Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080224687 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING FUEL CELLS - Methods and apparatus are provided for monitoring a coolant conductivity of a fuel cell supplying power via positive and negative buses. The method includes measuring a first voltage of the positive bus, measuring a second voltage of the negative bus, applying a resistance between the positive bus and a reference potential, measuring a third voltage of the positive bus after a period of applying the resistance, and determining an isolation resistance based on the measured voltages. The isolation resistance is a function of the coolant conductivity. | 09-18-2008 |
20080278011 | STATOR ASSEMBLY FOR USE IN A FLUID-COOLED MOTOR AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME - A stator assembly for use in a fluid-cooled motor is disclosed, wherein a cooling jacket is disposed around a main body of the stator, the cooling jacket including at least one conduit adapted to receive a coolant therein, thereby minimizing a complexity and a cost of manufacture of the stator assembly, and maximizing a cooling capability of the stator assembly. | 11-13-2008 |
20090311563 | Manifold Sealing and Corrosion Preventive Interface Plate for a Fuel Cell Stack - A fuel cell assembly having a terminal plate that is isolated from fluid flows passing to the fuel cell stack through manifolds is provided. A corrosion resistant member is positioned between the fuel cell stack and the terminal plate and sealingly engages with the manifold. The sealing engagement between the manifold and the corrosion resistant member prevents fluid flowing through the manifold to the fuel cell stack from contacting the terminal plate. Thus, a fuel cell assembly according to the present invention can be operated while preventing a fluid flow through the manifold from contacting the terminal plate. | 12-17-2009 |
20100060397 | INDUCTOR ARRAY WITH SHARED FLUX RETURN PATH FOR A FUEL CELL BOOST CONVERTER - An inductor array that includes a plurality of inductors where adjacent inductors share a core piece and thus a flux path to reduce the size and weight of the array. In one embodiment, the shared core pieces are formed as back-to-back U-shaped members defining an indented region at the center of the core piece. In another embodiment, a plurality of small block-shaped center core pieces in each inductor defines a plurality of gaps therebetween. | 03-11-2010 |
20100060404 | DC-DC CONVERTER FOR FUEL CELL APPLICATION USING HYBRID INDUCTOR CORE MATERIAL - An inductor that includes end core pieces and a plurality of center block core pieces between the end core pieces that define a plurality of gaps. The end core pieces are made of an amorphous alloy to provide good magnetic field properties and the center core pieces are stamped magnetic sheets forming a laminate structure to provide ease of manufacturability. In one non-limiting embodiment, the end core pieces are an amorphous iron alloy and the center core pieces are stamped silicon-iron. | 03-11-2010 |
20100102635 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND AUTOMOTIVE DRIVE SYSTEM HAVING AN ON-DEMAND BOOST CONVERTER, AND RELATED OPERATING METHODS - Systems and methods are provided for an on-demand boost converter for use in a vehicle. An automotive drive system comprises a boost converter having an input node, a first output node associated with a first boost leg, and a second output node associated with a second boost leg. A fuel cell is coupled to the input node of the boost converter and a battery is coupled to the first output node. An inverter module is coupled to the second output node, and a vehicle traction drive unit is coupled the inverter module. A first switch is coupled between the second output node and the first output node, wherein the battery provides energy to the second output node when the first switch is closed. | 04-29-2010 |
20100102638 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DISCHARGING BUS VOLTAGE USING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES - Systems and methods are provided for discharging a high-voltage bus using semiconductor devices. A discharge system for a first voltage rail and a second voltage rail comprises a first semiconductor device coupled to a first voltage rail and a second semiconductor device coupled between the first semiconductor device and a second voltage rail. A control circuit is coupled to the first semiconductor device and the second semiconductor device. In response to a discharge condition, the control circuit is configured to activate the first semiconductor device and gradually activate the second semiconductor device, such that the energy potential between the first voltage rail and the second voltage rail is gradually dissipated through the semiconductor devices. | 04-29-2010 |
20100244792 | TWO-PHASE TRANSFORMER-COUPLED BOOST CONVERTER - Various embodiments provide two-phase boost converters. One two-phase boost converter includes a node configured to be coupled to an input voltage and a transformer coupled to the node. The transformer includes primary and secondary windings, an inductor coupled in series with the primary winding, and an inductor coupled in series with the secondary winding. Another two-phase boost converter includes an inductor configured to be coupled to an input voltage, a node coupled to the inductor, and a transformer coupled to the node. The transformer includes primary and secondary windings, an inductor coupled in series with the primary winding, and an inductor coupled in series with the secondary winding. Yet another two-phase boost converter includes a transformer coupled to first and second external inductors. The transformer includes primary and secondary windings, an inductor coupled in series with the primary winding, and an inductor coupled in series with the secondary winding. | 09-30-2010 |
20110112781 | METHOD FOR ESTIMATING BATTERY DEGRADATION IN A VEHICLE BATTERY PACK - A method for gathering information from battery sensors—for instance, information regarding the state-of-charge (SOC), temperature and/or other characteristics of battery cells in a vehicle battery pack—and using that information to estimate or predict battery degradation or state-of-health (SOH). According to an exemplary embodiment, the method uses both a time-based algorithm and an event-based algorithm to predict or estimate battery degradation. The event-based algorithm may select certain data from the battery conditions (e.g., a state-of-charge (SOC) swing (ΔSOC) or an SOC maximum (SOC | 05-12-2011 |
20110223506 | METHOD FOR HV BUS VOLTAGE CONTROL IN FUEL CELL VEHICLES FEATURING HV LITHIUM BATTERIES - A system for reducing oscillations on a high voltage bus. The system includes a high voltage battery electrically coupled to the high voltage bus and a DC/DC boost converter electrically coupled to the high voltage bus and a fuel cell stack. The DC/DC converter includes a current controller that selectively controls the current provided by the fuel cell stack. A system controller provides a stack current set-point to the DC/DC converter. The DC/DC converter includes a voltage device that receives a voltage signal from the bus and provides a time derivative of the voltage signal that defines voltage changes on the bus over time. The time derivative signal is provided to a summer that adjusts the current stack set-point to provide a modified current set-point to the current controller that selectively adjusts the current provided by the fuel cell stack to dampen oscillations on the high voltage bus. | 09-15-2011 |
20120025619 | METHOD FOR HIGH VOLTAGE BUS CONTROL IN FUEL CELL VEHICLES - A system and method for controlling the voltage on a high voltage bus in a fuel cell system in response to a failed high voltage battery. The method includes determining if the high voltage battery has failed, and disconnecting the battery from the high voltage bus in response to a failure. The method measures the voltage of the fuel cell stack by a DC boost circuit and converts the measured voltage to a voltage set-point value that sets the voltage on the high voltage bus, where the voltage set-point value changes as the measured voltage changes. A supervisory controller sets the media flow to the fuel cell stack and determines a minimum stack voltage limit value based on the stack maximum current draw that is used to determine a high voltage bus lower limit value. | 02-02-2012 |
20120040225 | MODULAR PLATE CARRIER CONCEPT FOR MOUNTING AND EMBEDDED COOLING OF POUCH CELL BATTERY ASSEMBLIES - A modular assembly for housing battery cells. The modular assembly includes a plurality of U-shaped members having cooling fluid channels, where the U-shaped members are mounted together in a stacked manner. Each cooling fluid channel includes an inlet and outlet orifice, where the orifices in the stacked U-shaped members align with each other. The modular assembly also includes a plurality of thermally conductive carrier plates, where a battery cell is mounted to and between opposing carrier plates. Side edges of the carrier plates are mounted in opposing retention slots in opposing U-shaped members where a cooling fluid channel in the U-shaped member is provided within the retention slot so that a cooling fluid flowing through the cooling fluid channel and the U-shaped members contacts the carrier plates and draws heat therefrom. | 02-16-2012 |