# US 10,483,573 B2 · Fuel cell unit for use in aggregating multiple fuel cells in parallel > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,483,573 B2 - Document ID: US10483573B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/914,982 - Filed: 2014-09-04 - Published: 2016-07-21 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2013-09-04 - Assignees: LG Fuel Cell Systems Inc. - Applicants: LG Fuel Cell Systems Inc. - Inventors: Gerard D. Agnew - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10483573B2 ## CPC - H01M 8/04888: {of auxiliary devices, e.g. batteries, capacitors} - H01M 8/04365: {of other components of a fuel cell or fuel cell stacks} - H01M 8/0438: Pressure; Ambient pressure; Flow - H01M 8/04388: {of anode reactants at the inlet or inside the fuel cell} - H01M 8/249: comprising two or more groupings of fuel cells, e.g. modular assemblies - H02J 1/10: Parallel operation of DC sources - H02M 3/155: using semiconductor devices only - H02J 2101/30: Fuel cells - H02M 1/0093: {wherein the output is created by adding a regulated voltage to or subtracting it from an unregulated input} - Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P) - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract This invention relates to fuel cell unit for use in aggregating fuel cells, particularly useful for use when fuel cells are connected in parallel. Improving the management of fuel cell outputs across a plurality of aggregated fuel cells improves efficiency of the fuel cells. The invention relates to a fuel cell unit comprising a fuel cell and a regulating voltage converter, and further relates to a fuel cell module comprising a plurality of fuel cell units connected in parallel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fuel cell unit configured to connect to a positive load rail and a negative load rail, suitable for being one of a number of fuel cells connected in parallel to the positive load rail and the negative load rail, the fuel cell unit comprising a fuel cell, having a fuel cell output voltage presented between a positive fuel cell output terminal and a negative fuel cell output terminal, and a regulating voltage converter having a DC converter output voltage presented across a positive converter output terminal and a negative converter output terminal and an input configured to be driven; the regulating voltage converter being arranged so that the input is driven by the fuel cell output voltage in series with the converter output voltage; and the converter output voltage combines with the fuel cell output voltage such that the voltage across the fuel cell and the regulating voltage converter is the same as the voltage across the positive load rail and negative load rail. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fuel cell unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the positive fuel cell output terminal is configured to be connected to the positive load rail, and the negative output converter terminal is configured to be connected to the negative load rail. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The fuel cell unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the regulating voltage converter is a DC-DC converter. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The fuel cell unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the input comprises a positive converter input terminal and a negative converter input terminal; and the negative converter output terminal is further connected to the negative converter input terminal, the positive fuel cell output terminal is further connected to the positive converter input terminal, and the negative fuel cell output terminal is connected to the positive converter output terminal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The fuel cell unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the DC-DC converter is a flyback converter. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The fuel cell unit as claimed in claim 5, wherein the flyback converter is a hybrid rated flyback converter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The fuel cell unit as claimed claim 6, wherein the hybrid flyback converter comprises a primary winding and a secondary winding, the primary winding being rated for one of fuel cell current or fuel cell voltage, the secondary winding being rated for fuel cell current. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The fuel cell unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the regulating voltage converter is a DC-DC converter. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The fuel cell unit as claimed in claim 8, wherein the input comprises a positive converter input terminal and a negative converter input terminal; and the positive converter output terminal is further connected to the positive converter input terminal, the negative fuel cell output is further connected to the negative converter input terminal, and the positive fuel cell output terminal is connected to the negative converter output terminal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The fuel cell unit as claimed in claim 8, wherein the DC-DC converter is a flyback converter. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A fuel cell module comprising a plurality of fuel cell units of claim 1, wherein the plurality of fuel cell units are connected in parallel across the positive load rail and the negative load rail. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The fuel cell module as claimed in claim 11, further comprising an intermediate converter configured to provide an interim voltage wherein the intermediate converter is driven by the voltage across the positive load rail and negative load rail, and the interim voltage drives each regulating voltage converter of the plurality of fuel cell units. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The fuel cell module as claimed in claim 12, wherein the intermediate converter is a step-down converter. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The fuel cell module as claimed in claim 12, wherein the fuel cell module comprises a plurality of intermediate converters, each having a positive output terminal and a negative output terminal wherein each positive output terminal is connected to a diode such that the output of the diode provides the interim voltage. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The fuel cell module as claimed in claim 11, wherein the intermediate converter in an AC inverter providing an AC interim voltage and each regulating voltage converters is an AC-DC converter. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The fuel cell module as claimed in claim 11, wherein the intermediate converter is driven indirectly by the voltage across the positive load rail and negative load rail. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The fuel cell unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the negative fuel cell output terminal is configured to be connected to the negative load rail and the positive converter output terminal is configured to be connected to the positive load rail. ### Claim 18 A fuel cell unit configured to connect to a first load rail and a second load rail, suitable for being one of a number of fuel cells connected in parallel to the positive load rail and the negative load rail, the fuel cell unit comprising a fuel cell, having a fuel cell output voltage presented between a first fuel cell output terminal and a second fuel cell output terminal, and a regulating voltage converter having a converter output voltage presented across a first converter output terminal and a second converter output terminal and an input configured to be driven comprising a first converter input terminal and a second converter input terminal; wherein the first load rail is configured to be connected to the second converter input terminal and the first converter output terminal, the second load rail is configured to be connected to the second fuel cell output terminal, the first converter input terminal is connected to the first fuel cell output terminal, and the second converter output terminal is configured to be connected to the second load rail.