fuel cell are arranged in front of a first blocking diode installed in a main bus terminal such that the voltage of the fuel cell is maintained below the voltage of the storage means by consuming electric power of the fuel cell when the high voltage components are driven during regenerative braking, wherein a second blocking diode is added to the main bus terminal at an output terminal of the fuel cell.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the high voltage components comprise an LDC to which an auxiliary battery is connected, a radiator fan, and a hydrogen recirculation blower.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the high voltage components further comprise an air supply device for supplying air to the fuel cell.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the high voltage components further comprise a water pump for circulating coolant of the fuel cell.

5. A motor vehicle comprising the power configuration system of a fuel cell hybrid vehicle equipped with a fuel cell as a main power source and a storage means as an auxiliary power source of claim 1.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the high voltage components comprise an LDC to which an auxiliary battery is connected, a radiator fan, and a hydrogen recirculation blower.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the high voltage components are arranged between the second blocking diode and the first blocking diode.

8. A method for controlling a power configuration system of a fuel cell hybrid vehicle equipped with a fuel cell as a main power source and storage means as an auxiliary power source, the method comprising:

allowing the fuel cell hybrid vehicle, in which high voltage components including an LDC for driving the fuel cell are arranged between a first blocking diode and a second blocking diode installed in a main bus terminal, to enter a regenerative braking mode; and

allowing a fuel cell system controller to drive the high voltage components to consume electric power of the fuel cell when entering the regenerative braking mode such that the voltage of the fuel cell is maintained below that of the storage means.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

allowing the fuel cell hybrid vehicle to enter an idle stop mode;

allowing the fuel cell system controller to stop the operation of an air supply device and allowing the LDC to boost the voltage supplied from an auxiliary battery and to supply the boosted voltage to the main bus terminal, the boosted voltage of the main bus terminal being maintained below that of the storage means; and

allowing the fuel cell system controller to drive the high voltage components including the air supply device for driving the fuel cell by the boosted voltage and the voltage of the storage means so as to restart power generation of the fuel cell.

10. A power configuration system of a fuel cell hybrid vehicle equipped with a fuel cell as a main power source and a storage means as an auxiliary power source, wherein one or more high voltage components for driving the fuel cell are arranged in front of a first blocking diode installed in a main bus terminal, wherein a second blocking diode is added to the main bus terminal at an output terminal of the fuel cell.

11. The power configuration system of a fuel cell hybrid vehicle of claim 10, wherein the voltage of the fuel cell is maintained below that of the storage means by consuming electric power of the fuel cell when the one or more high voltage components are driven during regenerative braking.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein high voltage components for driving the fuel cell are arranged between the second blocking diode and the first blocking diode.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the high voltage components are selected from the group consisting of;

an LDC to which an auxiliary battery is connected, a radiator fan, a hydrogen recirculation blower, an air supply device for supplying air to the fuel cell, and a water pump for circulating coolant of the fuel cell.

14. A motor vehicle comprising the power configuration system of a fuel cell hybrid vehicle equipped with a fuel cell as a main power source and a storage means as an auxiliary power source of claim 10.

15. A method for controlling a power configuration system of a fuel cell hybrid vehicle equipped with a fuel cell as a main power source and storage means as an auxiliary power source, the method comprising:

allowing the fuel cell hybrid vehicle, wherein one or more high voltage components for driving the fuel cell are arranged between a first blocking diode and a second blocking diode installed in a main bus terminal, to enter a regenerative braking mode; and

allowing a fuel cell system controller to drive the high voltage components to consume electric power of the fuel cell when entering the regenerative braking mode.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the high voltage components are selected from the group consisting of:

an LDC to which an auxiliary battery is connected, a radiator fan, and a hydrogen recirculation blower.

17. The method of claim 15, where the voltage of the fuel cell is maintained below that of the storage means.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

allowing the fuel cell hybrid vehicle to enter an idle stop mode.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

allowing the fuel cell system controller to stop the operation of an air supply device and allowing an LDC to boost the voltage supplied from an auxiliary battery and to supply the boosted voltage to the main bus terminal, the boosted voltage of the main bus terminal being maintained below that of the storage means.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

allowing the fuel cell system controller to drive the high voltage components including the air supply device for driving the fuel cell by the boosted voltage and the voltage of the storage means so as to restart power generation of the fuel cell.