Low cost electric power take out functionality for fuel cell hybrid vehicles
US8558406B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 20, 2011 |
| Grant date | Oct 15, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 21, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY04S10/126
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An electrical system for a fuel cell hybrid vehicle where the vehicle includes a fuel cell stack and a high voltage battery. A traditional bi-directional DC/DC power converter is provided in a high voltage bus that couples the fuel cell stack voltage and the battery voltage. Further, a traditional power inverter module is provided that converts the high voltage DC power signal on the high voltage bus to an AC signal suitable for an electric traction motor on the vehicle. The present invention proposes using the already existing bi-directional DC/DC power converter and the PIM as part of an electric power take out (EPTO) circuit that provides AC power for external vehicle loads while the fuel cell stack and battery are not being used to power the vehicle.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.