Cell voltage detection device and cell system using the same

Abstract

A fuel cell detection device according to the present invention includes: a cell block formed with a plurality of cells serially connected to each other; a voltage detection element for detecting voltages of the cells within the cell block; and another voltage detection element for detecting a voltage of the operating power source of the voltage detection element, where the operating power source of the voltage detection element is supplied from a voltage of the inside or both ends of the cell block, and the operating power source of another voltage detection element is supplied from a voltage of the outside of the cell block, the operating power source of another voltage detection element being less variable than the operating power source of the voltage detection element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the outline of a cell voltage detection device according to Embodiment 1;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an A/D converter element periphery in the cell voltage detection device according to Embodiment 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of another A/D converter element periphery in the cell voltage detection device according to Embodiment 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a connection example of another A/D converter element in the cell voltage detection device according to Embodiment 1;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the cell voltage detection flow in the cell voltage detection device according to Embodiment 1;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the inside of an A/D converter element in a cell voltage detection device according to Embodiment 2;

FIG. 7 is a view showing the outline of a fuel cell module according to Embodiment 3;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the detailed configuration of the fuel cell module according to Embodiment 3;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a power generation control block of a fuel cell stack in the fuel cell module according to Embodiment 3; and

FIG. 10 is a view showing the outline of a power generation system according to Embodiment 4.

Claims

1. A cell voltage detection device comprising: a voltage detection element for detecting voltages of cells within a cell block formed with a plurality of cells serially connected to each other; andanother voltage detection element for detecting a voltage of the operating power source of the voltage detection element,wherein the operating power source of said voltage detection element is supplied from a voltage of the inside or both ends of said cell block,wherein the operating power source of said another voltage detection element is supplied from a power source of the outside of said cell block,the operating power source of said another voltage detection element being less variable than the operating power source of said voltage detection element.

2. The cell voltage detection device according to claim 1 further comprising a cell stack formed with the plurality of cell blocks serially connected to each other, wherein the operating power source of said another voltage detection element is a series connection of cells including at least one of said cell blocks within said cell stack formed with the plurality of cell blocks serially connected to each other.

3. The fuel voltage detection device according to claim 1, wherein said voltage detection element and said another voltage detection element are semiconductor elements having an analog-digital data conversion function.

4. The fuel voltage detection device according to claim 3, wherein said fuel voltage detection device comprises insulation means for insulating said voltage detection element from the potential of the digital signal of said another voltage detection element,wherein a digital data bus that said voltage detection element has is connected in parallel to a digital data bus that said another voltage detection element has, via the insulation means,thereby to make said voltage detection element compatible with the digital communication protocol of said another voltage detection element.

5. The fuel voltage detection device according to claim 3, wherein said fuel voltage detection device comprises a processor element for performing communication and data storage,wherein the processor element performs digital data communication with said voltage detection element and said another voltage detection element.

6. The fuel voltage detection device according to claim 5, wherein said fuel voltage detection device is configured that a ground potential of the operating power source of said voltage detection element and a ground potential of said processor element are common to each other.

7. The fuel voltage detection device according to claim 1, wherein said fuel voltage detection device determines a target cell to measure voltages,measuring the potential difference between the both ends of the target cell by said voltage detection element connected to the target cell,measuring the potential difference between the both ends of the operating power source of said voltage detection element by said another voltage detection element,when the potential difference measured by said another voltage detection element is more than a predetermined voltage threshold, performing normal processing of the potential difference measurement value between the both ends of said target cell,when the potential difference measured by said another voltage detection element is less than the predetermined voltage threshold, performing anomaly processing of the potential deference measurement value between the both ends of said target cell.

8. The fuel voltage detection device according to claim 3, wherein said voltage detection element comprises an analog-digital conversion reference voltage and a ground terminal,wherein said reference voltage is connected with the maximum potential of said cell block that said voltage detection element connects to, and said ground terminal is connected with the minimum potential of said cell block that said voltage detection element connects to, respectively.

9. The fuel voltage detection device according to claim 8, wherein said fuel voltage detection device detects the cell voltage based on the cell voltage detection algorithm including the multiplication of the digital output value of said voltage detection element and the digital output value of said another voltage detection element.

10. A fuel voltage detection device comprising a plurality of cell submodules and a processor element, wherein: the cell submodule includes a cell block formed with a plurality of cells serially connected to each other and insulation type communication means;the minimum potentials of said cell blocks within said plurality of cell submodules are different from each other; andthe measurement of the both ends potentials of said cell blocks, the communication with said insulation type communication means, and the driving of said processor element use a common constant voltage source.

11. A fuel voltage detection device comprising: a voltage detection element for detecting voltages of fuel cells within a fuel cell block formed with a plurality of fuel cells serially connected to each other; andanother voltage detection element for detecting a voltage of the operating power source of the voltage detection element,wherein the operating power source of said voltage detection element is supplied from a voltage of the inside or both ends of said fuel cell block,the operating power source of said another voltage detection element is supplied from a voltage source of the outside of said fuel cell block, andthe operating power source of said another voltage detection element being less variable than the operating power source of said voltage detection element.

12. The fuel voltage detection device according to claim 11, wherein said plurality of fuel cells are polymer electrolyte fuel cells.