# US 2022/0037684 A1 · Fuel cell system

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2022/0037684 A1
- Document ID: US20220037684A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/382,395
- Filed: 2021-07-22
- Published: 2022-02-03
- Earliest claimed: 2020-07-29
- Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Ryota Kitamoto
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220037684A1

## CPC

- H01M 8/04865: {Voltage}
- H01M 8/04089: of gaseous reactants
- H01M 8/04302: applied during start-up
- H01M 8/0494: {of fuel cell stacks}
- H01M 16/006: {of fuel cells with rechargeable batteries}
- H02J 7/342: {The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging (with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/68)}
- H01M 2250/20: Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
- H02J 2101/30: Fuel cells
- Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries
- 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
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A fuel cell system that can improve an operating efficiency while minimizing an increase in cost for a configuration is provided. A fuel cell system (10) includes a fuel cell stack (11), an air pump (13), and an electric power control unit (15). The air pump (13) is connected to an output terminal of the fuel cell stack (11). The air pump (13) is configured to supply air as an oxidizing agent gas to the fuel cell stack (11). The electric power control unit (15) includes a first circuit unit (31) and a second circuit unit (32). The first circuit unit (31) is connected to the output terminal of the fuel cell stack (11) and is configured to perform step-up electric power conversion on an input from the fuel cell stack (11). The second circuit unit (32) is configured to perform bidirectional electric power conversion for stepping-up an input from the fuel cell stack (11) and for stepping-down an output to the air pump (13).

## Claims

### Claim 1

A fuel cell system, comprising
a fuel cell stack;
an oxidizing agent gas supply device that is configured to supply an oxidizing agent gas to the fuel cell stack; and
an electric power control device including a first circuit unit that is connected to an output terminal of the fuel cell stack and is configured to perform step-up electric power conversion on an input from the fuel cell stack, and a second circuit unit that is configured to perform bidirectional electric power conversion for stepping-up an input from the fuel cell stack and for stepping-down an output to the oxidizing agent gas supply device.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The fuel cell system according to claim 1,
wherein the electric power control device includes an input unit to which electric power is input for the stepped-up electric power conversion, an input/output unit in which electric power is output for the stepped-up electric power conversion and electric power is input for the stepped-down electric power conversion, and an output unit in which electric power is output for the stepped-down electric power conversion,
wherein the first circuit unit includes a first switching element and a first freewheel diode connected to a negative electrode terminal of the input/output unit, a diode connected in a forward direction from the first switching element to a positive electrode terminal of the input/output unit between the first switching element and the positive electrode terminal of the input/output unit, and a first reactor that is connected between the first switching element, the diode, and a positive electrode terminal of the input unit, and
wherein the second circuit unit includes a second switching element and a second freewheel diode connected to the negative electrode terminal of the input/output unit, a third switching element and a third freewheel diode connected to the positive electrode terminal of the input/output unit, and a second reactor connected between the second switching element, the third switching element, and the positive electrode terminal of the input unit.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The fuel cell system according to claim 2,
wherein the electric power control device includes a second diode connected in a forward direction from the positive electrode terminal of the input unit to a positive electrode terminal of the output unit between the positive electrode terminal of the input unit and the positive electrode terminal of the output unit.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The fuel cell system according to claim 2,
wherein the third switching element is provided according to an amount of electric power required for the step-down.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The fuel cell system according to claim 3,
wherein the third switching element is provided according to an amount of electric power required for the step-down.