Patent · US Active

System and method for generating electric power with a fuel cell array, control unit and dynamic electrical load

US12199321B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
2References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 23, 2018
Grant dateJan 14, 2025
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 17, 2040

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02T90/40
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Electric power is produced in a fuel cell array based on chemical fuel provided from a fuel source. The electric power is held available via an output terminal. A sensor cell registers a sensor signal reflecting a degree of consumption of chemical fuel in the fuel cell array relative to an amount of chemical fuel received in the fuel cell array. The production of electric power in the fuel cell array is monitored by measuring at least one voltage in the fuel cell array. A fraction of the electric power produced by the fuel cell array is controlled to be fed into a dynamic electric load connected to the output terminal. The fraction fed into the dynamic electric load is controlled in response to the sensor signal such that a difference is minimized between the amount of chemical fuel received in the fuel cell array and an amount of chemical fuel consumed in the fuel cell array when producing the electric power.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.