POWER CELL SYSTEM WITH MEANS FOR DETECTING A DISCONTINUITY
First Claim
1. A method for detecting a discontinuity in electrical connections of power cells in a power cell system, the power cell system having a plurality of series connected power cells and a plurality of electronic filters, each having a connection to an electrode of a power cell, each of the plurality of electronic filters comprising a resistance and a capacitor device connected to the resistance, the method comprising:
- discharging capacitor devices while maintaining the connections to the power cells,recharging the capacitor devices from the power cells; and
monitoring a dynamic voltage on the capacitor devices to determine if there is a discontinuity in electrical connections to the power cells, whereby in case of disconnection or transection of one of the connections to the power cells, the capacitance of the capacitor device of the corresponding electronic filter is charged through adjacent electronic filters.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A power cell system, e.g. a fuel cell system, having 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 comprising a second resistance and a charge storage device connected to the second resistance.
10 Citations
24 Claims
-
1. A method for detecting a discontinuity in electrical connections of power cells in a power cell system, the power cell system having a plurality of series connected power cells and a plurality of electronic filters, each having a connection to an electrode of a power cell, each of the plurality of electronic filters comprising a resistance and a capacitor device connected to the resistance, the method comprising:
-
discharging capacitor devices while maintaining the connections to the power cells, recharging the capacitor devices from the power cells; and monitoring a dynamic voltage on the capacitor devices to determine if there is a discontinuity in electrical connections to the power cells, whereby in case of disconnection or transection of one of the connections to the power cells, the capacitance of the capacitor device of the corresponding electronic filter is charged through adjacent electronic filters. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A power cell system with means for detecting a discontinuity in electrical connections to power cells in the power cell system, the system comprising:
-
a plurality of power cells and a plurality of electronic filters each having a connection to an electrode of a power cell, each of the plurality of electronic filters comprising a resistance and a capacitor connected to the resistance, the system being adapted to; simultaneously discharge the capacitors while maintaining the connections to the power cells, simultaneously recharge the capacitors from the power cells and monitor a dynamic voltage on the capacitor to determine if there is a discontinuity in electrical connections to the power cells. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
Specification