ELECTRIC ENERGY SYSTEM WITH FUEL CELLS

Abstract

An electrical energy system containing fuel cells and a method for operating an electrical energy system for a motor vehicle are provided.

Claims

1. An energy system for a vehicle, comprising: at least one fuel cell; and at least one high voltage battery, wherein the at least one fuel cell and the at least one high voltage battery are coupled with an electric circuit via a common switch-on/off unit, said electric circuit supplying electrical loads connected thereto with electrical energy, and wherein the at least one fuel cell, the at least one high voltage battery, and the common switch-on/off unit are arranged in a common housing.

2-3. (canceled)

4. The energy system according to claim 1, wherein said switch on/off unit comprises at least one electromechanical switching element.

5. The energy system according to claim 1, wherein the switch-on/off unit comprises at least one semiconductor switch.

6. The energy system according to claim 5, wherein the shut-on/off unit comprises at least one IGBT or one MOS-FET.

7. The energy system according to claim 1, wherein the switch-on/off unit comprises at least one pyrotechnic short-circuit element which is adapted to ignite in the event of an accident of the vehicle and to disconnect the at least one fuel cell and the at least one HV battery from said electric circuit to which they are coupled.

8. The energy system according to claim 1, wherein the shut-on/off unit comprises at least one insulation monitor.

9. A method for operating an energy system for a vehicle comprising at least one fuel cell and at least one high voltage battery, wherein the at least one fuel cell and the at least one high voltage battery are coupled with an electric circuit via a common switch-on/off unit, said electric circuit supplying electrical loads connected thereto with electrical energy, and wherein the at least one fuel cell, the at least one high voltage battery, and the common switch-on/off unit are arranged in a common housing, the method comprising: disconnecting the at least one fuel cell and the at least one high voltage battery from the electric circuit via the common switch-on/off unit when the vehicle meets with an accident.

10. (canceled)

11. The energy system according to claim 4 wherein the at least one electromechanical switching element includes a contactor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Embodiments of the invention are schematically illustrated in the drawings based on embodiments and are described further with reference to the drawings.

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of an energy system with connected loads;

[0023] FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of an embodiment of an energy system with connected loads.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of an energy system with connected loads 15, 16, 17. The energy system 10 comprises a fuel cell 11 and an HV battery 12 as energy sources. They are connected to the traction circuit in each case via an associated switch-on/off unit 13, 14, the fuel cell 11 being connected via an FCJB (Fuel Cell Junction Box) 13 and the HV battery 12 via a BJB (Battery Junction Box) 14. Pulse inverters 15 and electric motors 16, and other HV components 17, such as auxiliary units of the fuel cell, chargers, 12 V DC/DC converters, HV heaters, electric air-conditioning compressors, etc., are connected to the traction circuit.

[0025] FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of an embodiment of the energy system 10 with connected loads 15, 16, 17. The energy system 10 comprises, as energy sources, a fuel cell 11 and an HV battery 12, which are integrated in a common housing 18 in which a common switch-on/off unit (HVJB) 19 is located also. HVJB 19 can be used to connect BZ 11 and HV battery 12 to the traction circuit or to disconnect them therefrom. At least one pulse inverter 15 and at least one electric motor 16 are connected to the traction circuit of the energy system 10, as well as further HV components 17, such as ancillary units of the fuel cell, chargers, 12 V DC/DC converters, HV-heaters, electric air-conditioning compressors, etc.