Modular fuel cell system architecture and a control system for distributing power to the modules

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025030024-A1
Application number	US-202418908711-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 7, 2024
Priority date	Dec 1, 2021
Publication date	Jan 23, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for modularizing power systems for vehicles. For example, a presently disclosed modular system of a vehicle may comprise: (1) a shaft; (2) a first parallel system comprising a first motor coupled to the shaft to rotate the shaft, and a fuel cell electrically connected to supply electrical power to the first motor; and (3) a second parallel system electrically isolated from the first parallel system, the second parallel system comprising a second motor coupled to the shaft to rotate the shaft, and a second fuel cell electrically connected to supply electrical power to the second motor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A modular system of a vehicle comprising:
a shaft; a first parallel system comprising a first motor coupled to the shaft to rotate the shaft, and a fuel cell electrically connected to supply electrical power to the first motor; and a second parallel system electrically isolated from the first parallel system, the second parallel system comprising a second motor coupled to the shaft to rotate the shaft, and a power generation module electrically connected to supply electrical power to the second motor.

2 . The modular system of claim 1 , further comprising an electrical control system configured to:
receive input indicative of an amount of torque requested from the modular system; and apportion power generation between the first parallel system and the second parallel system.

3 . The modular system of claim 2 , wherein the apportioning is performed based on individual states of the first parallel system and the second parallel system.

4 . The modular system of claim 3 , wherein the electrical control system comprises states in which the first parallel system provides a different amount of torque than the second parallel system.

5 . The modular system of claim 1 , wherein the power generation module comprises a second fuel cell.

6 . The modular system of claim 1 , wherein the first parallel system further comprises a battery electrically connected to supply power to the first motor.

7 . The modular system of claim 6 , wherein the second parallel system further comprises a second battery electrically connected to supply power to the second motor.

8 . A modular system of a vehicle comprising:
a shaft; a first parallel system comprising a first motor coupled to the shaft to rotate the shaft, and a fuel cell electrically connected to supply electrical power to the first motor; and a second parallel system electrically isolated from the first parallel system, the second parallel system comprising a second motor coupled to the shaft to rotate the shaft, and a second fuel cell electrically connected to supply electrical power to the second motor.

9 . The modular system of claim 8 , further comprising an electrical control system configured to:
receive input indicative of an amount of torque requested from the modular system; and apportion power generation between the first parallel system and the second parallel system.

10 . The modular system of claim 9 , wherein the apportioning is performed based on individual states of the first parallel system and the second parallel system.

11 . The modular system of claim 10 , wherein the electrical control system comprises states that occur where the first parallel system is requested to provide a different amount of torque than the second parallel system.

12 . The modular system of claim 8 , wherein the first parallel system further comprises a battery electrically connected to supply power to the first motor.

13 . The modular system of claim 12 , wherein the second parallel system further comprises a second battery electrically connected to supply power to the second motor.

14 . A modular system of a vehicle comprising:
a shaft; a first parallel system comprising a first motor coupled to the shaft to rotate the shaft, a first fuel cell electrically connected to supply electrical power to the first motor, and a first battery electrically connected to supply power to the first motor; and a second parallel system electrically isolated from the first parallel system, the second parallel system comprising a second motor coupled to the shaft to rotate the shaft, a second fuel cell electrically connected to supply electrical power to the second motor, and a second battery electrically connected to supply power to the second motor.

15 . The modular system of claim 14 , further comprising an electrical control system configured to:
receive input indicative of an amount of torque requested from the modular system; and apportion power generation between the first parallel system and the second parallel system.

16 . The modular system of claim 15 , wherein the apportioning is performed based on individual states of the first parallel system and the second parallel system.

17 . The modular system of claim 15 , wherein the apportioning comprises apportioning power between the first parallel system and the second parallel system to maintain a current state of charge of a given battery of the first battery and the second battery above a threshold value.

18 . The modular system of claim 15 , wherein the apportioning comprises apportioning power between the first parallel system and the second parallel system to maintain an amount of power requested from a given parallel system below an upper threshold.

19 . The modular system of claim 15 , wherein the apportioning comprises apportioning power between the first parallel system and the second parallel system to maintain an amount of power requested from a given parallel system above a lower threshold.

20 . The modular system of claim 15 , wherein the apportioning comprises apportioning power between the first parallel system and the second parallel system to equalize a power draw from the first battery and the second battery.

Assignees

• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America

Inventors

• Bulpitt Christopher M
• Folick Daniel Charles
• Farnsworth Jared
• Sata Andrew
• Eitzer Arlo C
• Bower Laura E
• Lim Daniel K
• Sander Jonathan J
• Rippelmeyer Luke A
• Friedman Scott A
• Yokoo Takehito

Classifications

• H01M2220/20

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

• H01M8/249

  comprising two or more groupings of fuel cells, e.g. modular assemblies · CPC title

• Y02T90/40

  Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells · CPC title

• B60K1/00

  Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units (B60K7/00 takes precedence; arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion B60K6/00) · CPC title

• B60L58/22

  Balancing the charge of battery modules · CPC title