IP Library Granted Patent US 7,250,690
Granted Patent B2
US 7,250,690 · App. 11/185,183 · Granted Jul 31, 2007

Distributed power generation system using a fuel cell and a method of controlling the same

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,250,690
App. No.
11/185,183
Granted
Jul 31, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is a distributed-power-generation system capable of maintaining an operation point and a method of controlling the same. The distributed-power-generation system comprises: a fuel cell producing current and high-temperature gas through an electric chemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen; a turbine obtaining rotation power using heat produced by the fuel cell; a compressor supplying air to the fuel cell using the rotation power of the turbine; a motor/generator unit acting as a motor using a current supplied from a battery in a starting mode, and as a generator rotating by rotation power of a turbine and generating a current in a generating mode; and an inverter unit supplying a DC power produced by the fuel cell and an AC power produced by the motor/generator unit for a three-phase power system. The method of controlling the distributed-power-generation system comprises: sensing a rotation speed of a rotation axis of the motor/generator unit; comparing the sensed rotation speed and a predefined reference speed; and supplying a current to the motor/generator unit to produce a load in the opposite direction of rotation of the rotation axis or in the same direction.

Claims (17)

1. A distributed-power-generation system, comprising:

a fuel cell;

a turbine in flow communication with the fuel cell;

a compressor supplying air to the fuel cell;

a motor/generator in mechanical communication with the turbine;

an inverter unit including a rectification circuit, a smoothing circuit, a DC/DC converter, and a main inverter;

a chargeable battery connected to the DC/DC converter and the motor/generator;

a sensor that senses a rotation speed of a rotation axis of the motor/generator; and

a control unit in communication with the chargeable battery and the motor/generator, the control unit comparing the rotation speed of a rotation axis of the motor/generator with a predefined reference speed and controlling a current from the chargeable battery to the motor/generator based on the comparison for changing a frequency of an AC power that is output from the motor/generator;

wherein the chargeable battery is charged with a current from the DC/DC converter.

2. The distributed-power-generation system of claim 1 , wherein the fuel cell produces a current and a high-temperature gas through an electric chemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen.

3. The distributed-power-generation system of claim 1 , wherein the turbine rotates using heat produced by the fuel cell.

4. The distributed-power-generation system of claim 1 , wherein the compressor supplies air to the fuel cell using the rotation of the turbine.

5. The distributed-power-generation system of claim 1 , wherein the motor/generator unit acts as a motor uses a current supplied from a battery in a starting mode.

6. The distributed-power-generation system of clam 1 , wherein the motor/generator unit acting as a generator rotates by the rotation of the turbine and generates a current in a generating mode.

7. The distributed-power-generation system of claim 1 , wherein the inverter unit supplies DC power produced by the fuel cell, and AC power produced the motor/generator unit to a three-phase power system.

8. The distributed-power-generation system of claim 1 further comprising a recuperator for preheating air that is supplied to the fuel cell.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY ADDRESS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 036714 FRAME: 0757. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF NAME. Recorded Nov 9, 2015
From: SAMSUNG TECHWIN CO., LTD.
To: HANWHA TECHWIN CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 037072/0008 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 29, 2015
From: SAMSUNG TECHWIN CO., LTD.
To: HANWHA TECHWIN CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 036714/0757 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 11, 2005
From: YANG, HYUN-SUP
To: SAMSUNG TECHWIN CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 016634/0693 →