Fuel cell power generation system, method of controlling hydrogen generating quantity and recorded medium recorded program performing the same

Abstract

A fuel cell power generation system including: a hydrogen generating apparatus, controlling an amount of hydrogen generation by controlling an on/off status of a switch connected between electrodes; and a fuel cell, being supplied with hydrogen generated by the hydrogen generating apparatus and producing a direct current by converting chemical energy of the hydrogen to electrical energy. The hydrogen generating apparatus used in the system preferably includes an electrolyzer, filled with an aqueous electrolyte solution containing hydrogen ions; a first electrode, accommodated in the electrolyzer, submerged in the aqueous electrolyte solution, and generating electrons; a second electrode, accommodated in the electrolyzer, submerged in the aqueous electrolyte solution, receiving the electrons to generate hydrogen; a switch, located between the first electrode and the second electrode; a meter, measuring an amount of hydrogen generation or an output of a fuel cell; and a switch controller, receiving a set value, comparing the amount of hydrogen generation or the output of the fuel cell measured by the meter with the set value, and controlling an on/off status of the switch.

1 . A fuel cell power generation system comprising:
 a hydrogen generating apparatus, controlling an amount of hydrogen generation by controlling an on/off status of a switch connected between electrodes; and   a fuel cell, being supplied with hydrogen generated by the hydrogen generating apparatus and producing a direct current by converting chemical energy of the hydrogen to electrical energy.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , in which the hydrogen generating apparatus comprises:
 an electrolyzer, filled with an aqueous electrolyte solution containing hydrogen ions;   a first electrode, accommodated in the electrolyzer, submerged in the aqueous electrolyte solution, and generating electrons;   a second electrode, accommodated in the electrolyzer, submerged in the aqueous electrolyte solution, receiving the electrons to generate hydrogen;   a switch, located between the first electrode and the second electrode;   a meter, measuring an amount of hydrogen generation or an output of a fuel cell; and   a switch controller, receiving a set value, comparing the amount of hydrogen generation or the output of the fuel cell measured by the meter with the set value, and controlling an on/off status of the switch.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , in which the switch controller is inputted with the set value directly from a user through an input unit. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , in which the hydrogen generating apparatus is coupled to the fuel cell and supplies hydrogen, and
 the switch controller is inputted with the set value in accordance with an amount of electric power, voltage, current, impedance or a combination thereof or an amount of hydrogen generation that is required by the fuel cell.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , in which a metal forming the first electrode has a higher ionization tendency than a metal forming the second electrode. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , in which the switch controller generates and outputs a switch control signal turning the switch on and off, and
 the switch controller determines an on/off ratio of the switch within one cycle by varying a duty ratio of the switch control signal.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , in which the meter is a flow rate meter that measures the amount of hydrogen generated in the second electrode in units of flowrate. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , in which the switch controller controls a fluctuation in the amount of hydrogen generation by varying an on/off frequency of the switch control signal. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , in which the switch controller compares the set value with the measured amount of hydrogen generation, and increases the duty ratio if the amount of hydrogen generation is smaller than the set value, reduces the duty ratio if the amount of hydrogen generation is greater than the set value, and maintains the duty ratio if the amount of hydrogen generation is equal to the set value. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , in which the set value comprises an upper limit and a lower limit, and
 the switch controller compares the set value with the measured amount of hydrogen generation, and increases the duty ratio if the amount of hydrogen generation is smaller than the lower limit, reduces the duty ratio if the amount of hydrogen generation is greater than the upper limit, and maintains the duty ratio if the amount of hydrogen generation is between the lower limit and the upper limit.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 6 , in which the meter is an output meter that measures an output of the fuel cell in units of watt (W), volt (V), ampere (A), ohm (Ω) or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , in which the switch controller controls a fluctuation in the output of the fuel cell by varying an on/off frequency of the switch control signal. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , in which the switch controller compares the set value with the measured output of the fuel cell, and increases the duty ratio if the output of the fuel cell is smaller than the set value, reduces the duty ratio if the output of the fuel cell is greater than the set value, and maintains the duty ratio if the output of the fuel cell is equal to the set value. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , in which the set value comprises an upper limit and a lower limit, and
 the switch controller compares the set value with the measured output of the fuel cell, and increases the duty ratio if the output of the fuel cell is smaller than the lower limit, reduces the duty ratio if the output of the fuel cell is greater than the upper limit, and maintains the duty ratio if the output of the fuel cell is between the lower limit and the upper limit.   
     
     
         15 . A method of controlling an amount of hydrogen generation in a hydrogen generating apparatus controlling an amount of hydrogen generation by controlling an on/off status of a switch located between electrodes, the method comprising:
 being inputted with a set value;   comparing a measured amount of hydrogen generation and the set value; and   increasing a duty ratio of a switch control signal if the amount of hydrogen generation is smaller than the set value, reducing the duty ratio of the switch control signal if the amount of hydrogen generation is greater than the set value, and maintaining the duty ratio of the switch control signal if the amount of hydrogen generation is equal to the set value, in which the switch control signal controls the on/off status of the switch within one cycle in accordance with the duty ratio.   
     
     
         16 . A method of controlling an amount of hydrogen generation in a hydrogen generating apparatus controlling an amount of hydrogen generation by controlling an on/off status of a switch located between electrodes, the method comprising:
 being inputted with an upper value and a lower value;   comparing a measured amount of hydrogen generation with the upper value and the lower value; and   increasing a duty ratio of a switch control signal if the amount of hydrogen generation is smaller than the lower value, reducing the duty ratio of the switch control signal if the amount of hydrogen generation is greater than the upper value, and maintaining the duty ratio of the switch control signal if the amount of hydrogen generation is between the lower value and the upper value, in which the switch control signal controls the on/off status of the switch within one cycle in accordance with the duty ratio.   
     
     
         17 . A method of controlling an amount of hydrogen generation in a hydrogen generating apparatus controlling an amount of hydrogen generation by controlling an on/off status of a switch that is connected to a fuel cell and located between electrodes, the method comprising:
 being inputted with a set value;   comparing an output of the fuel cell and the set value; and   increasing a duty ratio of a switch control signal if the output of the fuel cell is smaller than the set value, reducing the duty ratio of the switch control signal if the output of the fuel cell is greater than the set value, and maintaining the duty ratio of the switch control signal if the output of the fuel cell is equal to the set value, in which the switch control signal controls the on/off status of the switch within one cycle in accordance with the duty ratio.   
     
     
         18 . A method of controlling an amount of hydrogen generation in a hydrogen generating apparatus controlling an amount of hydrogen generation by controlling an on/off status of a switch that is connected to a fuel cell and located between electrodes, the method comprising:
 being inputted with an upper value and a lower value;   comparing a measured output of the fuel cell with the upper value and the lower value; and   increasing a duty ratio of a switch control signal if the output of the fuel cell is smaller than the lower value, reducing the duty ratio of the switch control signal if the output of the fuel cell is greater than the upper value, and maintaining the duty ratio of the switch control signal if the output of the fuel cell is between the lower value and the upper value, in which the switch control signal controls the on/off status of the switch within one cycle in accordance with the duty ratio.   
     
     
         19 . A recording medium having recorded a computer readable program to control an amount of hydrogen generation in a hydrogen generating apparatus controlling an amount of hydrogen generation by controlling an on/off status of a switch located between electrodes, in which the recording medium, being readable by a computer, having recorded a program performing a method of controlling an amount of hydrogen generation of  claim 15 . 
     
     
         20 . A recording medium having recorded a computer readable program to control an amount of hydrogen generation in a hydrogen generating apparatus controlling an amount of hydrogen generation by controlling an on/off status of a switch located between electrodes, in which the recording medium, being readable by a computer, having recorded a program performing a method of controlling an amount of hydrogen generation of  claim 16 . 
     
     
         21 . A recording medium having recorded a computer readable program to control an amount of hydrogen generation in a hydrogen generating apparatus controlling an amount of hydrogen generation by controlling an on/off status of a switch located between electrodes, in which the recording medium, being readable by a computer, having recorded a program performing a method of controlling an amount of hydrogen generation of  claim 17 . 
     
     
         22 . A recording medium having recorded a computer readable program to control an amount of hydrogen generation in a hydrogen generating apparatus controlling an amount of hydrogen generation by controlling an on/off status of a switch located between electrodes, in which the recording medium, being readable by a computer, having recorded a program performing a method of controlling an amount of hydrogen generation of  claim 18 .