IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,404,461
Granted Patent B2
US 7,404,461 · App. 11/111,257 · Granted Jul 29, 2008

Electrical power train for a fuel cell vehicle, comprising an electrical dissipation element

Assignees: Conception Et Developpement Michelin, S.A.; Paul Scherrer Institut
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,404,461
App. No.
11/111,257
Granted
Jul 29, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electrical power train for a vehicle, the power train comprising an electrical line ( 61 ), a fuel cell ( 3 ) connected to the electrical line ( 61 ), an electrical energy management unit ( 6 ) comprising a module controlling the fuel cell, a control device available to the driver of the vehicle for controlling deceleration of the latter, the control device being connected to the management unit, at least one electrical machine ( 4 ) connected to at least one driving wheel ( 40 ) connected to the electrical line ( 61 ) by means of an electronic module controlling the electrical machine, the electrical machine ( 4 ) being connected to a second cooling circuit ( 2 ) in which a cooling liquid circulates, independent of the first cooling circuit ( 1 ), an electrical dissipation element ( 8 ), and means for ordering the control module of the fuel battery to stop the process of producing electrical energy while connecting the said dissipation element ( 8 ) to the electrical line ( 61 ), in the event of a deceleration demand and when the management unit ( 6 ) detects that the power absorbed by the loads is less than the power sent over the electrical line ( 61 ).

Claims (16)

1. An electrical power train for a vehicle, the power train comprising:

an electrical line to which the auxiliary loads are connected;

a fuel cell connected to the electrical line, a first cooling circuit, providing the cooling of the fuel cell by means of a first heat-transfer liquid charge, the first cooling circuit comprising a first radiator for dissipating heat to the ambient atmosphere;

an electrical energy management unit comprising a fuel cell control module;

a control device available to the driver of the vehicle in order to control deceleration of the vehicle, the control device being connected to the management unit;

at least one electrical machine connected to at least one driving wheel connected to the electrical line by means of an electronic control module for the electrical machine;

an electrical dissipation element; and

means for ordering the fuel cell control module to stop the process of producing electrical energy while connecting the dissipation element to the electrical line, in the case of a demand for deceleration and when the management unit detects that the power absorbed by the auxiliary loads is less than the power sent over the electrical line.

2. The power train according to claim 1 , wherein the electrical machine is connected to a second cooling circuit which comprises a second radiator for dissipating heat to the ambient atmosphere, the second cooling circuit using another heat-transfer liquid charge independent of the charge used in a first cooling circuit, the second cooling circuit also being thermally independent of the first cooling circuit.

3. The power train according to claim 1 , wherein the electrical dissipation element is immersed in the first cooling circuit.

4. The power train according to claim 1 , wherein the fuel cell is supplied with oxygen by compression of ambient air.

5. The power train according to claim 1 , wherein the fuel cell is supplied with pure oxygen.

6. The power train according to claim 1 , wherein the fuel cell is selected from the group consisting of polymer membrane cells and alkaline cells.

7. The power train according to claim 1 , wherein the electronic control module for the electrical machine is an inverter.

8. The power train according to claim 1 , comprising various electronic management modules, wherein the second cooling circuit establishes a circulation of cooling liquid in several electronic management modules.

9. The power train according to claim 1 , wherein an electrical energy storage device is connected to the electrical line via the electrical energy management unit.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 11, 2005
From: VARENNE, PIERRE
To: CONCEPTION ET DEVELOPPEMENT MICHELIN S.A.; PAUL SCHERRER INSTITUT
Reel/Frame 016763/0231 →
Priority Claims (1)
FR 04 04250 · Apr 21, 2004 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20050241865A1 · Nov 3, 2005