Apparatus and method for heating a fuel cell stack

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10164273-B2
Application number	US-201313959242-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 5, 2013
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Dec 25, 2018
Grant date	Dec 25, 2018

Abstract

An apparatus for heating a fuel cell stack in a cold start mode is provided. The apparatus comprises a fuel cell stack, a boost converter, and a controller. The fuel cell stack powers a vehicle. The boost converter includes a power switch that is thermally coupled to the fuel cell stack. The controller is configured to receive a signal indicative of a temperature during a vehicle startup and to compare the temperature to a predetermined temperature value. The controller is further configured to activate the power switch if the temperature is below the predetermined temperature value such that the power switch generates heat to apply to the fuel cell stack and generates a voltage for powering a power circuit to enable the vehicle to driveaway while the fuel cell stack receives the heat.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for heating a fuel cell stack in a cold start mode, the apparatus comprising:
a controller coupled to a boost converter including a power switch that is thermally coupled to a fuel cell stack, the controller configured to:
receive a signal indicative of a temperature during a vehicle startup;
compare the temperature to a predetermined temperature value; and
activate the power switch if the temperature is below the predetermined temperature value,

wherein the power switch provides heat to the fuel cell stack and generates a voltage for powering a power circuit to enable the vehicle to driveaway while the fuel cell stack receives the heat.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the boost converter further includes a contactor operably coupled to the fuel cell stack.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the controller is further configured to open the contactor in the event the temperature is below the predetermined temperature value.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the controller is further configured to close the contactor in the event the temperature is above the predetermined temperature value.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the contactor is configured to deliver power from the fuel cell stack to a load in the vehicle to drive the vehicle.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the power circuit includes a DC/DC converter that receives the voltage to power a cathode compressor and a traction motor to enable the vehicle to driveaway while the fuel cell stack receives the heat.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the voltage is between 125 and 150V.

8. An apparatus comprising:
a controller for being operably coupled to a boost converter including a power switch, the controller configured to:
receive a signal indicative of a temperature during vehicle startup; and
activate the power switch if the temperature is below a predetermined temperature value,

wherein the power switch heats a fuel cell stack and generates a voltage for powering a power circuit to enable vehicle driveaway in response to heating the fuel cell stack.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the boost converter further includes a contactor operably coupled to the fuel cell stack.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the controller is further configured to close the contactor in the event the temperature is above the predetermined temperature value.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the contactor is configured to deliver power from the fuel cell stack to a load in the vehicle to drive the vehicle.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the power circuit includes a DC/DC converter that receives the voltage to power a cathode compressor and a traction motor to enable the vehicle to driveaway while the fuel cell stack receives the heat.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the voltage is between 125 and 150V.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the power switch transfers heat therefrom to the fuel cell stack.

15. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the power switch transfers heat therefrom to the fuel cell stack.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Hashim Hasdi R
• Peterson Craig Winfield
• Spiteri Raymond Anthony

Classifications

• H01M2250/20

  Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane · CPC title

• H01M8/04268

  Heating of fuel cells during the start-up of the fuel cells · CPC title

• Y02T90/32

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• H01M8/04731 Primary

  of other components of a fuel cell or fuel cell stacks · CPC title

• Y02E60/50

  Fuel cells · CPC title