IP Library Granted Patent US 7,358,622
Granted Patent B2
US 7,358,622 · App. 11/820,186 · Granted Apr 15, 2008

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

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,358,622
App. No.
11/820,186
Granted
Apr 15, 2008
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 (12)

1. A method of controlling a distributed-power-generation system, the method comprised of:

a) sensing a rotation speed of a rotation axis of a motor/generator unit;

b) comparing the sensed rotation speed with a predefined reference speed;

c) changing the rotation speed to match the reference speed by controlling an amount of current supplied to the motor/generator;

d) converting AC power produced by the motor/generator unit into DC power through a smoothing circuit;

e) supplying the converted DC power along with DC power produced by a fuel cell to the main inverter;

f) comparing the DC power supplied to the main inverter with a predefined reference power;

g) altering the DC power produced by the fuel cell and changing the DC power supplied to the main inverter to match the predefined reference power; and

h) supplying the DC power to one of the main inverter and a three-phase power system.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the motor/generator unit produces a load in the opposite direction of rotation of the rotation axis according to current supplied from the battery.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein when the sensed rotation speed is higher than the reference speed, the rotation speed is changed to the reference speed by supplying a current to the motor/generator unit to produce the load in the opposite direction of rotation of the rotation axis.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein when the sensed rotation speed is lower than the reference speed, the rotation speed is changed to the reference speed by supplying a current to the motor/generator unit to rotate in the same direction of rotation of the rotation axis.

Assignments (2)
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 →