CN101044650A - Fuel cell system method and apparatus - Google Patents
Fuel cell system method and apparatus Download PDFInfo
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- CN101044650A CN101044650A CNA2005800360010A CN200580036001A CN101044650A CN 101044650 A CN101044650 A CN 101044650A CN A2005800360010 A CNA2005800360010 A CN A2005800360010A CN 200580036001 A CN200580036001 A CN 200580036001A CN 101044650 A CN101044650 A CN 101044650A
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- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
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Abstract
A fuel cell system employs at least two fuel cell stacks electrically coupled in parallel to reduce the load turndown ratio of the fuel cell stacks. Fewer than all fuel cell stacks may be operated where the power demand permits. An oxidant supply subsystem may cease supplying oxidant to one of the fuel cell stacks to stop operation (power production) from the fuel cell stack. The fuel cell stacks may take turns at being the non-operating fuel cell stack.
Description
Technical field
The present invention relates generally to the fuel cell system that is suitable for producing electrical power.
Background technology
Electrochemical fuel cells is converted into fuel and oxidant.Solid polymer electrochemical fuel cells is used septum electrode equipment (membrane electrode assembly) (" MEA ") usually, it comprises and is arranged on two ion exchange membrane or solid polymer electrolytes between the electrode that these two electrodes generally comprise the layer of sheet package material (such as carbon fiber paper or carbon fabric) porous, conduction.This MEA comprises catalyst layer to cause the electrochemical reaction of expectation at the interface at each septum electrode, and this catalyst layer generally is the form of the meticulous platinum that grinds.In operation, electrode by electric coupling with by external circuit conduction electron between electrode.Usually, a plurality of MEA are had the fuel cell stack of expectation electric weight output with formation by connected in electrical series.
In typical fuel cell, MEA is set between two conducting fluids flow-field plate or the separating plate.Fluid flow field plates has circulation road so that fuel and oxidant are directed to electrode (just being respectively anode and negative electrode).The flow of liquid field plate provides the support to electrode as current collector, provide to fuel and oxidant near passage, and provide the passage that removes to product, product is such as the water for forming in the fuel battery operation process.Fuel cell system can use product to keep reaction.For example, reaction water can be used to hydration (hydrate) ion exchange membrane and/or keep the temperature of fuel cell stack.
Fuel cell stack is designed to full power condition usually.In existing fuel cell system, under idle power conditions, increase stream to provide enough pressure drop to be used for water management.It is bigger (with respect to required stoicheiometry producing the required stream of this pressure drop under idle power conditions, fuel that this stoicheiometry provides or oxidant and the fuel that when fuel cell produces electrical power, consumes or the ratio of oxidant, and greatly reduce the efficient of fuel cell system.Attempted reducing these streams and pressure drop, but these trials have reduced robustness and the reliability of fuel cell stack under idle condition.All healthy and strong, reliable and effective fuel cell system is expected very much under maximum and idle power conditions.
Summary of the invention
On the one hand, power system comprises: first group of fuel cell, and electric coupling is to provide first voltage when described first group of fuel battery operation; At least the second group fuel cell, electric coupling is to provide second voltage when described second group of fuel battery operation; First diode that comprises anode and negative electrode, the anode of first diode are electrically coupled to first group of fuel cell to be passed through with the electric current that first group of fuel cell produced; Second diode that comprises anode and negative electrode, the anode of second diode is electrically coupled to second group of fuel cell to be passed through with the electric current that second group of fuel cell produced, and the cathodic electricity of first diode is connected to the negative electrode of second diode.In certain embodiments, this power system can comprise the 3rd or the 4th group of fuel cell, or even more groups of fuel cells.
On the other hand, the method of a kind of operation of fuel cells system, comprise: be higher than in requirement between the first phase of transition (crossover) threshold value power, provide fuel to flow at least the first and second group fuel cells, and provide oxidant stream at least the first and second group fuel cells, and the second phase that is lower than crossover threshold in requirement to power, provide fuel to flow at least the first and second group fuel cells, provide oxidant stream to first group of fuel cell, and stop oxidant stream to second group of fuel cell.
On the other hand, the method of a kind of operation of fuel cells system, comprise: each groups in the many groups of the operation fuel cells to be producing power when the requirement to electric weight is higher than crossover threshold, and when the requirement of electric weight being lower than crossover threshold at every turn other groups in the described many group fuel cells of terminating operation.Can comprise the operation of this group fuel cell fuel stream and the oxidant stream fuel cell to the corresponding fuel battery of formation is provided.This group fuel cell of terminating operation can comprise provides fuel stream, stops simultaneously oxidant stream to the fuel cell that constitutes corresponding fuel battery.
Description of drawings
In the accompanying drawings, identical reference number is represented similar element or action.Size of component and relative position might not proportionally draw in the accompanying drawing.For example, the shape and the angle of various elements are not drawn in proportion, and some elements in these elements are enlarged arbitrarily or locate to improve the intelligibility of accompanying drawing.In addition,, and be not intended to any information of reception and registration about the true form of described particular element as the given shape of drawn element, and only selected so that identification in the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 comprises first and second fuel cell stack and has shown fuel cell system schematic diagram according to the electricity configuration of a fuel cell system of illustrating embodiment.
Fig. 2 has shown the schematic diagram of banising fuel cell system among the Fig. 1 that puts of illustrating the fuel cell system of embodiment according to.
Fig. 3 has shown the schematic diagram of banising fuel cell system among the Fig. 1 that puts of illustrating the fuel cell system of embodiment according to another.
Fig. 4 is the curve chart that shows according to the polarization curve of the fuel cell system of a Fig. 1 and 2 who illustrates embodiment.
Embodiment
In the following description, to be suggested be for the thorough understanding to each embodiment is provided to some specific detail.Yet those skilled in the relevant art will be appreciated that instruction herein can be put into practice under the one or more situation in not having these details, or by practices such as other method, assembly, materials.In other examples, and comprise that being known as subsidiary engine control (balanceof plant) various operations (BOP) known structure relevant with the fuel cell system of control assembly is not shown in detail or describe to avoid unnecessarily bluring the description to embodiment.
Unless context needs, that word in the whole specification of back and the claim " comprises (comprise) " and variant (such as " comprising (comprises) " and " comprising (comprising) ") should be interpreted as opening and nonrestrictive, just " include, but are not limited to ".
In whole specification, quoting of " embodiment " or " embodiment " is meant that special characteristic, structure or the characteristic described in conjunction with this embodiment are included among at least one embodiment of this fuel cell system.Therefore, phrase " in one embodiment " or " in an embodiment " that occurs everywhere in this specification might not all refer to identical embodiment.And special characteristic, structure or characteristic can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.
Here the introduction that provides only for convenience and be not explanation to scope of invention required for protection and meaning.
Point out that as top former fuel cell system design is used the fuel cell stack that is designed to full power condition.Under idle power conditions, increase stream to provide enough pressure drop to be used for water management.It is very big and greatly reduce the efficient of fuel cell system to produce the required stream of this pressure drop.The trial that reduces these streams and pressure drop has been reduced the robustness and the reliability of fuel cell stack under the idle condition.
The applicant have realized that bigger decline (turn down) ratio (that is maximum load/idle load) make design that maximum power can be provided and do not violate system constraint (pressure drop, stream etc.) and when idle power effectively and the fuel cell stack of healthy and strong operation be inconvenient.Operate parallel electronically configuration and can advantageously reduce the decreasing ratio that the fuel cell stack operation will be in the parellel arranged stack of system is provided.
Fig. 1 has shown the fuel cell system 10 that comprises the first fuel cell stack 12a and the second fuel cell stack 12b, and fuel cell stack 12a and 12b are via the first and second diode D
1, D
2Electric coupling is to provide the main voltage source of being represented by positive potential+V and represented by negative or earth potential-V concurrently. Fuel cell stack 12a, 12b for example can adopt the form of Nexa power model, and it can be by Ballard Power of Burnaby, B.C., and Canada provides.
The various subsystems that provide of the fuel cell system 10 of Fig. 1 have been provided Fig. 2.Fuel cell system 10 comprises that fuel provides subsystem 30, and this subsystem 30 comprises fuels sources 32, inlet valve 34 and is used to regulate the adjuster 36 that provides to the fuel of the first and second fuel cell stack 12a, 12b via suitable conduit and/or arm (providing the arrow that extends between the element of subsystem 30 and fuel cell stack 12a, 12b to represent by fuel).Reactant can be used in the solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell on a large scale.For example, fuel stream can be pure basically hydrogen, the hydrogeneous reformate stream of gaseous state or the methyl alcohol in the direct methanol fuel cell.
When used fuel was the hydrogen of pressurization, fuel provided subsystem 30 can utilize the fuel subsystem 38 that circulates again easily.Fuel provides the fuel of subsystem 30 subsystem 38 that circulates again can comprise one or more delivery of fuel equipment 40a, 40b, such as pump, compressor and/or forced draft fan (blower).Fuel circulate again subsystem 38 also can comprise one or more blenders 42 with mix circulation again from the fuel of fuel cell stack 12a, 12b with from the fuel of fuels sources 32.Fuel provides subsystem 30 can comprise one or more dischargings (purge) valve 44a, 44b, is used for the anode of discharge fuel cell stack 12a, 12b.
As illustrated in fig. 1 and 2, fuel cell stack 12a, 12b are parallel electronically disposes and disposes with the stream subsystem is parallel.Air provides one or more among valve 56, drain valve 44a, 44b and heat transfer medium delivery devices 60a, the 60b all can be in response to control signal (by dotted line indication) 24.
With reference to figure 3, in one embodiment, can directly be discharged into the atmosphere from the gas of the anode exhaust of fuel cell stack 12a, 12b.In another embodiment, can be directed at least one negative electrode other fuel cell stack 12a, the 12b from the gas of the anode exhaust of fuel cell stack 12a, 12b.In another embodiment, can be directed into another negative electrode the atmosphere or among fuel cell stack 12a, the 12b from the gas of the anode exhaust of fuel cell stack 12a, 12b.This can realize by using three way purge valves 74a, 74b.Those skilled in the art should understand the valve setting that also has other, and it also can realize same result.Extra equipment such as the separator (not shown), can be used to remove aqueous vapor from the gas of discharging before the gas of discharging is introduced into the negative electrode of fuel cell stack 12a, 12b.
In another embodiment, fuel provides subsystem 30 can comprise that one or more fuel provide valve 72a, 72b, can operate to be used for controlling corresponding one flow of fuel to fuel cell stack 12a, 12b.Air provides valve 56, fuel to provide the one or more of valve 72a, 72b, drain valve 74a, 74b and heat transfer medium delivery devices 60a, 60b can be in response to control signal (by dotted line indication) 24.
Fig. 4 shown Fig. 1 and 2 use the polarization curve 62 of fuel cell system 10 topologys of Nexa power model fuel cell stack of two 24 batteries.
In operation, fuel cell system 10 is operable in the two states in (idle condition and busy state).When fuel cell system 10 desired power are lower than crossover threshold, for example, be positioned at or be lower than a half of the maximum power of fuel cell system 10, idle condition is triggered.When to the desired power of fuel cell system greater than crossover threshold, for example be positioned at or greater than a half of the maximum electric weight of fuel cell system 10, busy state is triggered.
In idle condition, one of fuel cell stack 12a, 12b, for example the first fuel cell stack 12a provides required power, and among fuel cell stack 12a, the 12b another, and for example the second fuel cell stack 12b does not provide power, and can be considered to non-operational.
By using diode D
1, D
2, stride the voltage of non-operational fuel cell stack 12a, 12b, for example stride the voltage of the second fuel cell stack 12b, be restricted to and be not more than the voltage of striding operation of fuel cells stack 12a, 12b, for example stride the voltage of the first fuel cell stack 12a.
In other embodiments, diode D
1, D
2The miscellaneous equipment that can be performed similar functions is replaced.For example, diode D
1, D
2Can be carried out and diode D by controlled
1, D
2The switch of similar functions is replaced.Described switch can be controlled to the voltage of guaranteeing to stride the non-operational stack and be restricted to and be not more than the voltage of striding the operation of fuel cells stack.Simultaneously, described switch can be controlled to and guarantee that power (or electric current) can not flow to the not operation stack from active stack.
In another embodiment, switch can be controlled to make the voltage of striding the non-operational stack can not surpass the open circuit voltage (OCV) of fuel cell stack.Open circuit voltage in this example be defined as when oxidant and fuel in described fuel cell stack and electric loading when not linking on this fuel cell stack, by the maximum voltage that fuel cell stack produced.For example, for using hydrogen to act as a fuel and use the fuel cell of air as proton exchange membrane (PEM) type of oxidant, OCV generally at about 0.9V in the scope of 1.2V.Described switch can preferably can be solid-state switch, such as solid-state relay (SSR), insulated gate diode transistor (IGBT), field-effect transistor (FET), mos field effect transistor (MOSFET) and/or other semiconductor switch.Those skilled in the art should understand any suitable switchgear, or the similar controllable device with similar operations function all can be used for this purpose.
In idle condition, fuel can utilize through the periodicity discharging of drain valve 44a, 44b (or drain valve 74a, 74b) and circulate through fuel cell stack 12a, 12b again.Yet air only is provided for that operate among fuel cell stack 12a, the 12b, with the possibility that reduces corrosion that exists by restriction oxygen.
In another embodiment, can be directed into the negative electrode of not operation stack from the gas of the anode exhaust of active stack.Provide fuel to the anode of not operation stack and do not provide simultaneously gas can cause the loss of some fuel to the negative electrode of not operation stack, this is attributed to the migration that fuel is striden barrier film.Can advantageously reduce this loss with the negative electrode of filling the not operation stack from the fuel of active stack discharging.
In another embodiment, the fuel to the not operation stack provides and can be suspended after air no longer offers the not operation stack.This can further advantageously reduce fuel consumption.
In idle condition, heat transfer medium can also can not be provided for of not operation among fuel cell stack 12a, the 12b, and this depends on 10 pairs of the specific heat rejection of environment and fuel cell stack 12a, 12b and fuel cell systems along the thermal losses of not operation fuel cell stack 12a, 12b and the sensitivity of temperature change.
When the requirement of power being increased and is approximately equal to crossover threshold, among fuel cell stack 12a, the 12b before that of not operation for example by providing valve 56 to provide air to be activated to fuel cell stack 12a, 12b through air.Operation of fuel cells stack 12a, 12b before is reduced so that half of overall system power to be provided, and not operation fuel cell stack 12a, 12b provide overall system power remaining half.Therefore, when being higher than crossover threshold, above fuel cell stack 12a, 12b are operated, thereby each all provides and requires the only about half of of electric weight.
In a method of operation, when the demand that exists power, fuel cell system 10 is with one among fuel cell stack 12a, the 12b, and for example the first fuel cell stack 12a remains continued operation, and do not consider crossover threshold.In this method, fuel cell system is based on among relatively triggering (toggle) fuel cell stack 12a, the 12b of power demand and crossover threshold another, and for example the second fuel cell 12b is operability NOR operation sexual state.This method will begin/and the influence of stopped process concentrates on one of fuel cell stack 12a, 12b.
In another method of operation, which the continuously operation and which is based on relatively being triggered of demand and crossover threshold rotated among fuel cell system 10 couples of fuel cell stack 12a, 12b.This method can advantageously distribute between each fuel cell stack 12a, the 12b with ON/OFF circular correlation and/or with the relevant consume (wear) of operation of hanging down under the loading condition.
As an example, be that 312A and idle current extract in the fuel cell system of 2A in the maximum current draw (draw) of needs, the fuel cell stack of traditional design and operation need be designed so that it operates in 312A and 2A, and the load rate of descent is 156.Yet, use the fuel cell system 10 of said method will advantageously use fuel cell stack 12a, the 12b that is designed to operate in 156A and 2A, thereby the load rate of descent reduced by half.
Except reducing rate of descent, said method also can provide a plurality of other possible advantages.By under the situation of low load that the current strength on operation of fuel cells stack 12a, the 12b is double when being lower than crossover threshold, the time that spends on the high cell voltage is reduced.This can advantageously reduce membrane degradation.This also can advantageously reduce the possibility based on the cathodic corrosion of high potential.Suppose beginning, stop and dormancy (hibernation) condition begins that the life-span of total system can the hours run owing to will hang down load the time be cut apart and is increased that (dormancy is the non-power generation state that the not operation stack enters when the system power demand is lower than the transition demand so between two or more fuel cell stack 12a, 12b.It can be different from " closing " state).
From the angle of system, air is reduced to the fuel cell that offers half can makes on the fuel battery negative pole side pressure drop in every stream unit double.Supposing that oxidant delivery device 54 must provide enough air stream to keep critical minimum pressure drop when idle, approximately is half of non-switch fuel cell system with identical high power stream/pressure drop characteristic for the flow velocity of realizing this point.This can be under transition point nearly reduces 50% with the parasitism on the oxidant delivery device 54 (parasitic) load.In addition,, in the parasitic load of heat transfer medium flow delivery device 60a, 60b, also there be corresponding the minimizing so if also be cut off to the heat transfer medium flow of not operation fuel cell stack, 50% so high although this minimizing may not have.
At last, the parallel electric coupling of a plurality of fuel cell stack 12a, 12b has been improved redundancy.If a fault among fuel cell stack 12a, the 12b, a remaining fuel cell stack can also provide 50% of maximum power.In certain embodiments, fuel cell system 10 can provide the power greater than maximum power 50% less than half fuel cell stack fault the time.This redundant fuel cell system 10 that allows is implemented " limp-home (limp-home) " pattern, and this can allow fuel cell system 10 to continue to be repaired up to fuel cell system 10 with the ability work that reduces.This for example can allow electricity or mixing (hybrid) power car to move to home, in Emergency Stop Area, maintenance station and/or operator family.In addition, or alternatively, this can allow the execution of the routine of the backup of data and orderly close-down, for example move use or fixation application in.
The control of keeping more than binary system (for example ON/OFF) of the heat-exchange medium between two fuel cell stack 12a, 12b (for example air stream) can be favourable.The amount of the stream of heat-exchange medium between fuel cell stack 12a, the 12b and speed are had some controls allowed better load and mobile equilibrium.In addition, for a long time not operation can make among fuel cell 12a, the 12b one than another cold, and it is not along that the temperature gradient (dT) of basin length of the not operation of fuel cell stack 12a, 12b.This can influence pressure drop unfriendly, and it is unbalanced to cause that stream is shared when making that of in fuel cell stack 12a, 12b not operation be restarted.These streams are shared unbalanced also being present between fuel cell stack 12a, the 12b and operated fuel cell stack 12a, 12b that is starting.
Following automotive system with high decline, long-life and high reliability demand can utilize said method.In addition, the redundant aspect of said method also can make it be applied to fixed system.The ability of opening each fuel cell stack can be used as the part based on enforcement (exercising) routine in the system of the low-frequency start of fuel cell.For example, this embodiment line program is implemented in uninterrupted power supply system (UPS) application, such as the power supply backup that is used for telecommunications exchange.Said method can pass through by means of the diode D that uses between fuel cell stack 12a, the 12b
1, D
2Rather than connector or relay, at not operation fuel cell stack 12a, the voltage that do not allow to stride it when 12b does not use rises to open circuit power condition (OVC), advantageously prevents cathodic corrosion and membrane degradation.
Continuous fuel circulates and also can advantageously prevent the cathodic corrosion that the fuel scarcity is caused, thereby minimizes the deterioration in the restarting process of fuel cell stack 12a, 12b.Diode D
1, D
2That the voltage that allows to stride not operation among fuel cell stack 12a, the 12b almost begins immediately along with the time is drawn (beed down).Instantaneous voltage cathodic corrosion meeting is reduced or eliminates.
As mentioned above, some advantages may comprise the reduction of fuel cell decline demand, minimizing spend in time and thereby the membrane degradation and the cathodic corrosion that reduce on the high cell voltage.Similarly, as described above, some advantages can be additionally or are comprised total fuel cell system lifetime of raising alternatively, and this is owing to cut apart low load hour between a plurality of stacks.Some advantages can be extraly or are comprised the cathode blower parasitic losses when low load of reduction alternatively.Some advantages can be additionally or are comprised alternatively and the redundancy of the fuel cell system 10 of raising for example, provide limp-home (limp-home) pattern.
Though discuss in conjunction with the configuration of two stacks above, this fuel cell system 10 can comprise monoreactant cell stack 12a, the 12b of greater number, they can be advantageously to reducing rate of descent and improving reliability and redundancy is made contributions.
As here using, term " fuel cell stack " refers to one or more mutual electric coupling, the fuel cell of the voltage of striding a pair of node or end points is provided.Therefore, in one embodiment, described two or more fuel cell stack can be different stack architecture, and each all is the set of physically separated electricity and mechanical couplings fuel cell together, and each all comprises corresponding a pair of node or end points.In another embodiment, described two or more fuel cell stack can be a plurality of parts of single integrated morphology, and wherein a plurality of fuel cells of all fuel cell stack are all electric is in the same place with mechanical couplings.In such an embodiment, common tap node or end points are shared between a plurality of fuel cell stack and thus this structure are divided into two or more parts.This common tap node or end points may also may be in this positions at structure centre point.
The various embodiments of preceding detailed description by using block diagram, schematic diagram and example to set forth equipment and/or process.Up to the present, though these block diagrams, schematic diagram and example have comprised one or more functions and/or operation, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that each function and/or the operation in these block diagrams, flow chart or the example all can be implemented by hardware, software, firmware or its almost any combination of broad range independently and/or uniformly.In one embodiment, this theme can be implemented by application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) (ASIC).Yet, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments described herein, whole or in part, can be implemented on an equal basis in the standard integrated circuit, such as operate on one or more computers one or more computer programs (for example, operate in the one or more programs on one or more computer systems), operate in the one or more programs on one or more controllers (for example microcontroller), operate in the one or more programs on one or more processors (for example microprocessor), hardware, or its almost any combination, and design this circuit and/or write the code that is used for this software or firmware and will make at an easy rate according to present disclosure by those of ordinary skills.
In addition, those skilled in the art should understand that here the controlling mechanism of instruction can be used as various forms of program products distributions, and illustrative examples do not need to consider to be used for actual this distribution of execution signal bearing media particular type and used equally.The example of signal bearing media is including, but not limited to following content: but the record type medium, such as floppy disk, hard disk drive, CD ROM, digital magnetic tape and computer storage; And the transport-type medium, such as numeral and the analog communication links used based on the communication link (for example grouped link) of TDM or IP.
As here with claim in employed, term " fuel battery " refers to be striden with generation by electric coupling any amount of fuel cell of its voltage.Though fuel battery is the most frequent related with fuel cell stack, the fuel cell in the group can also may only not comprised a fuel cell by mechanical couplings together yet.Term " to the demand of power " refers to the extraction of load to electric current, voltage or electric weight, and no matter this load comprises whether are motor 14 and/or intermediate equipment.
Above-described various embodiment can be combined so that further embodiment to be provided.Full content that quote in this manual and/or all United States Patent (USP)s, U.S. Patent Application Publication, U.S. Patent application, foreign patent, foreign patent application and the non-patent disclosure listed in the request for data list is hereby incorporated by, its including, but not limited to:
The United States Patent (USP) 6,573,682 that on June 3rd, 2003 authorized;
All at laid-open U.S. Patents application number 2003/0022038,2003/0022036,2003/0022040,2003/0022041,2003/0022042,2003/0022037,2003/0022031,2003/0022050 and 2003/0022045 on January 30th, 2003; All 19 days disclosed 2003/0113594 and 2003/0113599 June in 2003; 15 days disclosed 2004/0009380 January in 2004; With 1 day disclosed 2004/0126635 July in 2004;
Application No. 10/817,052, application on April 2nd, 2004; Application on May 6th, 10/430,903,2003; Application on May 16th, 10/440,512,2003; 10/875,797 and 10/875,622, all apply on June 23rd, 2004; Application on September 17th, 10/664,808,2003; Application on October 12nd, 10/964,000,2004; With 10/861,319, application on June 4th, 2004; And
U.S. Provisional Patent Application number application on May 7th, 60/569,218,2004; Application on June 4th, 60/560,755,2004; With 60/621,012, used express mail EV529821615US application on October 20th, 2004, name is called " power system method and apparatus " (" POWER SYSTEM METHOD AND APPARATUS ").The each side of native system and method if necessary can be modified to use various patents, application or disclosed system, circuit and notion that further embodiment of the invention is provided.
Can make these and other modifications to native system and method according to top detailed description.Usually, in following claim, the term of use should not be interpreted as limiting the present invention to disclosed specific embodiment in specification and the claim, and should be interpreted as comprising according to claim resulting all power systems of reading and method.Therefore, the present invention is not limited by disclosure, and on the contrary, its scope is determined by following claim is whole.
Claims (22)
1. power system comprises:
First group of fuel cell, electric coupling is to provide first voltage when this first group of fuel battery operation;
At least the second group fuel cell, electric coupling is to provide second voltage when this second group of fuel battery operation;
First diode that comprises anode and negative electrode, the anode of this first diode are electrically coupled to first group of fuel cell to be passed through to make the group electric current that fuel cell was produced of winning when first group of fuel battery operation;
Second diode that comprises anode and negative electrode, the anode of this second diode is electrically coupled to second group of fuel cell to make second group of electric current that fuel cell was produced pass through when second group of fuel battery operation, and the anode of first diode is electrically coupled to the negative electrode of second diode.
2. power system as claimed in claim 1 further comprises:
Fuel provides subsystem, can operate to be used to provide fuel to first and second groups of fuel cells; And
Oxidant provides subsystem, can operate to be used to provide oxidant to first and second groups of fuel cells.
3. power system as claimed in claim 2, wherein oxidant provides subsystem to comprise can to operate and is used for the controlled oxidation agent and provides valve at least one oxidant that one of first or second group of fuel cell flows.
4. power system as claimed in claim 3 further comprises:
Controller, being coupled to be lower than the agent of crossover threshold controlled oxidation in response to load request provides valve to stop oxidant to one of described the flowing of first or second group of fuel cell.
5. power system as claimed in claim 4, wherein fuel provides subsystem to continue to provide fuel to first and second groups of fuel cells at oxidant behind one of the described cessation of flow of first or second group of fuel cell.
6. power system as claimed in claim 4, wherein fuel provides subsystem to comprise can to operate and is used to control fuel and provides valve at least one fuel that flows of one of first or second group of fuel cell.
7. electric weight as claimed in claim 6 system, its middle controller by further coupling with in response to oxidant to one of the described cessation of flow of first or second group of fuel cell, control fuel provides valve to stop fuel to one of described the flowing of first or second group of fuel cell.
8. power system as claimed in claim 4, its middle controller comprises comparator, comparator will compare from total current and the crossover threshold that first and second groups of fuel cells extract constantly.
9. power system as claimed in claim 2, wherein fuel provides subsystem to comprise to be coupled fuel with the fuel that circulates again from the first and second groups of fuel cells subsystem that circulates again.
10. power system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the fuel subsystem that circulates again comprises blender, blender is coupled to mix the fuel of circulation again between first and second groups of fuel cells.
11. power system as claimed in claim 2, wherein fuel provides subsystem to comprise at least one drain valve, this at least one drain valve be coupled in first or second group of fuel cell at least one also can operate the anode that is used to purify first or second group of fuel cell.
12. power system as claimed in claim 2, wherein fuel provides subsystem to comprise at least one drain valve, and this at least one drain valve is coupled to another the negative electrode that first and second groups of fuel cells and can operating are used for the emission gases from the anode of one of first or second group of fuel cell is sent to first or second group of fuel cell.
13. power system as claimed in claim 2, wherein first group of fuel cell mechanically is coupled as first fuel cell stack, and wherein second group of fuel cell by coupling mechanically as second fuel cell stack that physically is separated with first fuel cell stack.
14. the method for an operation of fuel cells system, this fuel cell system comprises first and second groups of fuel cells at least, fuel cell in first group of fuel cell is by series electrical coupling mutually and can operate and be used to produce the voltage of striding it, the mutual series electrical coupling of fuel cell in second group of fuel cell also can be operated and is used to produce the voltage of striding it, and at least the first and second group fuel cells are via the electric coupling that is connected in parallel to each other of corresponding diode in the diode, these diodes are coupling on the corresponding negative electrode of fuel cell jointly, and this method comprises:
Between the first phase, providing fuel flowing to the demand of power at least the first and second group fuel cells greater than crossover threshold; And provide oxidant flowing at least the first and second group fuel cells; And
To the demand of power the second phase, provide fuel flowing at least the first and second group fuel cells less than crossover threshold; Oxidant flowing to first group of fuel cell is provided; And termination oxidant flowing to second group of fuel cell.
15. method as claimed in claim 14, this method further comprises:
Between the third phase, providing fuel flowing to the demand of power at least the first and second group fuel cells less than crossover threshold; Oxidant flowing to second group of fuel cell is provided; And termination oxidant flowing to first group of fuel cell.
16. the method for an operation of fuel cells system, this fuel cell system comprise at least two group fuel cells, the fuel cell in every group of fuel cell is series electrical coupling mutually all, every group of mutual electric coupling in parallel of fuel cell, and this method comprises:
The demand of power during greater than crossover threshold, is being operated each group fuel cell to produce power; And
When each demand to power is lower than crossover threshold, stop the operation of described group of other group in the fuel cell.
17. method as claimed in claim 16, wherein for every group of fuel cell, the step of operating this group fuel cell comprises provides fuel and oxidant flowing to the fuel cell that constitutes the respective sets fuel cell.
18. method as claimed in claim 17, wherein for every group of fuel cell, the step that stops the operation of this group fuel cell is included in and stops to provide flowing of fuel with oxidant when the fuel cell that constitutes the respective sets fuel cell flows.
19. method as claimed in claim 18, wherein for every group of fuel cell, the step that stops the operation of this group fuel cell further is included in and stops oxidant stopping to flow of fuel after the flowing of the fuel cell that constitutes the respective sets fuel cell.
20. method as claimed in claim 16, the step that wherein stops the operation of described group of other group in the fuel cell when each demand to power is lower than crossover threshold comprises that adjoining land stops the operation of every group of fuel cell of formation fuel cell system.
21. method as claimed in claim 16, the step that wherein stops the operation of described group of other group in the fuel cell when at every turn the demand of power being lower than crossover threshold comprise that adjoining land stops constituting the operation of every group of fuel cell in many groups fuel cell of subclass of fuel cell system.
22. method as claimed in claim 16, wherein fuel cell system further comprises at least two switchgears, and at least one switchgear is electrically coupled to every group of fuel cell, and this method further comprises:
The switch of not operation fuel battery is coupled in control, so that stride the open circuit voltage that the voltage of not operation fuel battery keeps below the not operation fuel battery.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US62088704P | 2004-10-20 | 2004-10-20 | |
| US60/620,887 | 2004-10-20 | ||
| US11/253,057 | 2005-10-18 |
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| Publication Number | Publication Date |
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| CN101044650A true CN101044650A (en) | 2007-09-26 |
| CN100541894C CN100541894C (en) | 2009-09-16 |
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| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CNB2005800360010A Expired - Fee Related CN100541894C (en) | 2004-10-20 | 2005-10-19 | fuel cell system method and device |
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| Country | Link |
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| CN (1) | CN100541894C (en) |
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN106532082A (en) * | 2016-11-30 | 2017-03-22 | 中车青岛四方机车车辆股份有限公司 | Control method, device and system for fuel cells and rail vehicle |
| CN108987767A (en) * | 2018-08-07 | 2018-12-11 | 同济大学 | A kind of fuel cell system and method for more manifold air supplies |
| CN109994755A (en) * | 2019-03-26 | 2019-07-09 | 广东亚氢科技有限公司 | A kind of fuel cell system and the method for improving fuel cell system power generation performance |
| CN114503314A (en) * | 2019-07-16 | 2022-05-13 | Ch创新公司 | Compact fuel cell module and assembly |
Family Cites Families (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP3111787B2 (en) * | 1994-01-20 | 2000-11-27 | 富士電機株式会社 | Fuel cell power generator and start-up method thereof |
| DE10010985A1 (en) * | 2000-03-07 | 2001-09-20 | Daimler Chrysler Ag | Fuel cell system operating method has individual fuel cells or fuel cell stacks switched into and out of operation for matching required power output |
-
2005
- 2005-10-19 CN CNB2005800360010A patent/CN100541894C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Cited By (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN106532082A (en) * | 2016-11-30 | 2017-03-22 | 中车青岛四方机车车辆股份有限公司 | Control method, device and system for fuel cells and rail vehicle |
| WO2018099211A1 (en) * | 2016-11-30 | 2018-06-07 | 中车青岛四方机车车辆股份有限公司 | Method, device and system for controlling fuel cells and rail vehicle |
| CN108987767A (en) * | 2018-08-07 | 2018-12-11 | 同济大学 | A kind of fuel cell system and method for more manifold air supplies |
| CN109994755A (en) * | 2019-03-26 | 2019-07-09 | 广东亚氢科技有限公司 | A kind of fuel cell system and the method for improving fuel cell system power generation performance |
| CN109994755B (en) * | 2019-03-26 | 2023-10-10 | 广东亚氢科技有限公司 | Fuel cell system and method for improving power generation performance of fuel cell system |
| CN114503314A (en) * | 2019-07-16 | 2022-05-13 | Ch创新公司 | Compact fuel cell module and assembly |
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| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CN100541894C (en) | 2009-09-16 |
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