Patent · US Active

Electric power source arrangement and method of how to use it

US8367258B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
1References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 5, 2010
Grant dateFeb 5, 2013
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 9, 2031

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E60/50
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An electric power source arrangement is described, comprising a fuel cell means (2) having a nominal voltage and a specified voltage-current characteristic, to be connected to a load (1), and comprising a variable DC-DC voltage converter (3), a by-pass branch (11) by-passing the DC-DC voltage converter, a switch (13) alternatively connecting the fuel cell to the DC-DC voltage converter or to the by-pass branch, and a control unit (12) controlling the switch, which control unit (12) comprises a measuring device coupled to the fuel cell means (2) for detecting the operating point thereof and is configured to connect the by-pass branch (11) if the fuel cell means voltage is within a selected range of section (5) of the voltage-current characteristic of the fuel cell means and to disconnect the by-pass branch in the remaining range of sections (4, 6, 7) of said characteristic.

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