APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HEATING A FUEL CELL STACK

摘要

An apparatus for heating a fuel cell stack in a cold start mode is provided. The apparatus comprises a fuel cell stack, a power converter, and a controller. The power converter may include a power switch and resistive heating element that is thermally coupled to the fuel cell stack. The controller is configured to activate the power converter, if a temperature is below a predetermined temperature value, to draw current from the fuel cell stack to cause the fuel cell stack to generate heat. Heat from the power converter is also applied to the fuel cell stack.

主权项

1. A vehicle comprising:
a fuel cell stack for powering the vehicle; a power converter coupled to the stack; a thermal system configured to transfer heat from the power converter to the stack; and a controller programmed to, in response to a stack temperature being less than a threshold, operate the fuel cell to generate a current which corresponds to a fuel cell voltage less than a normal vehicle operating voltage and operate the power converter to (i) generate a power converter output voltage at the normal vehicle operating voltage and (ii) draw the current from the fuel cell to increase heat generated within the fuel cell and generate heat in the power converter to minimize a time to heat the fuel cell to the threshold.