Drive system and method for the operation of a fuel cell system
AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation
InventorStephen Raiser
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A drive system for a compressor that delivers compressed air to a fuel cell system in a motor vehicle. The drive system includes an electric motor that drives the compressor. During normal operation of the fuel cell system, the motor is fed with electrical energy from the fuel cell system. During start-up of the fuel cell system, the electric motor receives electrical energy from a low voltage battery, where the electric motor can be operated at a voltage that is significantly higher than the output voltage of the low voltage battery. An expander can be connected to the compressor to drive the compressor with energy from cathode exhaust gases. Further, hydrogen recirculation can also be employed.
Claims42
A drive system for a compressor designed to deliver compressed air for the operation of a fuel cell system in a motor vehicle, wherein said drive system comprises an electric motor drivingly connected to said compressor, first terminals to which power generated by said fuel cell system is applied at an operating voltage, said first terminals being connectable to said electric motor for driving said electric motor in operation using said power generated by said fuel cell system, and a low voltage battery for the starting of said fuel cell system, said low voltage battery providing an output voltage substantially lower than said operating voltage and said electric motor being capable of being operated both at said operating voltage and at a voltage derived from said output voltage.
A drive system in accordance with clam 1, wherein a voltage converter is provided for bringing an output voltage of said low voltage battery to a derived voltage level which corresponds at least substantially to said operating voltage.
An apparatus driven by electrical energy for the operation of a fuel cell system, the fuel cell system generating, in operation, a relatively high output voltage, there being a battery having a relatively low output voltage, first connections for driving said apparatus with electrical energy from said battery for starting up operation of said fuel cell system and second connections for driving said apparatus with electrical energy from said fuel cell system at said relatively high output voltage, said apparatus being capable of operating when supplied with electrical energy at said relatively low voltage and when supplied with electrical energy at said relatively high voltage.
A method of operating a fuel cell system comprising at least one apparatus which is fed in operation with electrical energy from the fuel cell system, the method comprising the steps of driving said apparatus for the starting of the fuel cell system with electrical energy from a low voltage battery, and after the starting of the fuel cell system and the production of high voltage electrical energy by the fuel cell system, subsequently driving said apparatus with high voltage electrical energy form the fuel cell system, wherein the electrical energy from the low voltage battery is substantially less than the high voltage electrical energy from the fuel system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.