Fuel cell power system, method of distributing power, and method of operating a fuel cell power system

A fuel cell power system, comprising:

• means for electrochemically converting hydrogen to D.C. voltage;
• means defining a capacitance above one Farad selectively electrically coupled with a load and which has a voltage condition;
• electrochemical means for storing energy coupled in parallel with the capacitance means;
• and
• means for selectively electrically coupling and decoupling the means for electrochemically converting hydrogen to the capacitance means based upon the voltage condition of the capacitance means.

A fuel cell power system, comprising:

• a fuel cell which generates D.C. voltage while operating;
• a capacitor, having a capacitance of at least one Farad, electrically coupled with a load and which has a voltage condition;
• and
• a circuit which selectively electrically couples and decouples the fuel cell to the capacitor based upon the voltage condition of the capacitor.

A fuel cell power system comprising:

• an ultracapacitor electrically coupled to a load and which is charged and discharged to different voltages;
• a plurality of fuel cell subsystems electrically coupled together in series, and which produce direct current electrical energy;
• a switch electrically coupled with the plurality of fuel cell subsystems to selectively electrically couple the plurality of fuel cell subsystems to the ultracapacitor;
• and
• control circuitry which causes the switch to electrically couple the fuel cell to the ultracapacitor in response to the voltage of the ultracapacitor being less than a first predetermined voltage, and to electrically de-couple the fuel cell from the ultracapacitor in response to the voltage of the ultracapacitor being greater than a second predetermined voltage.

A method of operating a fuel cell power system, comprising:

• providing an ultracapacitor which, in operation, has a voltage condition;
• providing a fuel cell which produces direct current electrical energy;
• and
• electrically coupling and decoupling the fuel cell to the ultracapacitor based on the voltage condition of the ultracapacitor.

A method of operating a fuel cell power system, comprising:

• providing an capacitor, having a capacitance greater than one Farad, which is electrically coupled to a load, in operation and which is charged and discharged to different voltages, in operation;
• providing a fuel cell which produces direct current electrical energy in operation;
• and
• electrically coupling and decoupling the fuel cell to the capacitor depending on the voltage of the capacitor.

A method of distributing electrical power, which is generated by a fuel cell power system, to a load, the method comprising:

• electrically coupling an ultracapacitor to the load, which, in operation, is charged and discharged to different voltages;
• electrically coupling a plurality of fuel cell subsystems together in series;
• providing a switch which is electrically coupled to both the plurality of fuel cell subsystems and the ultracapacitor;
• and
• selectively controlling the switch to electrically couple the fuel cell subsystems to the ultracapacitor when the voltage of the ultracapacitor is less than a first predetermined voltage, and to electrically de-couple the fuel cell subsystem from the ultracapacitor when the voltage of the ultracapacitor is greater than a second predetermined voltage.