Protective apparatus and method for a fuel cell
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for protecting a fuel cell having an output for producing an output voltage against damage due to operation outside of an output voltage range, comprising:
- switching means connected to the output of the fuel cell;
means coupled to the output of the fuel cell for detecting the output voltage of the fuel cell;
means for setting a reference voltage;
means coupled to said output voltage detecting means and said setting means for comparing the detected output voltage of the fuel cell with the reference voltage; and
means responsive to said comparing means and connected to said switching means for opening the switching means when the detected output voltage of the fuel cell drops below the reference voltage.
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Abstract
A protective apparatus and method for a fuel cell comprising a switching device connected to the output of the fuel cell, a device for detecting the output voltage of the fuel cell, a device for setting a reference voltage, a comparator for comparing the detected output voltage of the fuel cell with the reference voltage, and a device for opening the switching device when the detected output voltage of the fuel cell drops below the reference voltage.
48 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An apparatus for protecting a fuel cell having an output for producing an output voltage against damage due to operation outside of an output voltage range, comprising:
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switching means connected to the output of the fuel cell; means coupled to the output of the fuel cell for detecting the output voltage of the fuel cell; means for setting a reference voltage; means coupled to said output voltage detecting means and said setting means for comparing the detected output voltage of the fuel cell with the reference voltage; and means responsive to said comparing means and connected to said switching means for opening the switching means when the detected output voltage of the fuel cell drops below the reference voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus for protecting a fuel cell having an output for producing an output current against damage due to an overcurrent condition, comprising:
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switching means connected to the output of the fuel cell; means coupled to the output of the fuel cell for detecting an occurrence of an instantaneous peak current of the output current of the fuel cell; means coupled to said detecting means for producing an output in response to a detection of an instantaneous peak current; and means coupled between said producing means and said switching means for opening said switching means in response to the output of said producing means when the instantaneous peak current occurs. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A method for protecting a fuel cell connected to a load against damage due to operation outside of an operating voltage range, comprising the steps of:
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detecting an output voltage of the fuel cell; comparing the detected output voltage of the fuel cell with a reference voltage; and disconnecting the output of the fuel cell from the load when the detected output voltage of the fuel cell drops below the reference voltage.
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10. A method for protecting a fuel cell connected to a load against damage due to an overcurrent condition, comprising the steps of:
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detecting an occurrence of instantaneous peak current of the output current of the fuel cell; and disconnecting the output of the fuel cell from the load in response to said detecting step.
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11. An apparatus for protecting a fuel cell having an operating range of output voltage for supplying a load from damage when the fuel cell operates outside of the operating range comprising:
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means for setting a threshold voltage; means for detecting the output voltage of the fuel cell; means connected to said setting means and said detecting means for comparing the detected output voltage to the threshold voltage to produce a comparison output when the detected output voltage passes through the threshold voltage; switching means connected between the fuel cell and the load for disconnecting said output voltage from the load in response to the comparison output. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification