Patent · US Expired

Method for starting a fuel cell system and fuel cell system

US6612385B1 · kind B1 · utility

8Cited by
10References
27Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 17, 2000
Grant dateSep 2, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 17, 2020

Classification

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

Abstract

A method for starting a mobile fuel cell system, in particular for a vehicle, includes conveying air to be supplied to the system during starting and operation of the system by a motor-powered compressor, in order to ensure a necessary operating pressure and, if required, additional humidifying of the air. A motor drive for the compressor has an electric motor which is supplied from a mobile starter battery during a starting phase. An output voltage of the starter battery is different from an operating voltage at an output of a fuel cell stack of the fuel cell system. A control device is provided between an output of the starter battery or of the fuel cell stack and a motor input. The control device interrupts the starting voltage supplied from the output of the starter battery and switches over to the output voltage of the fuel cell stack when the output operating voltage of the fuel cell stack reaches an adequate level. A fuel cell system is also provided.

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