Fuel cell system with load management

A load control system for an energy-consuming assembly, the load control system comprising:

• an energy-consuming assembly adapted to apply an applied load having a magnitude to an energy-producing device, wherein the energy-producing device is a fuel cell system adapted to produce an electric current and to which the applied load is applied, wherein the fuel cell system includes at least one fuel cell stack adapted to produce an electric current and a fuel processing assembly adapted to produce a fuel stream for the at least one fuel cell stack, and further wherein the energy-consuming assembly includes a plurality of energy-consuming devices that each have a plurality of operational states that include a first operational state, in which the energy-consuming device is applying at least a portion of the applied load, and a second operational state, in which the energy-consuming device is not applying at least a portion of the applied load;
• and
• a switching module assembly in communication with the plurality of energy-consuming devices and adapted to selectively control the operational states of the plurality of energy-consuming devices responsive at least in part to a predetermined hierarchy and the magnitude of the applied load, wherein responsive to an applied load having a magnitude that exceeds an available power output of the energy-producing device, the switching module assembly is adapted to selectively switch, according to the predetermined hierarchy, at least one of the plurality of energy-consuming devices from its first operational state to its second operational state.

A load controlling fuel cell system for an energy-consuming assembly, the system comprising:

• an energy-producing assembly adapted to produce electric current and to satisfy an applied load, wherein the energy-producing assembly includes at least one fuel cell stack and at least one fuel processor adapted to produce a fuel stream containing hydrogen gas for the at least one fuel cell stack;
• an energy-consuming assembly adapted to apply an applied load having a magnitude to an energy-producing assembly, wherein the energy-consuming assembly includes a plurality of energy-consuming devices that each have a plurality of operational states that include a first operational state, in which the energy-consuming device is applying at least a portion of the applied load, and a second operational state, in which the energy-consuming device is not applying at least a portion of the applied load;
• and
• a load control system in communication with the plurality of energy-consuming devices and adapted to selectively manage the operational states of the plurality of energy-consuming devices responsive at least in part to the magnitude of the applied load and a predetermined hierarchy between the energy-consuming devices, wherein responsive to an applied load having a magnitude that exceeds an available power output of the energy-producing assembly, the load control system is adapted to selectively switch, according to the predetermined hierarchy, at least one of the plurality of energy-consuming devices from its first operational state to its second operational state.