Apparatus for converting power of fuel cell for power generation and method thereof
AssigneesHyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
InventorYong Doo Son
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for converting power of a fuel cell for power generation to remove an open voltage of the fuel cell when a failure occurs during power generation of the fuel cell and a method thereof are provided. A power converter converts and supplies power generated by the fuel cell to a system or load. A controller detects a failure occurring in the fuel cell, the power converter, or the system or load, while the fuel cell is driven, and reduces an open circuit voltage (OCV) of the fuel cell by a dummy resistor connected with an output terminal of the fuel cell, when the failure occurs in the fuel cell, the power converter, or the system or load. The apparatus removes an OCV of a fuel cell stack to prevent performance and life of the fuel cell from being reduced.
Claims16
An apparatus for converting power of a fuel cell for power generation, the apparatus comprising:
- a power converter configured to convert and supply power generated by the fuel cell to a system or load;
- a controller configured to detect a failure occurring in the fuel cell, the power converter, or the system or load, while the fuel cell is driven and reduce an open circuit voltage (OCV) of the fuel cell by a dummy resistor connected with an output terminal of the fuel cell, when the failure occurs in the fuel cell, the power converter, or the system or load;
- and
- a first initial charge circuit connected in parallel between the output terminal of the fuel cell and an input terminal of the power converter and configured to cut off an inrush current from the fuel cell,
- wherein the controller monitors the OCV of the fuel cell in a process where the fuel cell is stopped and increases current flowing in the dummy resistor such that the OCV of the fuel cell is less than a reference voltage.
A method for converting power of a fuel cell for power generation, the method comprising:
- converting and supplying, by a power converter, power generated by the fuel cell to a system or load;
- detecting, by a controller, a failure occurring in the fuel cell, the power converter, or the system or load, while the fuel cell is driven;
- reducing, by the controller, an open circuit voltage (OCV) of the fuel cell by a dummy resistor connected with an output terminal of the fuel cell, when the failure occurs in the fuel cell, the power converter, or the system or load;
- and
- cutting off, by a first initial charge circuit connected in parallel between the output terminal of the fuel cell and an input terminal of the power converter, an inrush current from the fuel cell,
- wherein the reducing of the OCV of the fuel cell by the dummy resistor connected with the output terminal of the fuel cell by the controller includes:
- monitoring, by the controller, the OCV of the fuel cell in a process where the fuel cell is stopped;
- and
- increasing, by the controller, current flowing in the dummy resistor such that the OCV of the fuel cell is less than a reference voltage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.