Fuel cell assembly using multiple fuel cell stacks and control method therefor

Abstract

A multi-stack assembly receiving fuel from a fuel supply and producing power output for consumption by a load, the assembly comprising a plurality of fuel cell stacks for producing DC power and forming a plurality of fuel cell stack groups, wherein each of the stack groups includes at least one fuel cell stack, a plurality of inverters corresponding to the plurality of fuel cell stack groups, wherein each of the inverters draws a predetermined amount of DC power from a corresponding fuel cell stack group and converts the DC power to AC power; and a controller for controlling each of the inverters to draw the predetermined amount of DC power from the corresponding fuel cell stack group so as to satisfy power requirements of the load.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to fuel cell systems and in particular to multi-stack fuel cell assemblies. Background technique [0002] A fuel cell is a device that directly converts chemical energy stored in hydrocarbon fuels into electrical energy through electrochemical reactions. Generally, a fuel cell includes an anode and a cathode separated by an electrolyte for electrically conducting charged ions. Molten carbonate fuel cell ("MCFC") systems operate by passing reactant fuel gas through the anode while oxidizing gas passes through the cathode. [0003] To produce useful power levels, many individual fuel cells are conventionally stacked one on top of the other to form a fuel cell stack. The number of cells in a stack determines the power rating of the stack, and in order to provide a higher power rating for the system, a number of fuel cell stacks are utilized and the outputs of the fuel cell stacks are combined to provide the desired power ou...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Also, the use of the DC bus requires customizing the DC bus, which leads to an increase in manufacturing and work costs

Images