Power cell system with means for detecting a discontinuity

• US 8,907,676 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2010
• Issued: 12/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vito NV
• Original Assignee: Vito NV
• Inventors: Coenen, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): DIAO, M BAYE
• Application Number:
  US13/254,274
• Publication Number:
  US 20110316549A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,727 Days
• Field of Search: 324/433, 320/116, 320/118, 320/119, 320/122
• US Class Current: 324/433
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/2829 Testing of circuits in sensor or actuator systems testing of apparatus for measuring electric or magnetic variables G01R35/00; testing of indicating or recording apparatus G01D; in airbag systems B60R21/0173; checking gas analysers G01N33/007; monitoring or fail-safe circuits for electromagnets H01F7/1844
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3835 involving only voltage measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/396 Acquisition or processing of data for testing or for monitoring individual cells or groups of cells within a battery
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/52 Testing for short-circuits, leakage current or ground faults
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/54 Testing for continuity
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/482 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/003 of fuel cells with other electrochemical devices, e.g. capacitors, electrolysers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2008/1095 Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04559 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04679 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A power cell system such as a fuel cell system, with apparatus for detecting a discontinuity. A power cell system, e.g. a fuel cell system, includes a plurality of power cells, e.g. fuel cells and plurality of first resistances, the plurality of power cells and first resistances being connected in the form of a ladder circuit, and electronic filters each having a first connection to a first node between two of the first resistances, each electronic filter having a second resistance and a charge storage device connected to the second resistance.

Claims

1. A device for detecting a discontinuity in electrical connections of series connected power cells of a power cell system, the power cell system having a plurality of n power cells, the device for detecting comprising:

a plurality of n first resistances,

each of the plurality of n first resistances being connected as a shunt resistor to an associated power cell so that the n power cells and the n first resistances form a ladder circuit,

n electronic filters, an input of each electronic filter having a first connection to a first node of the ladder circuit between two of the first resistances, each electronic filter comprising a second resistance and a capacitor connected to the second resistance,

n switches, each of the n switches being connected to an output of an electronic filter,

wherein an output of each electronic filter is connected to a voltage monitoring unit, the voltage monitoring unit measuring a dynamic voltage response of an output of the correspondent electronic filter.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic filters are provided as low-pass filters.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein each of the first resistances is connected to an adjacent first resistance, respectively.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein all of the second resistances are of equal value.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein each of the power cells is connected by one connection to an input of a corresponding electronic filter.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein an external voltage source is arranged for connection between one of the switches and a minus pole of the fuel cell system.

7. The device according to claim 5, wherein an external voltage source is arranged for connection between each of the switches and a first pole of the power cell system.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the switch for coupling with the power cell comprising the first pole of the power cell system is connected to the first pole of the external voltage source.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein each of the power cells is connected to an adjacent power cell in a series connection.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the impedances of the electronic filters are equal to each other.

11. A power cell comprising the device according to claim 1, wherein the power cell is a fuel cell or electrolytic cell.