Electric system for fuel cell, fuel cell vehicle, and method of supplying electric power
AssigneeHonda Motor Co., Ltd.
InventorsSatoshi Aoyagi, Hibiki Saeki, Kuniaki Ojima
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electric system has a fuel cell and an electric storage device which are connected in parallel to each other with respect to a propulsive motor, and a DC-to-DC converter connected closer to the electric storage device than a junction where the fuel cell and the electric storage device are connected in parallel to each other. An electric power control system includes a power supply controller having a failure detector for detecting a failure of the DC-to-DC converter. When the failure detector detects a failure of the DC-to-DC converter, the response of electric power output from the fuel cell is limited.
Claims19
An electric system for a fuel cell in which the fuel cell and an electric storage device are connected in parallel to each other with respect to a load, comprising:
- a DC-to-DC converter connected closer to the electric storage device than a junction where the fuel cell and the electric storage device are connected in parallel to each other;
- failure detecting means for detecting a failure of said DC-to-DC converter;
- and
- response limiting means for limiting the response of electric power output from said fuel cell when said failure detecting means detects a failure of said DC-to-DC converter.
A fuel cell vehicle for being propelled by a propulsive motor, said fuel cell vehicle having an electric system in which a fuel cell and an electric storage device are connected in parallel to each other with respect to the propulsive motor and connected to the propulsive motor through a power converter, comprising:
- a DC-to-DC converter connected closer to the electric storage device than a junction where the fuel cell and the electric storage device are connected in parallel to each other;
- reactive gas supply means for supplying a reactive gas to said fuel cell;
- failure detecting means for detecting a failure of said DC-to-DC converter;
- and
- response limiting means for limiting the response of electric power output from said fuel cell when said failure detecting means detects a failure of said DC-to-DC converter.
A fuel cell vehicle for being propelled by a propulsive motor, said fuel cell vehicle having an electric system in which a fuel cell and an electric storage device are connected in parallel to each other with respect to the propulsive motor and connected to the propulsive motor through a power converter, comprising:
- a DC-to-DC converter connected closer to the electric storage device than a junction where the fuel cell and the electric storage device are connected in parallel to each other;
- reactive gas supply means for supplying a reactive gas to said fuel cell;
- failure detecting means for detecting a failure of said DC-to-DC converter;
- and
- protection control means for protecting said fuel cell when said failure detecting means detects a failure of said DC-to-DC converter.
A method of supplying electric power in an electric system in which a fuel cell and an electric storage device are connected in parallel to each other with respect to the propulsive motor and connected to the propulsive motor through a power converter, and a DC-to-DC converter is connected closer to the electric storage device than a junction where the fuel cell and the electric storage device are connected in parallel to each other, comprising the steps of:
- (a) supplying a reactive gas to said fuel cell;
- (b) detecting a failure of said DC-to-DC converter;
- and
- (c) limiting the response of electric power output from said fuel cell when a failure of said DC-to-DC converter is detected in said detecting step (b).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.